My one day old Studio Max already has 26Gb of memory used (apps + cache) . . . how to reduce it?

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Level 1

24 points

My one day old Studio Max already has 26Gb of memory used (apps + cache) . . . how to reduce it?

I checked the memory use of my new machine. The only app I started was Lightroom (LRc), apart from Safari and Firefoz.

Without LR in Monterey 12.6 it was 8Gb for apps and 8 gb of cache in use = 16. Adding LR it went to 12 +8. Stopping LR it went down again to 9+8Gb.

I installed Ventura, and yesterday evening I did a new check. Total use was 22 Gb.

Now in the morning it is 26 Gb:

(Etrecheck) Virtual Memory Information:

Physical RAM: 32 GB

Free RAM: 1.02 GB

Used RAM: 26.65 GB

Cached files: 4.33 GB

Available RAM: 5.35 GB

Swap Used: 0 B

The high memory use of 80% surprises me. What has happenend?

How can I get it down?

Studio on day 2

There are some unsigned files and apps, ETRE says. ["Exact match found in the legitimate list - probably OK"]

I kicked out Python and Eclipse. I don't program so don't know when it entered my galaxy.

-------

While I am writing this text it is going to 29Gb. Now that IS memory leaking.

Mac Studio, macOS 13.1

Posted on Dec 17, 2022 2:16 AM

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Answer 1

alberti-nl Author

Level 1

24 points

Dec 17, 2022 4:15 AM in response to PRP_53

Thanks,

I thought I had de-activated F-secure, at least on my previous Monterey iMac.

But I looked at it - and indeed now many boxes were ticked. In the past Fsecure would not install with databases by itself so I thought it would remain inactive.

Anyway, I unticked everything. I uninstalled it.

Makes sense. But the total usage is still increasing slowly. I looks like even everytime I switch to the activity monitor pane it adds 100Mb.

In the new Etrecheck I also see crash reports:

Diagnostics Information (past 7-30 days): SafariBookmarksSyncAgent - Crashed (75 times)

I am worried about some external drives might be loosing their extensions in the future, never thought about it, such as - JMicronATA.kext, the report mentions it. Also the Samsung T5 software (I have it for TM) is mentioned.

Etrecheck Studio (after 15 hours Ventura)

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Answer 2

BobHarris

Level 9

55,007 points

Dec 17, 2022 5:38 AM in response to alberti-nl

Unused RAM is wasted money.

The operating system is going to try and use all of it, because things in RAM can be accessed faster (MUCH Faster), then things in storage.

Applications -> Utilities -> Activity Monitor -> View (menu) -> All Processes -> Memory (tab)

can tell you what is using virtual memory. Virtual memory is much larger than physical RAM, but the processes using the most virtual memory are also using more of the physical RAM.

As long as you are not paging and swapping to storage excessively, then do not worry about the operating system trying to maximize your RAM to give you good performance.

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Answer 3

PRP_53

Level 10

91,213 points

Dec 17, 2022 2:53 AM in response to alberti-nl

There are no known Windows-like Viruses in the wild that self replicate and affect macOS, because of the underling UNIX Foundation and Permission Limitation.

Additionally, and specific to Big Sur macOS 11, Monterey macOS 12, Ventura macOS 13, the Operating System resides in a Sealed and Read Only Volume that can not be opened by the User and protects against from “ Bad Actor “ Software.

The Only thing this Antivirus software is protecting is the Bank Account of the Developers and for zero return to the User aside from the problems this software creates.

AntiVirus Developers purposefully Market their product to create a “ Fear Factor “. In so doing, creating a False Need for their Product.

The The Built in Security is all that is required to protect the computer.

Any of the below should be removed as per Developers Instructions

>>>>> F-Secure <<<<<

Read some of the posting and arrive at your own conclusions.

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Answer 4

alberti-nl Author

Level 1

24 points

Dec 17, 2022 5:17 AM in response to PRP_53

Hi,

I could open the last version in a separate tab, took some time,

But retry posting using Etre-pro and made a new snapshot:

Studio with Ventura, memory usage is high

@ The Samsung T5-SSD software is known to be a bit shakey ( in Monterey and Ventura); WD should be better.

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Answer 5

alberti-nl Author

Level 1

24 points

Dec 17, 2022 3:31 AM in response to Barney-15E

Hi Barney.

That the norm should be '32 Gb in use' is very strange to me, as a very long time Apple user.

In my 27" iMac 2014 with 16 Gb it never went above 10Gb. On my 2017 iMac 21" Retina Fusion with 8 Gb the memory was 100%. So I went to Studio & not iMac 24".

So I tend to see your response as a bit cynical.

I have read some have reported Safari will grab >>50 Gb if you leave it on.

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Answer 6

alberti-nl Author

Level 1

24 points

Dec 17, 2022 5:45 AM in response to BobHarris

So if I translate that to my universe: it is like the SSD part of the Fusion drive, stored and cached apps-run information.

So usage is allowed to grow to 32GB, then it gets recycled.

Well that is a comforting thought.

I must say the Studio is blisteringly fast. Open Firefox in a sec. Safari is slightly more.

And getting F-Secure out of the way helped a lot I think.

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Answer 7

alberti-nl Author

Level 1

24 points

Dec 17, 2022 8:09 AM in response to PRP_53

Well, of course I can have underlying problems from years of migration from one apple to the next. So my selection of best answer does not keep suggestions of improvements off. It will be very welcome.

Bobs answer was very helpful of course, in that it said "don't be afraid of the new ways & methods".

A test: Indeed having 28Gb in use, launching Lightroom (5 Gb) , stopping it and then reported usage went below 12 Gb - proved the point. But stretching it - like opening 250 DNG images of 30 Mb gives beachballs in Preview (maxed out at 18Gb, unresponsive state). But no - no swap. The cache slowly is emptied and at the end is still 5Gb. This is not very scientific of course. So indeed the Studio computer is robust in memory management.
I did remove FSecure like you suggested (I had disabled FSecure in my old iMac but it reactivated itself in the migration to the new Studio...) and I think removing that was very good.

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Answer 8

PRP_53

Level 10

91,213 points

Dec 17, 2022 2:40 AM in response to alberti-nl

It is suggested downloading the Current version of Etrecheck Application Etrecheck directly from the Developer.

The version used to generate this Report is version 5.7.2 is very outdated.

The new Etrecheck Application will give a more Robust peek into this computer.

That said, I will have a look at the current report and get back to you shortly

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Answer 9

PRP_53

Level 10

91,213 points

Dec 17, 2022 4:23 AM in response to alberti-nl

Using Third Party Software to manage External Drives is IMHO a receipt for Issues.

Most of not all versions os macOS are very well equipped to manage External Drives without the interference of Third Party Software.

Most often, the third party software is buggy at best and then the Version of that software is also often not up to date enough to be compatible with the Version of macOS being used on the computer

The only exceptions would be if the External Drives are used with a Windows Drive Format - namely NTFS format.

macOS can Read an NTFS drive but can Not Write to that drive

Will have a look at the New Etrecheck report and get back to you

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Answer 10

PRP_53

Level 10

91,213 points

Dec 17, 2022 4:27 AM in response to alberti-nl

Sorry the New Report will not download and only getting some weird multi downloads

From the Old Report

Q - Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.wdc.WDPrivilegedHelper.plist

Executable: /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.wdc.WDPrivilegedHelper

Q - SamsungPortableSSDDriver.kext - com.samsung.portablessd.driver (2.0.0 - SDK 10.16)

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Answer 11

Barney-15E

Level 10

116,218 points

Dec 17, 2022 2:56 AM in response to alberti-nl

The thing to concern you is why the OS is not using all the RAM. You’ve got about 6GB it is wasting.

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Answer 12

Barney-15E

Level 10

116,218 points

Dec 17, 2022 3:46 AM in response to alberti-nl

macOS has been keeping all RAM in use for at least the last five versions. Maybe with 32GB it can’t find enough things running to fill it up. I used RAM is wasted RAM.

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Answer 13

alberti-nl Author

Level 1

24 points

Dec 17, 2022 4:21 AM in response to alberti-nl

I also kicked out OneDrive. . .

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Answer 14

alberti-nl Author

Level 1

24 points

Dec 17, 2022 4:24 AM in response to Barney-15E

Hi Barney.

You mean that what I see as memory hogging is normal then? [scratch my head]

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Answer 15

PRP_53

Level 10

91,213 points

Dec 17, 2022 6:32 AM in response to alberti-nl

Effectively - with the posting above having been the " Best Answer " the remainder of the Etrecheck New Report become moot to your original question regarding RAM Usages

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My one day old Studio Max already has 26Gb of memory used (apps + cache) . . . how to reduce it?

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