Is 1 Gb memory use at idle OK? (slow computer)

[catalogue]

My computer has gotten horribly slow and I'm going through the 39-step optimization checklist on this site.

In the meantime I would like to know if my memory usage is too high: 1 Gb with no programs running and the computer just sitting there; 1.59 Gb with these running:

Firefox, Opera, Spotify, Xlporer2 (3rd-party file manager/explorer)

I'm attaching lists of the processes from these two cases.

Thanks

 

[windude99]

My computer has gotten horribly slow and I'm going through the 39-step optimization checklist on this site.

In the meantime I would like to know if my memory usage is too high: 1 Gb with no programs running and the computer just sitting there; 1.59 Gb with these running:

Firefox, Opera, Spotify, Xlporer2 (3rd-party file manager/explorer)

I'm attaching lists of the processes from these two cases.

Thanks

Firefox seems to be using around 312mb of ram. Try closing it when you don't need it. Have you gone into msconfig and disabled startup programs you don't need? If not, go to start, type in msconfig and press enter. Then, go to the startup tab and disable everything you don't need. If you have a question on an item to disable, please feel free to post it.

 

[windude99]

Can you tell me how much RAM is shown in system properties? To get to system properties, you can go to start, then right click on computer, and click on properties. Does it say #GB (2GB usable)? If so, you might have a problem with your ram (or your graphics chip is using part of it). If not, you may need a RAM upgrade. 2gb of ram is the minimum RAM requirement of 64 bit Windows 7, which is what you have.

 

[catalogue]

Firefox seems to be using around 312mb of ram. Try closing it when you don't need it. Have you gone into msconfig and disabled startup programs you don't need? If not, go to start, type in msconfig and press enter. Then, go to the startup tab and disable everything you don't need. If you have a question on an item to disable, please feel free to post it.

Yeah, mainly I'm just wondering if 1 Gb of memory usage is normal when *no* programs are running. If it's high then wouldn't it mean I have something like malware or an OS glitch or some other background process hogging memory?

- Firefox: The computer's slow even when Firefox isn't running.

- Startup: Yes, I've done that. Everything was pretty straightforward: things like audio- and cam-related (I kept enabled), or Apple-related (disabled; I don't use Apple stuff)

- I'm about to start going through this list of 'services' that can be disabled.

- And I'm halfway through this list of things to do to speed up. Most of them I already knew about - defragment, turn off Win 7 animations, get rid of bloatware. I'm concerned I'll get through the list with no speed increase... but will cross that bridge when I come to it.

 

[catalogue]

Can you tell me how much RAM is shown in system properties?

It says: 2.00 GB (1.89 usable)

Also - the computer speed used to be fine, with the same amount of RAM - so doesn't that mean it's not a RAM problem?

 

[windude99]

Firefox seems to be using around 312mb of ram. Try closing it when you don't need it. Have you gone into msconfig and disabled startup programs you don't need? If not, go to start, type in msconfig and press enter. Then, go to the startup tab and disable everything you don't need. If you have a question on an item to disable, please feel free to post it.

Yeah, mainly I'm just wondering if 1 Gb of memory usage is normal when *no* programs are running. If it's high then wouldn't it mean I have something like malware or an OS glitch or some other background process hogging memory?

- Firefox: The computer's slow even when Firefox isn't running.

- Startup: Yes, I've done that. Everything was pretty straightforward: things like audio- and cam-related (I kept enabled), or Apple-related (disabled; I don't use Apple stuff)

- I'm about to start going through this list of 'services' that can be disabled.

- And I'm halfway through this list of things to do to speed up. Most of them I already knew about - defragment, turn off Win 7 animations, get rid of bloatware. I'm concerned I'll get through the list with no speed increase... but will cross that bridge when I come to it.

Be sure to read the Black Viper list carefully. Also, can you run a full scan with Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes? Be sure to remove anything that they find. Here is a download link to Malwarebytes: Malwarebytes : Free Anti-Malware
Note: Be sure to uncheck the free trial of Malwarebytes PRO at the end of the installation, unless you want it.

 

[N00berG00ber]

you should have about 50-60 processes running when just booted and idle before anything is launched. so u do have quite a bit of stuff running. i have about 35-40 processes when started up and idle. i would start to uninstall some stuff and maybe get some more ram. if u r using 1 gb and at 50% that must mean u only have 2gb of total ram installed? if so, shoot for 6gb. you can also check for disk activity in performance monitor and see whats accessing the disk a lot.

 

[catalogue]

maybe get some more ram. if u r using 1 gb and at 50% that must mean u only have 2gb of total ram installed?

Yes, 2 Gb, but the point is that the computer speed used to be just fine and I haven't installed any new programs.

you can also check for disk activity in performance monitor and see whats accessing the disk a lot.

Yes. I just started this thread about the processes in Task Manager.

 

[catalogue]

can you run a full scan with Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes?

Neither one found anything. I did full scans.

About the Black Viper list - I think it makes more sense to start with my 70 processes running when no programs as such are open. I will start a new thread about that. That seems more likely to turn up red flags about something that's not as it should be.

 

[Callender]

High RAM Usage

Hi,

1Gb RAM usage with nothing much running is not high in my opinion. As you rightly suspect, some services will be using RAM and are not displayed in the processes list. Other stuff gets loaded into RAM anyway like frequently used programs - so that they launch faster when you actually want to use them.

Your Opera & Firefox RAM usage does seem high though. (See screenshot from my machine) - Cyberfox = Firefox 64bit

Opera is 64 bit version.

 

[catalogue]

1Gb RAM usage with nothing much running is not high in my opinion.

Your Opera & Firefox RAM usage does seem high though.

Opera is 64 bit version.

Thanks. I wish I had noted the RAM use when the computer was right out of the box (2-1/2 years ago). I guess that raises the question of what - if anything - can slow down your computer without obviously high RAM use. Either way, my educated guess is that the process list is worth looking into, so I started this thread.

Also, the computer is slow even without Opera or Firefox running. That being said, my Opera will only go down to 100 K with no tabs open at all. I wonder if it's the email and news feeds. Firefox with no tabs open and no add-ons is 100 K; with add-ons it's 300 K. However they're all deal-breaker essential for me personally

 

[Layback Bear]

I see you have two threads with the same subject and problem.

http://www.sevenforums.com/performa...rocesses-idle-computer-slow-what-s-wrong.html

Please use one thread with one problem on one computer at a time.
It's very confusing doing otherwise.

 

[catalogue]

I see you have two threads with the same subject and problem.

Yes - this one is winding down and the new one - unlike this one - is specifically focused on the running processes and finding out whether there are too many of them, or malicious ones. This thread was very helpful in narrowing down the question.