Serious Issue: I keep running out of RAM!

Just saw an interesting discussion here that mentions high kernel_task when it is paging out contents of RAM to disk.

http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/133277/disk-space-disappears-to-0-then- after-a-while-i-have-free-space

Since NewbMacUser has plenty of free disk space, could it be bad RAM?

NewbMacUser, have you installed third party RAM?

Close all applications you aren't actively using.

Don't have so many log-in items.

Try re-installing Evernote or find a replacement.

Consider adding more RAM.

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/mac-mini/

I just want to have access to more of my RAM. I need to have Evernote and Littlesnitch open.

We know that and we're trying to help you. Are you listening?

tbirdvet & Drew have given you excellent advice, but it doesn't ook like you've taken it to heart.

In your first report, Evernote is taking up 56% of your CPU!!!

I don't use it, but does it have a cache you can empty, or perhaps an update?

LogMein is for 10.6.

Flash probably needs updating.

Test with LastPass off.

Picasa is very old.

Logitech Mouse: Needs updated driver?

Your backup disk is too small.

Firefox is using 41% of CPU in the newest log.

Have you emptied the cache there?

Do you leave Skype on most the time?

Just to be clear...

You added to the 2GB RAM with additional RAM for a total now of 8GB.

If you only have 2GB RAM I highly advise upgrading. Eric mentioned macsale. I also recommend them. They also have videos showing how to install so you can decide if you can do this yourself.

If you have 8GB then you really need to look at your apps. You don't have to give up on Evernote but you do need to address why it's hogging CPUs.

Logitech does not auto update it's drivers. Verify that you are running the latest drivers.

He has 8 Gigs:

Hardware Information:

Mac mini (Mid 2011)

Mac mini - model: Macmini5,1

1 2.3 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2 cores

8 GB RAM

~Bee wrote:

He has 8 Gigs:

Hardware Information:

Mac mini (Mid 2011)

Mac mini - model: Macmini5,1

1 2.3 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2 cores

8 GB RAM

yes but is it all bought at the same time, matched and balanced is the crux of Dianeoforegon's question.

My Turn.

You have waaay toooo many startup/login items.

You need to down to six or less login items.

Add or remove automatic items

1. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Users & Groups.
2. Select your user account, then click Login Items.
3. Do one of the following:
   • Click Add ➕ below the list on the right, select an app, document, folder, or disk, then click Add.If you don’t want an item’s windows to be visible after login, select Hide. (Hide does not apply to servers, which always appear in the Finder after login.)
   • Select the name of the item you want to prevent from opening automatically, then click Delete ➖ below the list on the right.

Google Drive is still being problematic on OS X Mavericks.

Completely unistall Google Drive per instructions on Google's website

https://support.google.com/drive/answer/2375081?hl=en

Update all of your Internet web browser plugins and extensions.

You need to update all of your third party software if there are OS X Mavericks updates that can be applied. You may need to go the third party developers' websites if there are no updates through the Mac App Store.

Also, if you have any connected third party devices, like keyboards, mice, drawing tablets, hubs, card readers, audio/video peripherals, etc, you need to update the drivers for these devices to OS X Mavericks compatible versions by going to each device maker's website and search their site for the appropriate Mavericks driver updates that are applicable and available.

That depends on if you update all the old junk on your system before you install it. Just make backups like Apple state on the Yosemite beta page if you want to install it - https://appleseed.apple.com/sp/betaprogram.

Your time may be better spent re-reading the advice here, thus far ignoring it hasn't helped much has it?

For the 4th time, have you updated Logitech Control Centre yet?

http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/support/3129?section=downloads&bit=&osid=35

Yours appears to have been made for Mac OS 10.5

There is nothing wrong with your Mac!

Other than what everyone has already pointed out to you.

Kernel task is what is responsible to keeping track of everything your Mac is doing and is a part of Mavericks.

Kernel Task is basically the controller/ring master for everything within OS X Mavericks.

Mavericks will use the available RAM that it needs.

Kernel task is using less than 4 GBs of RAM out of your total 8 GBs of RAM is very good!

It is supposed to use the RAM that it needs!

Look at Activity Monitor and overall RAM usage and Memory Pressure. If your Memory pressure is green, then everything is working fine.

If it has any yellow or a lot of red bars, then you have too many active processes, runaway processes or you simply may need to add more RAM, if your Mac can take more RAM.

If you haven't done what I and everyone else has told you to do, then you are going to continue having issues.

BTW, according to OWC ( macsales.com) your Mac Mini can take more RAM. A total of 16 GBs of RAM.

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_Mac_mini/DDR3_1333