Memory not releasing

[HiraniNima]

This is a problem I have been having, and keeping a close eye on and I do not believe it is the programs fault, but something with the setup of windows 7 64bit. My computer that I am experiencing the problems on has 12gb DDR3 1600mhz ram, and an i920 processor, and GTX 275 SLI. The other two computers I have, is a deskstop with windows vista 32 bit, 4gb ram, quad core. As well as a laptop on windows 7 64 bit with 4gb ram, and a duo processor, both with only one video card and much slower.

I use all the same programs on all 3 computers. Keep in mind the desktop I am having problems with and my laptop are both windows 7 64 bit. Eventually my desktop will hang around 11gb of ram in use, and soon start asking me to close things to free some up and then force close some itself. Right now with what is running I should have about 3gb in use, but I have 10.5gb in use.

Programs that seem to do it are games, though usually not as fast. Bittorrent, Virus Scans (while scanning), and other programs that process a lot of files. Really all programs contribute it seems, just the ones that scan or handle a large amount of files more so. I use these programs on the other computers without restarting for days, or even over a week and have no issues. This one has 3x more ram and I have to restart it before a full days use.

I have searched a lot of memory topics, all stating that it is the bad software programmers, and not windows 7's fault. To me it seems like windows 7 is just not handling the large amount of memory correctly on this PC. Any help or explanation would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[CarlTR6]

Welcome to the forum. Sorry to learn you are have a problem. Have you adjusted the pagefile settings or is the pagefile default?

 

[HiraniNima]

Welcome to the forum. Sorry to learn you are have a problem. Have you adjusted the pagefile settings or is the pagefile default?

Thanks I believe someone had me edit it a while back to try to fix the problem, but he probably didn't have a lot of knowledge about it. If I am looking in the right spot, its currently set to 12279mb for Virtual Memory. When I hit change it says Maximum: 18418, and that is also its recommended. (System Properties > Advanced > Performance Options > Advanced > Virtual Memory.

 

[Ztruker]

What does Task Manager show about what is using the memory?

 

[HiraniNima]

Hopefully this wont double post. I replied but it didn't seem to post it. If it is under System Properties, advanced, performance options, advanced, virtual memory then it is at 12279mb for C: and my other drive says None (problem existed before installing the other drive as well). EDIT - Yes I do believe it was changed once to the setting I listed.

Min: 16mb
Recommended: 18418
Currently: 12279

I am guessing even if thats not the problem I should change it to the recommended?

And to the other post, task manager shows Firefox: 260,000kb, explorer 66,000, bittorrent 22,000 and then a lot of much smaller tasks. If I have this same stuff running when I first restart my computer my ram in use is about 2.88gb and right now its just about to hit 11gb in use.

 

[Ztruker]

No, I mean on the Processes tab, which process is consuming the memory?

 

[karlsnooks]

You have what is called a memory leak caused by a poorly written program/driver/dll.

Turn on you computer. Take note of the amount of memory consumed. Do nothing. Look back again in 15 minutes. Any change in amount of memory consumed. If yes, the primary contributor to change is? Significant or trivial amount?

Continue with above, but this time start using two of your favorite programs. If there's a change then you only need to eliminate one of them to determine the guilty party.

If you want to go directly to the guilty party, then check out your bit torrent software.

 

[Layback Bear]

I would put my money on the bit torrent software. I would also beware of what you get and where it comes from. Many torrents download a lot of bad things.

 

[HiraniNima]

I appreciate the replies. Ztucker, that is what the processes tab showed. There is not 10gb worth of memory listed there consumed by programs. Each program says its using around the same as it does when it starts up but my ram in use is still really high.

To the other replies, as I said in my first post I don't see how it is the programs fault as I use them on my other windows 7 64 bit computer and have no issues, as well as none on my windows vista 32 bit computer both with only 4gb ram instead of 12gb. Leaving the computer on all day doesn't cause any memory to go up. Only when I am actually doing things. It is not only 1 program doing it, or 2, or 3. I've been watching whats causing it for the past few months and its everything.

If it were the programs, it should be an issue on all 3 of my computers, not just this one. Which leads me to believe windows 7 64 bit is not handling my computers hardware correctly which is much better on this PC than the other two. Is it possible that windows is just not handling the 12gb of ram correctly? or there is a setting I should change?

 

[Layback Bear]

This might help you. Go to Start and type in resmon and then go to memory and you will able to see what your memory is doing and what amount of memory different programs are using.

 

[HiraniNima]

This might help you. Go to Start and type in resmon and then go to memory and you will able to see what your memory is doing and what amount of memory different programs are using.

Going there and adding up the "commit" memory I got 2147mb. Below that, In Use: 5411mb. Modified: 49mb. Standby: 6736. Free: 95.

I've actually checked there before and its the same thing when I have 10+gb in use, it only adds up to 2-3gb.

 

[zigzag3143]

This might help you. Go to Start and type in resmon and then go to memory and you will able to see what your memory is doing and what amount of memory different programs are using.

Going there and adding up the "commit" memory I got 2147mb. Below that, In Use: 5411mb. Modified: 49mb. Standby: 6736. Free: 95.

I've actually checked there before and its the same thing when I have 10+gb in use, it only adds up to 2-3gb.

First you are getting the "message" because you arent allowing windows to manage the page file. Second windows will take about half of your free memory and put it into standby (as noted in your post it does)

So. 3 gigs for apps, 6.7 for standby=10 gigs. when you reboot all you do is force the standby to be rebuilt there by slowing it down.

It is perfectly natural normal and correct. Just get rid of the message and you should be fine

Ken J