Physical Memory at 50%

[kelvinwgr]

Hi Guys,

I have recently bought an Acer timeline 3820T with i3-350M, 2.26GHz, 2 GB Ram running on Windows 7 Home Premium.

I realised that when I boot my laptop and without any application running, the task manager shows 78 Processes and Physical memory is at 50% usage.

Just like to check if it deems normal for the physical memory to be at 50%. While my windows xp pro laptop memory is at around 30% with only 1 GB Ram.

Thanks.

 

[Petey7]

Windows 7 does use more RAM. Not to mention when you first log in, the computer is still starting various services and programs. Are you using 32-bit or 64-bit. It sounds about right for 64-bit to me.

 

[Dinesh]

78 processes are wayyy to much. Click the start button and in the Search box, type msconfig and press Enter. Then in the System Configuration Utility, click Startup tab and then click Disable All to disable all the startup items. Then click Apply and OK and Restart.

Once the PC restarts, then check the task manager for improvements.

 

[Thorsen]

I would say this is high. you should get some of the bloat from the OEM off of there. you can use PC Decrapify on a new comp to select which programs you want and don't want: Welcome | The PC Decrapifier

*Edit additional info: Read the How it works section to get an overview of what the program can do

 

[Jake90087]

also remember, win 7 and vista use ream as a cache, which IMO is better than it wasting power isn't it? Windows frees it up for usage when it's needed will be put in use. and yeah, 78 processes it WAAY too much!

 

[whs]

Follow the advice Dinish gave you because the 78 processes stem most likely from too many startup programs. I would, however, leave the AV program enabled or stay off the web during the experiment. Once you know that this was the problem, you can enable the startups more selectively - the fewer, the better. That will not impact the operability of your system. The only one that is really needed (apart from the ones you want expressis verbis) is the AV.

 

[kelvinwgr]

Follow the advice Dinish gave you because the 78 processes stem most likely from too many startup programs. I would, however, leave the AV program enabled or stay off the web during the experiment. Once you know that this was the problem, you can enable the startups more selectively - the fewer, the better. That will not impact the operability of your system. The only one that is really needed (apart from the ones you want expressis verbis) is the AV.

Thanks for the advice. Yes in fact I did went to msconfig to disable not all, but same of the startup programs as I do not know which is critical for the system to operate. Therefore, I only disable those that I thought was unnecessary.

So the startup programs will actually contribute to the 78 processes, am I right to say that?

 

[Petey7]

Yes. Definitely.

 

[kelvinwgr]

Windows 7 does use more RAM. Not to mention when you first log in, the computer is still starting various services and programs. Are you using 32-bit or 64-bit. It sounds about right for 64-bit to me.

Yes it is a 64-bit OS

 

[Petey7]

With 64-bit and 2GB of RAM, I had about 40% used at idle. Maybe a little less a while after start-up. 50% still sounds a little high. I was able to upgrade to 4GB for ~$30 back when DDR2 was cheap as dirt. Then it said 30% at start up and 27% at idle the rest of the time.

 

[kelvinwgr]

I see. If that's the case, I should probably upgrade my Ram to additional 2GB. Anyway, for the 30 bucks, may I know which currency is that?

 

[Petey7]

united States Dollars. But that was at a time that DDR2 RAM was literally cheaper than a bag of dirt. And that RAM was on sale at newegg. It's gotten more expensive sense then and DDR3 (which is what you have) is even more expensive. Looks like it would be ~$90 or more for the kind of upgrade I did (two new sticks). If you only have one stick of RAM currently installed, you can get another for ~$45. Sorry about that. I shouldn't have mentioned a price and got your hopes up. I think you should look around google and see how else to decrease you RAM usage for now.

 

[kelvinwgr]

No problem man. It's okay. Thanks for the advice. Basically, I guess there are many alternatives. Upgrading the ram is probably one of the more effective option but involves $. Lol.

 

[Petey7]

Very true. Do you also live in the US? I can try to find out exactly what type of RAM you have and make recommendations from Newegg (the cheapest place around IMO).

 

[Wishmaster]

How much RAM the system uses at idle depends largely on how much RAM you actually have.

Also remember, that what task manager is showing as RAM use is only whats currently active. In all reality, you likely have 0 RAM available, the rest is simply loaded and in standby mode.
Which is a good thing!

I agree with everone else. Cut out all the stuff at start up.

Stuff Like Adobe, Yahoo, etc is totally pointless to have start up w/Windows.

the only things I have start with Windows is:
Antivirus, ATI CCC, Sound Card, & Acronis. (This IMO are neccesities)
OH, and.. I leave the side bar as a start up item

Everything else has been disabled.

 

[kelvinwgr]

Thanks =) But unfortunately friend, we are many miles apart. I live in Singapore. Lol. Anyway, nice to know you here in this forum.

 

[stormy13]

We can help with what is and isn't needed somewhat. Grab ccleaner (slim version),

CCleaner - Builds

After installed run and click on Tools, then click on Startup. Next click on the Enabled column to sort them yes and no, and then post a screen shot of the list.

Also in msconfig click on the Service tab and then check "hide Microsoft services" and post a screen shot of that as well.

 

[whs]

Follow the advice Dinish gave you because the 78 processes stem most likely from too many startup programs. I would, however, leave the AV program enabled or stay off the web during the experiment. Once you know that this was the problem, you can enable the startups more selectively - the fewer, the better. That will not impact the operability of your system. The only one that is really needed (apart from the ones you want expressis verbis) is the AV.

1. Thanks for the advice. Yes in fact I did went to msconfig to disable not all, but same of the startup programs as I do not know which is critical for the system to operate. Therefore, I only disable those that I thought was unnecessary.

2. So the startup programs will actually contribute to the 78 processes, am I right to say that?

1. None are "critical" for the system except the AV program. And that is critical for your protection. Even if a program is not in the startups, it will be started when it is called upon. So nothing is lost.

2. Of course they do. The more programs/processes you have started, the more will run. Sounds logical, doesn't it.

 

[kelvinwgr]

Hi whs, thanks for the specify answers.

Hi stormy13, I have captured and attached the screenshots.

 

[kelvinwgr]

With these, it does improve a bit. The processes went from 78 to about 60 on startup. however, the physical memory is still at the usage of 50% which I believe the OS is consuming them.