LinuxQuestions.org
Download your favorite Linux distribution at LQ ISO.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Software
User Name
Password
Linux - Software This forum is for Software issues.
Having a problem installing a new program? Want to know which application is best for the job? Post your question in this forum.

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 11-11-2004, 05:35 PM   #1
shazam75
Member
 
Registered: Oct 2004
Location: Australia, Brisbane
Distribution: Gentoo
Posts: 296

Rep: Reputation: 30
Problem with RAM usage!


I have 512MEG of RAM installed, and when i first boot, its like in the 400 range of free RAM. Now if I were to run a program that copyies some large files (for backup), my ram gets down to 100 and under.

If I am browsing the net, eventually I will arrive with under 100 MEG of Free ram -and the problem is that I can never regain all that RAM - some sort of memory leak

anybody else have a similar problem - i know XP was not so bad with RAM usage.

I am using Mandrake 8.1

and another question Are there any memory freeing apps for linux?

Regards

Shelton.
 
Old 11-11-2004, 05:41 PM   #2
Crashed_Again
Senior Member
 
Registered: Dec 2002
Location: Atlantic City, NJ
Distribution: Ubuntu & Arch
Posts: 3,503

Rep: Reputation: 57
The linux kernel is very agressive with RAM. Rather then leave a bunch of space not being utilized, the kernel will cache things making it faster. If more ram is required the cache will get dropped making way for new applications.
 
Old 11-11-2004, 05:48 PM   #3
shazam75
Member
 
Registered: Oct 2004
Location: Australia, Brisbane
Distribution: Gentoo
Posts: 296

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 30
How much RAM is enough?? I though 512 was enough for a Linux box

Regards
Shelton
 
Old 11-11-2004, 06:09 PM   #4
twilli227
Member
 
Registered: May 2003
Location: S.W. Ohio
Distribution: Ubuntu, OS X
Posts: 760

Rep: Reputation: 30
shazam75, is your computer running slow? If not, then there is nothing wrong with 512 meg ram. As Crashed_Again stated, linux is using your ram to its fullest. Do you want to have 512 megs of ram and only use 128? Unless your system is running slow, there should be no problems.
Quote:
anybody else have a similar problem - i know XP was not so bad with RAM usage.
This is were XP does not use your ram to the fullest.
 
Old 11-11-2004, 11:03 PM   #5
foo_bar_foo
Senior Member
 
Registered: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,553

Rep: Reputation: 53
Quote:
Originally posted by twilli227

This is were XP does not use your ram to the fullest.
right when the kernel will NOT use all the ram as cache like windows then that is a kernel bug.
Linux used to have this bug for people with huge amounts of ram say over 4 gigs but now that is fixed i think.

anything you need will be freed up
i say this alot but with modern processors and MMU your processor has a 4gig wide virtual ram space. it is false or an outmoded way of thinking or something to envision ram as being used or free at all.... each and every process has full acess to all your ram and more at all times.
 
Old 11-14-2004, 06:58 PM   #6
shazam75
Member
 
Registered: Oct 2004
Location: Australia, Brisbane
Distribution: Gentoo
Posts: 296

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 30
When I get down to like 10 MEG free - yes my computer runs slow, thats after I have visited a view weg pages packed with gifs and played xine a few times - thats why I think there is some memory leak (possible)

regards
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
RAM usage question. 99%? TheVrolok Linux - Newbie 2 11-28-2005 08:49 PM
reducing RAM usage Furlinastis Slackware 21 04-02-2005 12:53 PM
RAM/SWAP usage ganja_guru Linux - Software 13 12-29-2004 03:17 AM
Huge RAM usage? RTT Slackware 4 11-28-2003 03:51 PM
RAM usage Serena Linux - General 1 08-12-2003 10:50 PM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Software

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:24 PM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration