Kernel Task - Excessive Memory Usage?

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Level 1

45 points

Kernel Task - Excessive Memory Usage?

I used many different keywords searching for this question or something similar. Nothing found.

I understand what Kernel is and what it does, but how much memory should be used on Kernel_Task for Mac OS X 10.6.6, normally? Currently 407.3MB is being used, which is quite excessive in my opinion. Am I wrong?

MacBook Pro (Late 2009), Mac OS X (10.6.6), Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.26GHz, 3GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, 160GB Hardrive

Posted on Feb 25, 2011 4:34 PM

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Answer 1

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,535 points

Feb 25, 2011 4:52 PM in response to Sir Wetzel

That's about the same as what I have.

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Answer 2

Sir Wetzel Author

Level 1

45 points

Feb 25, 2011 4:59 PM in response to Sir Wetzel

The 407.3MB on top of the 844.9MB Wired Memory, not unless the 407MB is already added into it.

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Answer 3

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,535 points

Feb 25, 2011 5:14 PM in response to Sir Wetzel

Some of it is wired, some may not be. You don't need to worry about that. The only memory statistic that should concern you is total pageouts, shown in the System Memory tab of Activity Monitor. If that starts getting anywhere close to the amount of RAM you have, then either some process has a memory leak or you don't have enough memory installed for what you're trying to do.

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Answer 4

Sir Wetzel Author

Level 1

45 points

Feb 25, 2011 5:24 PM in response to Linc Davis

Thanks for another quick reply. I restarted my computer and attempted to reset PRAM, but didn't work primarily because I'm using the wrong keys. Control + Command + P and R was used on my mid-2005 iBook G4, not sure if they keys have changed or not.

Kernel is now about 270MB with Wired at 660MB.

I understand that Mac's use a lot of RAM because that's how it's system operates. But I just don't understand why it needs to be so excessive.

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Answer 5

punkkid2

Level 1

0 points

Nov 21, 2011 5:05 AM in response to Sir Wetzel

You must be lucky; my wired memory is 1.65 GB, and kernel_task uses up 800 MB

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