Yosemite excessive RAM use

Question

Level 1

0 points

Yosemite excessive RAM use

I have been having serious RAM issues ever since I installed Yosemite.

My system is a Mac Pro, 2008. 2 x 2.8 intel processors, 10 GB RAM, NVIDIA Geforce 8800 GT 512

I normally have google and Aperture running, using over 9GB. Is this normal? If my system have not gotten slower, I wouldn't mind. I am having problems with Aperture though as I am working on a very large library.

I tried several things, repaired disk permissions, reset the SMC, reset the PRAM... none of it worked. I tried blocking Google helper, still nothing.

Can someone help me understand if this is normal for Yosemite? Is there any trick I can do about it? Or should I add more RAM and forget about it?

Still.. it's a bit annoying knowing that only a few months ago I was using half the amount of RAM, performing similar tasks.

I am attaching a photo from my activity monitor. Any tips, experiences, comments would help.

Thanks!

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Apr 22, 2015 6:56 AM

Reply

Answer 1

iW00

Level 6

8,542 points

Apr 22, 2015 7:13 AM in response to Elln

Elln wrote:

Can someone help me understand if this is normal for Yosemite? Is there any trick I can do about it?

I don't know what was your previous OS before you have installed Yosemite on it but since OS X Mavericks the way how OS X is working with RAM changed completly.

Looking at the screenshot that you have posted, your Memory pressure is low and there is no need to be worried about it.

Read this articles - go to "Memory" section:

How to use Activity Monitor - Apple Support

Additonal subjects that you might check:

Compressed Memory: https://www.apple.com/osx/advanced-technologies/

Reply

Answer 2

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Apr 22, 2015 7:13 AM in response to Elln

Your RAM usage is normal, it's not the reason for the slowdown. If the pressure graph is green you have no RAM problems, if it is yellow you are running out, if Red you have run out and are swapping to disk. Yours is green.

Reply

Answer 3

Elln Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 22, 2015 7:14 AM in response to Elln

Hi, I wouldn't worry about it, but my computer has become much slower. I can mainly observe this is Aperture. Perhaps is an app issue as Apple is dropping it and not updating anymore?

thanks for your response

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Answer 4

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Apr 22, 2015 7:15 AM in response to Elln

You need to investigate what the issue is, it's not Ram and Aperture has not changed, so it is something else.

Run this and post the report here:

Reply

Answer 5

Elln Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 22, 2015 7:27 AM in response to Csound1

ok guys, thanks for your replies and links.

The one thing I can see as suspicious at the moment is in activity monitor, an item named com.apple.geod which is constantly not responding. Even after force quitting. What's also weird is that I can't find any maps files in the preferences to delete and re-create or in the cache in my library.

Could that be related? Any ideas on tests I can do beyond the basic ones?

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Answer 6

iW00

Level 6

8,542 points

Apr 22, 2015 7:31 AM in response to Elln

Elln wrote:

Could that be related? Any ideas on tests I can do beyond the basic ones?

Isolating issues in Mac OS X - Apple Support

Isolating an issue by using another user account - Apple ...

OS X: What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode? - Apple Support

Aperture 3.x: Creating New Libraries

Reply

Answer 7

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Apr 22, 2015 7:45 AM in response to Elln

Elln wrote:

ok guys, thanks for your replies and links.

The one thing I can see as suspicious at the moment is in activity monitor, an item named com.apple.geod which is constantly not responding. Even after force quitting. What's also weird is that I can't find any maps files in the preferences to delete and re-create or in the cache in my library.

Could that be related? Any ideas on tests I can do beyond the basic ones?

I already linked to the test, you have not used it, I can't do anything about that. If you want to test it has already been provided.

Reply

Answer 8

Elln Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 22, 2015 7:51 AM in response to Csound1

I am so blind, I didn't see it. Apologies!

Here it is,

EtreCheck version: 2.2 (132)

Report generated 4/22/15, 3:49 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

Mac Pro (Early 2008) (Technical Specifications)

Mac Pro - model: MacPro3,1

2 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon CPU: 8-core

10 GB RAM Upgradeable

DIMM Riser B/DIMM 1

2 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 800 MHz ok

DIMM Riser B/DIMM 2

2 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 800 MHz ok

DIMM Riser A/DIMM 1

1 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 800 MHz ok

DIMM Riser A/DIMM 2

1 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 800 MHz ok

DIMM Riser B/DIMM 3

2 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 800 MHz ok

DIMM Riser B/DIMM 4

2 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 800 MHz ok

DIMM Riser A/DIMM 3

Empty

DIMM Riser A/DIMM 4

Empty

Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

Video Information: ℹ️

NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT - VRAM: 512 MB

DELL 2408WFP 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz

System Software: ℹ️

OS X 10.10.2 (14C1514) - Time since boot: 3:49:51

Disk Information: ℹ️

WDC WD2002FAEX-007BA0 disk0 : (2 TB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Disc 4 (disk0s2) /Volumes/Disc 4 : 2.00 TB (176.87 GB free)

ST3000DM001-1CH166 disk1 : (3 TB)

EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Disc 2 (disk1s2) /Volumes/Disc 2 : 3.00 TB (895.84 GB free)

ST31000528AS disk3 : (1 TB)

EFI (disk3s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Disc 3 (disk3s2) /Volumes/Disc 3 : 999.86 GB (161.88 GB free)

ST31500341AS disk2 : (1.5 TB)

EFI (disk2s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Recovery HD (disk2s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

Macintosh HD (disk4) / : 1.50 TB (1.13 TB free)

Encrypted AES-XTS Unlocked

Core Storage: disk2s2 1.50 TB Online

USB Information: ℹ️

Apple Inc. iPhone

Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub

Apple, Inc Apple Keyboard

Generic Flash Card Reader

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Configuration files: ℹ️

/etc/hosts - Count: 15

Gatekeeper: ℹ️

Mac App Store and identified developers

Kernel Extensions: ℹ️

/Applications/Toast 11 Titanium/Spin Doctor.app

[not loaded] com.hzsystems.terminus.driver (4) [Click for support]

/System/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.macvide.driver.MacVideAudioConnectorDriver (1.0.0) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.wacom.kext.pentablet (5.2.0) [Click for support]

/Users/[redacted]/Library/Services/ToastIt.service/Contents/MacOS

[not loaded] com.roxio.TDIXController (2.0) [Click for support]

Startup Items: ℹ️

HP USB EWS Gateway: Path: /Library/StartupItems/HP USB EWS Gateway

HPlaserjet Trap Monitor: Path: /Library/StartupItems/HPlaserjet Trap Monitor

MySQLCOM: Path: /Library/StartupItems/MySQLCOM

Startup items are obsolete in OS X Yosemite

Launch Agents: ℹ️

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

[running] com.adobe.AdobeCreativeCloud.plist [Click for support]

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

[failed] com.wacom.pentablet.plist [Click for support] [Click for details]

Launch Daemons: ℹ️

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

[not loaded] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist [Click for support]

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

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

User Launch Agents: ℹ️

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

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

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

[running] com.spotify.webhelper.plist [Click for support]

User Login Items: ℹ️

Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)

Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 2.2.3.7 [Click for support]

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

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 17.0.0.169 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 11.0.01 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

Silverlight: Version: 5.1.30514.0 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

Flash Player: Version: 17.0.0.169 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0

SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.4.8 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

AdobePDFViewer: Version: 11.0.01 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: 15.0.0 - SDK 10.10 Check version

3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️

Flash Player [Click for support]

Flip4Mac WMV [Click for support]

Growl [Click for support]

Perian [Click for support]

Time Machine: ℹ️

Skip System Files: NO

Mobile backups: OFF

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 1.50 TB Disk used: 365.32 GB

Disc 2: Disk size: 3.00 TB Disk used: 2.10 TB

Destinations:

timemachine [Network]

Total size: 23.87 TB

Total number of backups: 58

Oldest backup: 2014-07-11 22:36:12 +0000

Last backup: 2015-04-22 14:10:58 +0000

Size of backup disk: Excellent

Backup size 23.87 TB > (Disk size 4.50 TB X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️

3% WindowServer

1% fontd

1% Google Chrome Helper(8)

0% Google Chrome

0% Creative Cloud

Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️

1.09 GB Google Chrome Helper(8)

852 MB kernel_task

676 MB Image Capture Extension

307 MB mdworker(12)

215 MB Google Chrome

Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️

2.30 GB Free RAM

7.70 GB Used RAM

86 MB Swap Used

Diagnostics Information: ℹ️

Apr 22, 2015, 11:57:34 AM Self test - passed

Apr 21, 2015, 04:18:11 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Aperture_2015-04-21-161811_[redacted].cpu_resou rce.diag [Click for details]

Apr 21, 2015, 02:42:17 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/VLC_2015-04-21-144217_[redacte d].crash

Apr 20, 2015, 02:44:51 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Aperture_2015-04-20-144451_[redacted].cpu_resou rce.diag [Click for details]

Apr 20, 2015, 02:23:53 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Aperture_2015-04-20-142353_[redacted].cpu_resou rce.diag [Click for details]

Apr 20, 2015, 10:55:39 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Aperture_2015-04-20-105539_[redacted].cpu_resou rce.diag [Click for details]

Reply

Answer 9

Elln Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 22, 2015 8:05 AM in response to Elln

I redid the test with Aperture running and discover the heaviest CPU user was mdworker. I don't know much about that but maybe spotlight is related? I also use and add metadata a lot in Aperture. If you can have a look and see anything I should worry about or look more into I would really appreciate. Thank you

EtreCheck version: 2.2 (132)

Report generated 4/22/15, 3:55 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

Mac Pro (Early 2008) (Technical Specifications)

Mac Pro - model: MacPro3,1

2 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon CPU: 8-core

10 GB RAM Upgradeable

DIMM Riser B/DIMM 1

2 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 800 MHz ok

DIMM Riser B/DIMM 2

2 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 800 MHz ok

DIMM Riser A/DIMM 1

1 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 800 MHz ok

DIMM Riser A/DIMM 2

1 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 800 MHz ok

DIMM Riser B/DIMM 3

2 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 800 MHz ok

DIMM Riser B/DIMM 4

2 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 800 MHz ok

DIMM Riser A/DIMM 3

Empty

DIMM Riser A/DIMM 4

Empty

Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

Video Information: ℹ️

NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT - VRAM: 512 MB

DELL 2408WFP 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz

System Software: ℹ️

OS X 10.10.2 (14C1514) - Time since boot: 3:56:16

Disk Information: ℹ️

WDC WD2002FAEX-007BA0 disk0 : (2 TB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Disc 4 (disk0s2) /Volumes/Disc 4 : 2.00 TB (176.87 GB free)

ST3000DM001-1CH166 disk1 : (3 TB)

EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Disc 2 (disk1s2) /Volumes/Disc 2 : 3.00 TB (895.84 GB free)

ST31000528AS disk3 : (1 TB)

EFI (disk3s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Disc 3 (disk3s2) /Volumes/Disc 3 : 999.86 GB (161.88 GB free)

ST31500341AS disk2 : (1.5 TB)

EFI (disk2s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Recovery HD (disk2s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

Macintosh HD (disk4) / : 1.50 TB (1.13 TB free)

Encrypted AES-XTS Unlocked

Core Storage: disk2s2 1.50 TB Online

USB Information: ℹ️

Apple Inc. iPhone

Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub

Apple, Inc Apple Keyboard

Generic Flash Card Reader

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Configuration files: ℹ️

/etc/hosts - Count: 15

Gatekeeper: ℹ️

Mac App Store and identified developers

Kernel Extensions: ℹ️

/Applications/Toast 11 Titanium/Spin Doctor.app

[not loaded] com.hzsystems.terminus.driver (4) [Click for support]

/System/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.macvide.driver.MacVideAudioConnectorDriver (1.0.0) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.wacom.kext.pentablet (5.2.0) [Click for support]

/Users/[redacted]/Library/Services/ToastIt.service/Contents/MacOS

[not loaded] com.roxio.TDIXController (2.0) [Click for support]

Startup Items: ℹ️

HP USB EWS Gateway: Path: /Library/StartupItems/HP USB EWS Gateway

HPlaserjet Trap Monitor: Path: /Library/StartupItems/HPlaserjet Trap Monitor

MySQLCOM: Path: /Library/StartupItems/MySQLCOM

Startup items are obsolete in OS X Yosemite

Launch Agents: ℹ️

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

[running] com.adobe.AdobeCreativeCloud.plist [Click for support]

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

[failed] com.wacom.pentablet.plist [Click for support] [Click for details]

Launch Daemons: ℹ️

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

[not loaded] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist [Click for support]

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

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

User Launch Agents: ℹ️

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

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

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

[running] com.spotify.webhelper.plist [Click for support]

User Login Items: ℹ️

Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)

Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 2.2.3.7 [Click for support]

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

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 17.0.0.169 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 11.0.01 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

Silverlight: Version: 5.1.30514.0 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

Flash Player: Version: 17.0.0.169 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0

SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.4.8 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

AdobePDFViewer: Version: 11.0.01 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: 15.0.0 - SDK 10.10 Check version

3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️

Flash Player [Click for support]

Flip4Mac WMV [Click for support]

Growl [Click for support]

Perian [Click for support]

Time Machine: ℹ️

Skip System Files: NO

Mobile backups: OFF

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 1.50 TB Disk used: 365.32 GB

Disc 2: Disk size: 3.00 TB Disk used: 2.10 TB

Destinations:

timemachine [Network]

Total size: 23.87 TB

Total number of backups: 58

Oldest backup: 2014-07-11 22:36:12 +0000

Last backup: 2015-04-22 14:10:58 +0000

Size of backup disk: Excellent

Backup size 23.87 TB > (Disk size 4.50 TB X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️

4% mdworker(13)

4% WindowServer

1% Google Chrome

1% fontd

1% Google Chrome Helper(8)

Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️

1.94 GB Aperture

1014 MB Google Chrome Helper(9)

859 MB kernel_task

788 MB Image Capture Extension

328 MB mdworker(13)

Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️

397 MB Free RAM

9.61 GB Used RAM

86 MB Swap Used

Diagnostics Information: ℹ️

Apr 22, 2015, 11:57:34 AM Self test - passed

Apr 21, 2015, 04:18:11 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Aperture_2015-04-21-161811_[redacted].cpu_resou rce.diag [Click for details]

Apr 21, 2015, 02:42:17 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/VLC_2015-04-21-144217_[redacte d].crash

Apr 20, 2015, 02:44:51 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Aperture_2015-04-20-144451_[redacted].cpu_resou rce.diag [Click for details]

Apr 20, 2015, 02:23:53 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Aperture_2015-04-20-142353_[redacted].cpu_resou rce.diag [Click for details]

Apr 20, 2015, 10:55:39 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Aperture_2015-04-20-105539_[redacted].cpu_resou rce.diag [Click for details]

Reply

Answer 10

JimmyCMPIT

Level 7

29,306 points

Apr 22, 2015 8:34 AM in response to Elln

I've got the finder and chrome open and it gobbled up 8GB. I'm suspecting thats normal for Yosemite.

Reply

Answer 11

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Apr 22, 2015 8:39 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT

Get rid of Chrome, it is a memory hog, on Yosemite, Mavericks, Mountain Lion and probably others.

Remove it and test again, but remove it properly, don't want to leave the flock of 'helpers' running after it's gone.

Reply

Answer 12

Elln Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 22, 2015 9:12 AM in response to Csound1

Thanks for all your help guys. It definitely needs more looking into but it's good to know it's not the memory

Reply

Answer 13

Eau Rouge

Level 8

42,662 points

Apr 22, 2015 10:42 AM in response to Elln

hi same age mac pro but only 6gbs ram

all works fine here, using photoshop etc

no probs with ram, it is what it is meant to do.

Reply

Answer 14

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Apr 22, 2015 10:50 AM in response to Elln

Elln wrote:

Thanks for all your help guys. It definitely needs more looking into but it's good to know it's not the memory

Remove Chrome, it's junk, poorly written junk.

Reply

Answer 15

JimmyCMPIT

Level 7

29,306 points

Apr 22, 2015 1:32 PM in response to Csound1

I can't

we have serious issues with safari not timing out on the exchange server's webmail which is the companies lifeblood and the last few versions of Firefox are crashy. our email IT support is overseas and 24 response is the best you can expect after 6 calendar months go by with no response from them, and the follow up "is it still happening?"

that's money well spent!

Reply