Web Process + Safari now hogging 50-75% more memory than Safari 5.0.5 did

When I started to have the memory problem back then, I switched to Chrome, but the problem continued. Eventually I switched back to Safari and I'm still using it without any major issues, and I only have 4GB RAM.

The problem seems to be related to Flash and Java and certain website that abuse the use of these. To make things better I upgraded to the latest versions of both, but the problem would persist. Wat really helped a lot was the use of Glimmer Blocker, to filter those pesky, CPU and RAM consuming ads.

I also use SystemPal in case I need to recover any RAM that may have leaked out.

As a test, disable all JAVA, Flash and JavaScript, and you'll see your precious RAM doesn't disappear. Of course, at least JavaScript should be enabled, as it's required by many websites.

Switched to Firefox 10 days back myself. Performance on my MBP has improved SIGNIFICANTLY. I have 8GB of RAM, of which I typically had ~300mb free with safari open, but with Firefix I have about 1.5 Gb available at all times; CPU usage has dropped from 60%-90% to less than 30% (unless I'm running Excel), and thanks to this battery life has improved too.

I didn't want to lose the look and feel of Safari because I think it's superior to any other browser out there, so I resisted the switch to Firefox for many months. I squarely blame Apple for driving me to this point by allowing Safari to slow my system to a crawl!

I think they aren't fixing the issue because they want to force Snow Leopard users to upgrade, but that ain't happening because I'm too much of a Mac/Desktop purist. I love iOS, but mobile features are best left on a mobile.

That's interesting. I have not suffered a memory leak related to Safari in months. I do keep Java and Flash updated, so that may have solved the problem for me.

100 Watt Walrus wrote:

Thread originator here. I'm still on Snow Leopard and also still seeing problems with Safari hogging memory, but I'm still using it for personal surfing because there are certain features I can't give up, like using CMD+[number] for bookmarks in the bookmark bar rather than for switch-to-tab-number (which is a ridiculous use of CMD+[number] because you have to sit there and count how many tabs in a certain tab may be).

I use Chrome for work (mainly because I need multiple identities).

Coincidentally, Cmd+[number] was one of my most used features on Safari too, and I didn't make the move the Firefox until I was sure I could get that same functionality. There's an add-on for Firefox called 'Bookmark Shortcut Key' that replicates this Safari feature.

Also, Firefox allows multiple "incognito" windows like Chrome now too.

Are you listening, Apple Safari team?

Here's what we want:

An extension for the latest version of Safari that can be enabled in order to permanently TURN OFF prefetching.

I turned prefetch off using the terminal command I found on one of the discussion sites, but Google (Chrome pushers) keep turning it back on, and every time they do, Safari slows to a crawl just to load my homepage. The version of Safari running on my old 400 MHz Titanium powerbook loads faster. This is just sad. Do you know, the reason Google does this is to induce Safari userst to switch to Chrome on a permanent basis. I'll bet it works. I'm already thinking, my upgrade to Safari for Mountain Lion leaves something to be desired. Even fast quad processors can't compensate for sheer programming stupidity.

We DON'T NEED prefetch for 99% of internet browsing. What are the chances, any user will access even 1/3 of the links on a given page? Not much, so please KILL REFRESH. Make it easy for us. If it takes a new release of Safari in order to accomplish this, just DO IT.

That's my 2 cents worth. So if you disagree, you'll need to tell me why anyone ever needed prefetch. Like we also needed a dozen or so "free" toolbars, maybe.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3190569?answerId=23685234022#23685234022&tstart=0#23685234

Hope this helps you!!

Stuart

I have huge issues with Safari since I installed Mavericks. Basically when Safari is running 90 % of my memory disaperes. It slows down the whole system and the only way to work normally is to quit Safari completely.

Yep, they keep telling us with every new upgrade in OS that a "new & improved" Safari will make our browsing once again a pleasant experience, yet time & time again, the same problems & issues remain..... Why should their native browser work well below those not produced by Apple? I can run Opera for days without it slowing, crashing, or it's web content suddenly rebooting, as I'm in the middle of something, but Safari, if I get a few trouble-free hours out of it, that's unusual.....

I always suspect for these inconveniences of Flash and Java.