Possible solution(s) to my RAM problems?

Thanks in advance for reading.
Im using a Del Optiplex with Windows 7/64 bit, 6GB of RAM and a 4th Gen i5.

About a month ago a tech-friend replaced my 500gb internal drive with one 256ssd for the OS and a 1TB optical drive for storage.

Ever since then (and it could just be coincidence), I keep getting low memory alerts. Its usually Firefox or Chrome that is the culprit but its been iTunes and even Evernote as well. I dont use anything very memory intensive and I rarely keep more than 3 browser tabs open.

Have any ideas what could be the problem here?

I just ordered another 2gbs of ram from Crucial...

ignatzatsonic said:

Have you run Memtest 86?

Have you monitored actual RAM usage at any given moment in Task Manager? How much does it say is installed and in use?

If you truly "don't use anything very memory intensive", the new 2 GB of RAM is a waste of money, particularly if you don't know if you've been using all of the current 6.

I have not. I will download and try that out.

I am looking at TM right now and its says I have 6046mbs of RAM which sounds right and 4.36gbs or 74% of my RAM is being used, which sounds correct as well.
Thats said and maybe im doing this wrong, but when adding up all the memory usage on the Processes tag I get maybe a Gig or a gig and half of memory.

Why then does it say 4.36 of gigs is being used in the performance tab?

ignatzatsonic said:

4.36 is highly suspicious. I've never ever used more than 3 plus, including times when I've had 50 or more browser tabs open.

A gig or gig and a half sounds much more likely.

I'd run complete virus and malware scans as a starting point.

Any odd looking stuff in processes or installed apps that you can't readily identify? Or in non-Microsoft services?

Maybe others have better ideas. I'm not a memory guru.

Have done all of that and cant seem to find anything suspicious.

Appreciate the help.

kwitel said:

I am looking at TM right now and its says I have 6046mbs of RAM which sounds right and 4.36gbs or 74% of my RAM is being used, which sounds correct as well.
Thats said and maybe im doing this wrong, but when adding up all the memory usage on the Processes tag I get maybe a Gig or a gig and half of memory.

Why then does it say 4.36 of gigs is being used in the performance tab?

Adding up the numbers in the memory usage column will never equal total usage. It was never intended that it would. With default configuration the numbers do not show full process usage and there are some very significant users of memory that are not processes, not all of which are shown in Task Manager.

74% usage does seem high. A good place to start would be to post a screenshot of Task Manager - Performance tab. This will provide a high level view of memory usage and is more important at this point than a look a process usage. The problem may not be a process at all and in many cases it isn't.

LMiller7 said:

kwitel said:

I am looking at TM right now and its says I have 6046mbs of RAM which sounds right and 4.36gbs or 74% of my RAM is being used, which sounds correct as well.
Thats said and maybe im doing this wrong, but when adding up all the memory usage on the Processes tag I get maybe a Gig or a gig and half of memory.

Why then does it say 4.36 of gigs is being used in the performance tab?

Adding up the numbers in the memory usage column will never equal total usage. It was never intended that it would. With default configuration the numbers do not show full process usage and there are some very significant users of memory that are not processes, not all of which are shown in Task Manager.

74% usage does seem high. A good place to start would be to post a screenshot of Task Manager - Performance tab. This will provide a high level view of memory usage and is more important at this point than a look a process usage. The problem may not be a process at all and in many cases it isn't.

Callender said:

Check Page File settings:

Start> Run

type sysdm.cpl

press Enter.

Advanced> Performance> Settings> Advanced> Virtual Memory> Change

Post a screenshot for us to look at.

Please see attached.

Thanks.

And Performance: