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How do you purge ram in Yosemite?

I have a 2011 iMac and already its running slow.I have plenty of RAM, 18G and tried many solutions. I'm running 10.10 and just tried to purge RAM in terminal but got the following error message:

Unable to purge disk buffers: Operation not permitted

cpe-68-174-146-172:~

Anybody know how to purge RAM in Yosemite?


<Edited by Host>

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10), null

Posted on Nov 1, 2014 9:37 AM

Reply
12 replies

Nov 1, 2014 9:45 AM in response to rivermantengo

Why do you think too much unused memory is being held...

is there any evidence the processes in effect aren't correct?


Perhaps the cause of slowness is related to some other

factor, maybe something running in the background using

the processor cycles. Did you install anti-virus? If so, you

may find it contributory to ineffectual OS X. Uninstall, if so.


Any clues in Console system logs? Sometimes far simpler

to look into Activity Monitor and see related functions there.


In any event...

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

Dec 22, 2014 5:04 AM in response to rivermantengo

the program in app store called free memory also support doing it

but having free memory does not speak up your system only if something is not getting the memory it needs

does things slow down and the purge happen automatically if something is requesting more memory

the reason it does not just keep purging itself is that it slows the system down to release it when nobody are requesting it

Dec 22, 2014 8:20 AM in response to rivermantengo

Restarting the computer purges RAM but, if you have OS 10.9 or 10.10, it won't change what you see.


We are starting to see a number of questions about purging/cleaning RAM. I suspect this is because people are using the obsolete methods of OS10.8 and older to see what RAM is used while running 10.9 and higher. They are assuming nothing about how RAM handling has changed as the Mac OS evolves.


Starting with Mavericks, a lot of free RAM is pre-reserved for maximum access speed. Example. My iMac (running 10.9.4) has 12 GB of RAM--That's a decent pile. My Activity Monitor Memory chart looks like this with Safari, Mail, Messages, and some other stuff running:

User uploaded file

Note that almost all my 12GB is "used" but the computer runs at lightning speed. The new indicators are "Memory Pressure" and "Swap Used." Pressure should be green and Swap should be under about 100MB, and not shown in GB!


Here is an Apple article on what Activity Monitor reports for Memory since 10.9:


Activity Monitor: View memory usage


If you computer is running slow, then look a K Shaffer's comments--something other than Memory is much more likely the problem. I would expand his questions about third-party software to include the following questions:


1) Are you running any anti-virus/internet security applications?

2) Are you running any "cleaning/tune-up/optimizations" applications?

3) Any peer-to-peer or torrent downloading software?

4) Any third-party disk backup software that came bundled with an external hard drive?

5) Any online backup scheme other than iCloud or Dropbox (Carbonite; GoogleDrive; MS One Drive)?

Dec 22, 2014 11:23 AM in response to rivermantengo

You should not be purging RAM. Recent versions of Mac OS X try to cache as much data in RAM as possible to keep your system running as fast as possible. If your RAM is full, that is not representative of a problem - it's normal. If you purge RAM constantly, you are interfering with normal operation of your computer, and that will cause you more problems than leaving it alone.


Download EtreCheck and use it to generate a system report, then post that report here. That will give us more information about your system that may lead to a solution to your performance problems.

Jul 13, 2015 7:43 AM in response to thomas_r.

Hi Thomas, could you have a look my system report. I have also full ram all the time so I dont know if it si normal.


Thanks


EtreCheck version: 2.2 (132)

Report generated 7/13/15, 4:38 PM

Download EtreCheck from http://etresoft.com/etrecheck


Click the [Click for support] links for help with non-Apple products.

Click the [Click for details] links for more information about that line.


Hardware Information: ℹ️

MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012) (Verified)

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro10,1

1 2.6 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 4-core

8 GB RAM Not upgradeable

BANK 0/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

Wireless: en0: 802.11 a/b/g/n

Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 243 - SN = D863225Q0RZDNMHBP


Video Information: ℹ️

Intel HD Graphics 4000

Color LCD 2880 x 1800

NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M - VRAM: 1024 MB


System Software: ℹ️

OS X 10.10.1 (14B25) - Time since boot: 13 days 18:11:54


Disk Information: ℹ️

APPLE SSD SM512E disk0 : (500,28 GB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

Macintosh HD (disk1) / [Startup]: 499.05 GB (11.40 GB free) (Low!)

Core Storage: disk0s2 499.42 GB Online


USB Information: ℹ️

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller


Thunderbolt Information: ℹ️

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus


Gatekeeper: ℹ️

Mac App Store and identified developers


Kernel Extensions: ℹ️

/Applications/IPVanish.app

[not loaded] foo.tap (1.0) [Click for support]

[not loaded] foo.tun (1.0) [Click for support]


/Applications/Transmit.app

[not loaded] com.panic.TransmitDisk.transmitdiskfs (4.0.0 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]


/Applications/VMware Fusion.app

[not loaded] com.vmware.kext.vmci (90.6.3) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.vmware.kext.vmioplug.14.1.3 (14.1.3) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.vmware.kext.vmnet (0207.55.34) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.vmware.kext.vmx86 (0207.55.34) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.vmware.kext.vsockets (90.6.0) [Click for support]


/Library/Application Support/Avast/components/fileshield/unsigned

[loaded] com.avast.AvastFileShield (2.1.0 - SDK 10.10) [Click for support]


/Library/Application Support/Avast/components/proxy/unsigned

[loaded] com.avast.PacketForwarder (2.0 - SDK 10.10) [Click for support]


/System/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungComposite (1.4.25 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.master (5.9 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.wacom.kext.pentablet (5.3.5 - SDK 10.9) [Click for support]


/System/Library/Extensions/PACESupportFamily.kext/Contents/PlugIns

[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.leopard (5.9 - SDK 10.4) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.panther (5.9 - SDK 10.-1) [Click for support]

[loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.snowleopard (5.9 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.tiger (5.9 - SDK 10.4) [Click for support]


/System/Library/Extensions/ssuddrv.kext/Contents/PlugIns

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungACMControl (1.4.25 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungACMData (1.4.25 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungMTP (1.4.25 - SDK 10.5) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungSerial (1.4.25 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]


Problem System Launch Agents: ℹ️

[killed] com.apple.accountsd.plist

[killed] com.apple.AirPlayUIAgent.plist

[killed] com.apple.bird.plist

[killed] com.apple.CallHistoryPluginHelper.plist

[killed] com.apple.CallHistorySyncHelper.plist

[killed] com.apple.cloudd.plist

[killed] com.apple.coreservices.appleid.authentication.plist

[killed] com.apple.EscrowSecurityAlert.plist

[killed] com.apple.icloud.fmfd.plist

[killed] com.apple.Maps.pushdaemon.plist

[killed] com.apple.nsurlsessiond.plist

[killed] com.apple.printtool.agent.plist

[killed] com.apple.recentsd.plist

[killed] com.apple.sbd.plist

[killed] com.apple.scopedbookmarkagent.xpc.plist

[killed] com.apple.security.cloudkeychainproxy.plist

[killed] com.apple.spindump_agent.plist

[killed] com.apple.telephonyutilities.callservicesd.plist

[killed] com.apple.warmd_agent.plist

19 processes killed due to memory pressure


Problem System Launch Daemons: ℹ️

[killed] com.apple.AssetCacheLocatorService.plist

[killed] com.apple.awdd.plist

[killed] com.apple.ctkd.plist

[killed] com.apple.diagnosticd.plist

[killed] com.apple.emond.aslmanager.plist

[killed] com.apple.GSSCred.plist

[killed] com.apple.icloud.findmydeviced.plist

[killed] com.apple.ifdreader.plist

[killed] com.apple.nehelper.plist

[killed] com.apple.periodic-daily.plist

[killed] com.apple.periodic-weekly.plist

[killed] com.apple.systemstats.analysis.plist

[killed] com.apple.tccd.system.plist

[killed] com.apple.wdhelper.plist

14 processes killed due to memory pressure


Launch Agents: ℹ️

[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist [Click for support]

[failed] com.adobe.AdobeCreativeCloud.plist [Click for support] [Click for details]

[loaded] com.adobe.CS5ServiceManager.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.avast.secureline.update-agent.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.avast.secureline.userinit.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.avast.update-agent.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.avast.userinit.plist [Click for support]

[unknown] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.wacom.pentablet.plist [Click for support]


Launch Daemons: ℹ️

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.avast.init.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.avast.secureline.init.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.avast.secureline.uninstall.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.avast.secureline.update.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.avast.uninstall.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.avast.update.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.cyberghostsrl.CyberghostPrivilegedHelper.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.ipvanish.helper.openvpn.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.ipvanish.helper.pppd.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist [Click for support]

[unknown] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] PACESupport.plist [Click for support]


User Launch Agents: ℹ️

[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.avast.home.userinit.plist [Click for support]

[failed] com.avast.secureline.home.userinit.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.nchsoftware.expressaccounts.agent.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.nchsoftware.expressinvoice.agent.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.nchsoftware.inventoria.agent.plist [Click for support]

[failed] com.nero.HSMMonitor.plist [Click for support]


User Login Items: ℹ️

iTunesHelper Aplikace (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)

Skype Aplikace (/Applications/Skype.app)

Google+ Auto Backup UNKNOWN (missing value)

TransmitMenu UNKNOWN (missing value)

KiesAgent Aplikace Hidden (/Applications/Kies.app/Contents/MacOS/KiesAgent.app)

fuspredownloader Aplikace Hidden (/Users/[redacted]/Library/Application Support/.FUS/fuspredownloader.app)

VMware Fusion Start Menu Aplikace (/Applications/VMware Fusion.app/Contents/Library/VMware Fusion Start Menu.app)


Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

AdobeAAMDetect: Version: AdobeAAMDetect 2.0.0.0 - SDK 10.7 [Click for support]

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 18.0.0.203 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

Flash Player: Version: 18.0.0.203 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10

SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.1.0 [Click for support]

JavaPlugin2_NPAPI: Version: Unknown

WacomTabletPlugin: Version: WacomTabletPlugin 2.1.0.6 - SDK 10.9 [Click for support]

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: 15.0.0 - SDK 10.7 Check version


User internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

Picasa: Version: 1.0 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 7.1 [Click for support]


Safari Extensions: ℹ️

Open in Internet Explorer


3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️

Flash Player [Click for support]

FUSE for OS X (OSXFUSE) [Click for support]

Spelling [Click for support]

PenTablet [Click for support]


Time Machine: ℹ️

Time Machine not configured!


Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️

30% WindowServer

3% BitTorrent

2% com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(5)

2% Safari

2% com.apple.internetaccounts


Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️

1.75 GB kernel_task

377 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(5)

180 MB WindowServer

172 MB Safari

123 MB mds_stores


Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️

46 MB Free RAM

7.95 GB Used RAM

8.10 GB Swap Used


Diagnostics Information: ℹ️

Jul 11, 2015, 05:50:48 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Safari_2015-07-11-175048_[reda cted].crash

Jul 17, 2015 8:00 AM in response to LiamOneness

Having full ram in Yosemite (OS X 10.10) is normal. However, you are having some issues. First, you have very low free space on your hard drive, which impairs virtual memory and causes problems. You need to keep at least 20-30 GB clear. DO NOT use any kind of "cleaning" app to make room, as they will do so by deleting files that shouldn't be deleted, and that will (for the most part) just come right back over time. You'll have to delete things like data files, applications and the like.


Remove Avast, as Eric suggested. Then look through all your kernel extensions and launch agents and daemons. If you see things belonging to software you no longer need, uninstall that software, using only the uninstaller provided by the developer of that software. If you can't eliminate anything, and your memory pressure graph in Activity Monitor goes into the yellow or red, you'll probably need to install more RAM.

How do you purge ram in Yosemite?

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