Why is 6GB ram being used with barely anything going on?

Question

Tokadub Author

Level 1

8 points

Why is 6GB ram being used with barely anything going on?

So I'm looking at my Activity Monitor for the first time since I got the late 2013 Macbook Pro.

To my amazement it's showing 6GB being used or 75% of my 8GB?!

But looking at the activity monitor is showing that the highest ram use is Kernel Monitor at 600MB.

After that it's com.apple.ServiceAgent @ 170MB and Google Chrome at 140MB.

Than there are like 15 "Google Chrome Helpers" ranging from like 100-30MB. What in the world is "Google Chrome Helpers" this seems like some kind of operating system bug to me...

I have about 13 Google Chrome tabs open but even more Helpers than tabs in the Activity Monitor...

There's no way a small Google Chrome session should take up well over 1gb ram?!

Even still, if I estimate all the Memory usage displayed in my Activity monitor it should be low 2GB, defenitely less than 3GB.

So why is it saying 6GB in use? The MAC OS couldn't possibly be 3 GB right???

This is crazy and I've noticed my MAC is pretty sluggish today while I'm trying to work. What in the world is going on here?

Can I manually cancel all those " Google Chrome Helpers" for starters?

On Windows 7 I could have literally 100's of internet tabs open and see less than 6GB ram useage no joke! Need help here please.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Dec 3, 2013 5:17 PM

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Answer 1

xpirex

Level 1

17 points

May 9, 2014 2:28 AM in response to Csound1

So far so good Csound, I'm actually liking it. Adding things slowly as you suggested.

Here's a nOOb question, Finder by default in Mavericks has no Home folder, no Music folder or Photos folder. Why is this and where are they?

Cheers

.

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Answer 2

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

May 11, 2014 3:49 PM in response to xpirex

Yes you should, but you must be quite certain that your backup is complete.

Choose this option:

This will delete everything on the old partition (did you change the partition names?) and transfer an exact copy of the 50G partition to the original one.

Are you clear on what will happen?

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Answer 3

Dec 3, 2013 5:44 PM in response to Tokadub

Mavericks is designed to use RAM differently for good reason. Normal

http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/06/12/compressed-memory-in-os-x-109-maverick s-aims-to-free-ram-extend-battery-life

Mavericks uses RAM much more efficiently than any other previous version of OS X. Mavericks now has a memory compression feature that will compress the memory occupied by applications that aren't being actively used and give the freed up RAM to the application that needs it the most.

Memory Pressure graph that tells you how stressed is the system in terms of memory.

Fore more information about OS X Mavericks new system management technologies visit:

http://www.apple.com/osx/advanced-technologies/

See page 5 here:

http://images.apple.com/media/us/osx/2013/docs/OSX_Mavericks_Core_Technology_Ove rview.pdf

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Answer 4

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

May 8, 2014 5:44 AM in response to xpirex

Chrome is old poorly written 32bit code running on a modern 64bit OS, stop using it and the memory issue will go away.

Mavericks is faster than any previous version of OSX

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Answer 5

Tokadub Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 3, 2013 5:33 PM in response to Tokadub

So closing all the Chrome related stuff I got the RAM usage to 4.6GB which is still WAY too high for just the operating system. According to the activity monitor I should only have like 1GB RAM usage after closing all that stuff...

Does the OS really take like 3GB ram that's insane?!

And then after manually closing all the Chrome stuff so there's nothing Chrome related in the Activity Monitor when I opened Chrome again it went from 4.6 GB to 5.9GB for like 15 Chrome tabs.

What is going on?! These are simple little text pages how is it taking up 1.3GB RAM?

This seems like a huge bug to me.

Gonna try to mess around with Google Chrome settings to see if maybe disabling the automatic resume browser session could help fix this nonsense.

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Answer 6

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Dec 3, 2013 6:27 PM in response to Tokadub

Tokadub wrote:

Than there are like 15 "Google Chrome Helpers" ranging from like 100-30MB. What in the world is "Google Chrome Helpers" this seems like some kind of operating system bug to me...

Google Chrome Helpers are installed by Google Chrome, nothing to do with OS X

Chrome itself is quite a memory hog.

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Answer 7

Tokadub Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 3, 2013 8:11 PM in response to PlotinusVeritas

That all sounds great in theory but I'm looking at my Activity Monitor right now and it says:

Compressed: 0 bytes

So it sounds like I'm not getting any of the benefits with the compression from that article?

My other stats are looking like:

App Memory: 3.41 GB

File Cache : 2.05 GB

Wired Memory: ~1GB

My memory pressure looks about 20% at least even with 6.65 GB active.

Is there a reason why I have no compressed memory? It sounds like that was the whole point of this system but it's not doing anything for me? Or does that only kick in once you use up all 8GB?

I'm not sure about all this. I've been a PC guy all my life and overall I'm EXTREMELY satisfied with both my macbook pro and the iPad air I just got. But I got this stuff so I can develope games for iOS using Unity 3D, and I need a laptop. So I didn't make this purchase for the heck of it, this is business to me. And recently I've noticed that Unity 3D and Monodevelop are becoming increasingly sluggish. Because I'm having some lag problems even with just using Monodevelop which is a simple IDE for my C# work, I have been trying to figure out what's the problem here.

Apparently lots of others are having trouble with Mac OS Maverick when using Unity 3D. I'm just hoping this stuff gets sorted out and doing my best to see if I can improve the performance.

Are there any guides for optimizing a macbook pro for faster performance? It's not acceptable for me to have lag while I work. Right now I'm trying to work only on the macbook pro so I get used to it and can hopefully work nearly as fast as the PC even without using duel monitors so I can work on the go.

Just such a big difference from PC where I am quite profficient. On MAC I have no clue what I can do to fix lag.

Is there a way to modify what progams launch on start up similar to on PC typing "msconfig" in start bar allows you to edit this kind of thing?

Unity 3D is a pretty big deal for iOS and MAC development so hopefully if it is just some kind of code problems with Unity and Maverick this get's sorted out ASAP. Until then I'm doing my best to see if there's any thing I can do on my end.

The huge RAM usage was a big red flag to me on first glance, but I guess you guys are saying this is fine. Still seems strange to me how much RAM is being used, on PC I can't imagine ever needing more than 8GB Ram, on Mac it seems like this could be pretty easy to accomplish, which explains why there is 16GB RAM models which to me seemed excessive.

So I'm guessing it's normal to have that many "Google Chrome Helpers" active at once?

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Answer 8

Tokadub Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 3, 2013 8:17 PM in response to Tokadub

Oh and here's the link from Unity 3D about this problem. It's gotten nearly 800 votes already so maybe somehow my problems here can be escalated if there's anything MAC can do to help fix this Unity issue.

http://issuetracker.unity3d.com/issues/maverick-and-unity-performance-issues

It's just this computer is WAY too fast given the specs to have lag while doing simple C# work in Monodevelop. Kinda worrying me...

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Answer 9

xpirex

Level 1

17 points

May 8, 2014 5:00 AM in response to Tokadub

People keep extolling the virtues of Mavericks memory management.. but it made my Macbook Pro as slow as ****. I got rid of it.

The Chrome issue is also nothing to do with Mavericks managing memory better.. I'm using Chrome on Mountain Lion and it's still a colossal memory hog. I have a single instant of a Google Chrome Helper right now taking 1.5 gigs of ram!!

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Answer 10

xpirex

Level 1

17 points

May 8, 2014 5:42 AM in response to Csound1

It makes a lot of sense.

Some people say that Chrome uses so much memory because Mavericks is allowing it to utilise as much free ram as possible hence 'Google Chrome Helper' instances using up to 3 and 4 gigs of ram.

But that makes no sense because Mountain Lion does not have Mavericks touted memory management features yet Chrome still hogs massive amounts of memory there too. Chrome is just a memory hog full stop. Why on earth would a simple instance of a browser displaying nothing but text and a few static images ever need 4 gigs of ram when even the most demanding and complex 3D high speed graphic intense video games use less ram.

Make sense now?

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Answer 11

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

May 8, 2014 6:12 AM in response to xpirex

xpirex wrote:

That makes sense. Which browser would you recommend?

Safari.

Csound1: "Mavericks is faster than any previous version of OSX"

That has not been everyone's experience.

Then they have failed to properly prepare for the upgrade, simple as that.

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Answer 12

xpirex

Level 1

17 points

May 8, 2014 6:27 AM in response to Csound1

Pray tell how does one prepare for the upgrade?

The Apple Store practically forces it on everyone and there are no warnings at all about preparing anything at all. It simply over writes your OS with itself.

I'd love to hear what this 'preperation' is all about..

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Answer 13

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

May 8, 2014 6:33 AM in response to xpirex

xpirex wrote:

Pray tell how does one prepare for the upgrade?

1. By verifying that your Mac does not have software that won't run correctly before upgrading

2. By rectifying any issues with your Mac before upgrading

3. By making a complete bootable backup prior to upgrading so you may reverse the upgrade if you need to.

You did all these right?

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Answer 14

xpirex

Level 1

17 points

May 8, 2014 6:39 AM in response to Csound1

I did all of that and much more. I was very thorough. All my apps worked fine. but entire system was very very sluggish.

Even booting up and shutting too sometimes over 10 minutes. That's simply unacceptable. I returned to Mountain Lion and I boot up from cold in seconds again and sut down almost instantly.

Then there's this:

http://www.imore.com/os-x-mavericks-problems-drive-me-nuts-how-about-you

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Answer 15

xpirex

Level 1

17 points

May 8, 2014 7:41 AM in response to Csound1

Hardware Information:
MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2010)
MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro6,1
1 2.66 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 2 cores
8 GB RAM

Video Information:
Intel HD Graphics - VRAM: 288 MB
NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M - VRAM: 512 MB

System Software:
OS X 10.8.5 (12F45) - Uptime: 20 days 3:31:41

Disk Information:
Hitachi HTS545050B9SA02 disk0 : (500.11 GB)
disk0s1 (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB
xxxx (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 499.25 GB (150.8 GB free)
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>: 650 MB

MATSHITADVD-R UJ-898

USB Information:
Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Thunderbolt Information:

Gatekeeper:
Anywhere

Kernel Extensions:
[kext loaded] at.obdev.nke.LittleSnitch (4052 - SDK 10.8) Support
[not loaded] com.caiaq.driver.NIUSBGuitarRigMobileDriver (2.4.23) Support
[not loaded] com.caiaq.driver.NIUSBHardwareDriver (2.4.23) Support
[not loaded] com.focusrite.driver.usb2audio (1.8 - SDK 10.6) Support
[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.leopard (5.9.1 - SDK 10.4) Support
[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.master (5.9.1 - SDK 10.6) Support
[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.panther (5.9.1 - SDK 10.3) Support
[kext loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.snowleopard (5.9.1 - SDK 10.6) Support
[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.tiger (5.9.1 - SDK 10.4) Support
[not loaded] jp.co.roland.RDUSB0127Dev (1.0.0 - SDK 10.6) Support

Startup Items:
RDUSB0127Startup: Path: /Library/StartupItems/RDUSB0127Startup

Problem System Launch Daemons:
[failed] com.apple.coresymbolicationd.plist
[failed] com.apple.wdhelper.plist

Problem System Launch Agents:
[failed] com.apple.AirPlayUIAgent.plist
[failed] com.apple.printtool.agent.plist
[failed] com.apple.rcd.plist

Launch Daemons:
[running] at.obdev.littlesnitchd.plist Support
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist Support
[loaded] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist Support
[loaded] com.avid.bsd.DigiShoeTool.plist Support
[loaded] com.lsreset.plist Support
[invalid] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist
[running] com.paceap.eden.licensed.plist Support
[loaded] com.radiosilenceapp.nke.plist Support
[not loaded] org.gpgtools.gpgmail.patch-uuid.plist Support
[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plist Support
[loaded] PACESupport.plist Support

Launch Agents:
[running] at.obdev.LittleSnitchUIAgent.plist Support
[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist Support
[loaded] com.divx.dms.agent.plist Support
[loaded] com.divx.update.agent.plist Support
[invalid] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist
[loaded] com.radiosilenceapp.agent.plist Support
[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist Support

User Launch Agents:
[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist Support
[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist Support

User Login Items:
iTunesHelper
Activity Monitor
Dropbox
NIHardwareAgent

Internet Plug-ins:
FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 12.0.0.77 - SDK 10.6 Support
QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.1
DivX Web Player: Version: 3.1.0.13 - SDK 10.5 Support
AdobePDFViewer: Version: 10.1.1 Support
Flash Player: Version: 12.0.0.77 - SDK 10.6 Cannot contact Adobe
OVSHelper: Version: 1.1 Support
JavaAppletPlugin: Version: 14.9.0 - SDK 10.7 Check version

Safari Extensions:
Awesome Screenshot: Version: 1.4.2
AdBlock: Version: 2.6.31

Audio Plug-ins:
AirPlay: Version: 1.7 - SDK 10.8
iSightAudio: Version: 7.7.1 - SDK 10.8

iTunes Plug-ins:
Quartz Composer Visualizer: Version: 1.4 - SDK 10.8

3rd Party Preference Panes:
Flash Player Support
FUSE for OS X (OSXFUSE) Support

Time Machine:
Time Machine not configured!

Top Processes by CPU:
4% WindowServer
3% thunderbird
1% Activity Monitor
1% activitymonitord
0% Little Snitch Network Monitor

Top Processes by Memory:
516 MB WebProcess
319 MB Safari
254 MB thunderbird
221 MB mds
180 MB WindowServer

Virtual Memory Information:
3.56 GB Free RAM
2.37 GB Active RAM
694 MB Inactive RAM
1.39 GB Wired RAM
228.35 GB Page-ins
14.49 GB Page-outs

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