Another Safari memory leak question

Question

Level 1

10 points

Another Safari memory leak question

Can I get some help figuring out why Safari 5 is taking up so much memory? As soon as I launch it my memory usage goes up by a gig. I didn't have that problem until upgrading to Safari 5. I've disabled extensions, uninstalled extensions, uninstalled all the third party stuff like AdBlock, Click2Flash and Glims. Bare bones Safari 5 is still using just as much. What else can I look for?

Currently running 5.0.1, preparing to update to 5.0.2. Hoping it helps, but I haven't heard reports one way or the other about it.

MacBook 13", Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Sep 9, 2010 7:22 PM

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Answer 1

Cow Cow

Level 1

0 points

Sep 14, 2010 5:29 AM in response to littlezilla

For the first time since Safari's debut, I've had to relegate it to "2nd browser" status.
I use MacBook Air- RAM is fixed at 2GB, and Safari 5.0.2 blasts 700+ MB RAM away within an hour of use.

OUCH!

I use no extensions, no "adds", nothing- And unless this can be remedied, I'm using Firefox (despite my personal preferences to the contrary).

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Answer 2

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Sep 14, 2010 5:54 AM in response to littlezilla

Hi littlezilla & cow cow

anything much over 3-400 MB of real memory seems excessive in my experience over 10.5/6 & safari 3/4/5.
I use not much flash, due click2flash, but otherwise is thoroughly stock.
---

there's no 'use less memory' preference, and I would think 1GB+ to be rare, so chances are there's something different on your systems, or in the content you browse. I guess that non-64 bit intels & ppc's may show a higher figure due plugins being included in safari's usage rather than showing up in a separate process.

I'd test in a new user account, just long enough to make sure the problem remains, and then start with all plugins removed & work from there. It can be long-winded, but no-one else will do it for you, since believe it or not, 1GB + is unusual.
Naturally, you may find it simpler to use another browser

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Answer 3

Sep 15, 2010 7:29 AM in response to littlezilla

I get a similar problem.

After some time (a few hours, haven't checked exactly) Safari will easily get over 1GB of Real Memory usage. Right now it's at 1.18GB with 13 tabs open.

I do have AdBlock installed, and I understand that has memory issues. So I will disable that and see if it makes a difference.

I've seen plenty of other people complaining online in forums the Safari has memory leaks and has had for quite some time, as far as I can ascertain (months or more).

Jonathan

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Answer 4

sbuzdug

Level 1

8 points

Sep 21, 2010 11:17 AM in response to littlezilla

Same here - routinely over 500MB of RAM used up and drive paging starts to kick in, slowing down other applications. This release is a behemoth - and seriously considering Camino as my primary browser now. Camino seems to use up more CPU but way less memory. Hope Apple addresses this!

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Answer 5

Sep 23, 2010 8:03 AM in response to littlezilla

Same issue here.
Using Safari vs. 5.0.2
Even after quitting Safari and re-opening it all the initial memory does not return. If I Force Quit Safari (which I have to do regularly due to the Spinning Ball) all the memory comes back that apparently Safari tied up and hid.

I am fairly confident this issue did not appear until after upgrading from Safari 4 to 5.

I added the Extension: Sessions just so I could re-open Safari after a common Spinning Ball crash so I can re open all the tabs I was at before the crash.

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