Normal Windows 7 RAM usage?


  1. Posts : 26
    Windows 7 Professional x64
       #1

    Normal Windows 7 RAM usage?


    Hello everybody I was wondering what would be considered normal ram usage at idle for windows 7 64 bit.
    Mine idles at 3.53 GB. Is that normal or does it seem a bit high?
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  2. Posts : 7,351
    Windows 7 HP 64
       #2

    How did you find out 3.53 GB?
    Resource Monitor (%windir%\system32\perfmon.exe /res) doesn't start with classic theme (bug), but is a good tool to find out what is using your memory.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 26
    Windows 7 Professional x64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    I found out in the task manager under the performance tab. It showed 3.53 gigs being used. Currently I have 2 chrome tabs, windows media player and a windows explorer window open and the usage is at 5.21GB now
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  4. Posts : 31,242
    Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest Release and Release Preview]
       #4

    That sounds perfectly reasonable for your system going on your specs, I am currently using about 20% of my RAM on Win 10 with a lot more running. (7 Chrome tabs on auto reload, plus a full screen video stream)

    You have to be aware that Windows 7 will use free memory for it's own purposes, unused memory is wasted memory so windows uses it, to speed up it's own background tasks, when it's free but releases it when needed

    It's no longer like the bad old days of XP when Memory was a rare thing that had to be hoarded by the user
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  5. Posts : 38
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64bit
       #5

    That's quite normal. Nothing to worry about. Mine about the same if using Chrome browser with 4 tabs opened.
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  6. Posts : 2,497
    Windows 7 Pro 64 bit
       #6

    Memory usage in any modern OS is highly dynamic. There is no one value that could be considered normal. Other than what you are running the biggest influence is how much RAM you have. Within reasonable limits the more RAM you have, the more it will use. Otherwise what would be the point of having it?

    64 bit Windows 7 will run, but certainly not well, with 1 GB RAM. To do that the memory usage of processes will of necessity be severely cut back. But when RAM is plentiful the system memory manager will allow processes to use pretty much what they want. The result is much better performance. 3.53 GB idle usage is higher than most systems but most systems don't have 32 GB RAM. The fact that the usage is that high just means the memory manager is doing it's job. As an ideal the system would at all times make full use of whatever memory was available. But we are not there yet.

    But if you were to run a large application the current usage would be trimmed back as and when necessary. But with 32 GB RAM that isn't likely to happen very often.
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  7. Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       #7

    I'm using 2.8 GB of my 16 GB at the present with just one Firefox open.
    No Chrome and for sure no Mc Afee.
    You don't have a problem so just check that off your worry list and enjoy your computer.

    Jack
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 3,487
    Win 7 Pro x64/Win 10 Pro x64 dual boot
       #8

    My usage goes anywhere from about 2.5 to 4.5 GB depending on what I am doing and whether the PC has been asleep (uses less memory after sleep).

    You have nothing to worry about.
      My Computer


 

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