Extremely little free memory, I don't think this is normal...

Valsako · 19 Aug 2014

I tried using Google for this, also searched the forum, didn't find anything that answered this question, so I've decided to just open up a topic.

My PC has 16 GB of DDR3 RAM. According to task manager, I have 16,302 MB Total, 12,549 Cached, 13,188 available, and only 692 "free". Should my free RAM be this low? The only applications are use frequently are Firefox, Steam, GIMP, Notepad, Blender, and various video games (Never all of these at once).

Also, would this potentially cause lag in games? As I've noticed that I sometimes get FPS drops at random times, when, with my PC, on the games I'm playing, I shouldn't be seeing any.

Layback Bear · 19 Aug 2014

Could you show us this.

Use this method
By Brink:
Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums

Extremely little free memory, I don't think this is normal...-resource-monitor.png

LMiller7 · 19 Aug 2014

My PC has 16 GB of DDR3 RAM. According to task manager, I have 16,302 MB Total, 12,549 Cached, 13,188 available, and only 692 "free". Should my free RAM be this low?

YES. In fact I would like to see it even lower. The optimum value is zero.

The important value to look at is "Available" memory which is 13,188 MB. This memory is immediately available to any application that needs it. By normal standards this is a huge amount. As the saying goes you have memory to burn. I see no possibility of this being the cause of your issues.

The amount of memory labeled as "Free" is really of no consequence. There is no need or benefit in having a large amount (or any) free memory. Modern operating systems (including all versions of Windows, Mac OS and Linux) are designed to work this way. I don't understand why Microsoft chose to display free memory in such a prominent location as it just causes confusion.

Edit: I just looked at Task Manager on my system. It is showing zero free memory and I have no performance issues at all.

pbcopter · 19 Aug 2014

I agree, the less free memory the better. Mine is show below and my system runs fine.

Layback Bear · 19 Aug 2014

I did not say using memory is bad. That is what ram is for, to be used.
All I wanted was a picture so I could take a look.

What it indicates to me is a lot of things are using the ram. Finding out what is using the ram might give us some clues.

13 + plus gigs of available ram should be more than enough to run any game I know of.

carwiz · 19 Aug 2014

I don't know....I think you guys have memory leaks somewhere. Here's mine with Email, IE11 w/4 Tabs, File Explorer, Notepad and my case display running (along with Windows usual).

Layback Bear · 19 Aug 2014

Ken if people don't reboot for a long time then can get those kind of high readings.
The ram doesn't get a chance to clean itself.

pbcopter · 19 Aug 2014

For what it's worth, I reboot everyday.

I do not have a memory leak. A memory leak would use up available memory and cached.

The approximate amount of free memory I have shown is normal for all of my systems.

carwiz · 19 Aug 2014

That isn't a "normal" system. You either have some large processes running like video editing, graphics rendering or a pot load of stuff running. I wouldn't call that "normal". If it is for you, you need more memory. Free memory is what Windows uses first when starting new tasks. If there's not enough available, Windows starts shuffling Standby to the pagefile to make room. And paging means hardware I/O--The slowest of all events on the system.

If you don't have such items running, you have memory leaks.

Valsako · 19 Aug 2014

The "free" memory and such seems to have changed a bit since I initially made the first post. Not sure what did that, but anyway, here you go:

That's with absolutely no programs open except for Steam.