Memory Question

Question

Rusty K Author

Level 1

8 points

Memory Question

I have only Firefox open and my available memory is 1.48G of 4G max. What is using so much of my memory?

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5), 3.06 GHz Intel

Posted on Sep 21, 2015 12:50 PM

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Answer 1

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,522 points

Sep 21, 2015 2:20 PM in response to Rusty K

Open Activity Monitor (Applications - Utilities - Activity Monitor) and click the Memory tab and it will tell you what processes are using the most amount of RAM. To be honest 4GB of RAM is a very small amount, it may be wise to just upgrade. If you decide to do that please use Crucial (buy direct) or OWC (www.macsales.com.

Good luck.

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Answer 2

Kappy

Level 10

362,017 points

Sep 21, 2015 12:55 PM in response to Rusty K

Open Activity Monitor in your Utilities folder to see what uses memory on the computer. Most of it is taken by Yosemite in order to have better memory management. Are you running out of memory? Is the computer slowing down and the drive is constantly grinding away? If not, then don't worry. Otherwise, put in more memory.

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Answer 3

Rusty K Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 21, 2015 2:22 PM in response to Kappy

Kappy, yes very slow...the spinning beach ball and typing lags. Of course I've had this computer for some time but perhaps the memory upgrade is what I should do.

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Answer 4

Rusty K Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 21, 2015 2:25 PM in response to Rusty K

I've opened the the activity monitor before and was amazed at the number running programs/processes. Of course they're not all using a lot of memory.

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Answer 5

Kappy

Level 10

362,017 points

Sep 21, 2015 2:28 PM in response to Rusty K

When you have Activity Monitor open click on the Memory tab at the top. Then note the status display at the bottom. Looks somewhat like this:

Make a screen snapshot of yours and post it here.

To post screen shot do this:

Press COMMAND-SHIFT-4 which will change the cursor to crosshairs.
Hold down the mouse button and use the crosshairs to select the part of the screen you wish to capture.
Release the button and the image will be saved to your Desktop.
Click on the Camera icon in the toolbar of the forum message editor.
Drag the image onto the Choose File button and click on the Insert button.

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Answer 6

Rusty K Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 21, 2015 2:28 PM in response to Rusty K

At Crucial I tried to download the system scanner but wasn't able to open. Should I just look for the memory card that I need myself i.e. match the two I have installed already?

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Answer 7

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,522 points

Sep 21, 2015 2:51 PM in response to Rusty K

Rusty K wrote:

At Crucial I tried to download the system scanner but wasn't able to open. Should I just look for the memory card that I need myself i.e. match the two I have installed already?

Post what year iMac you have. You can easily find out by clicking About this Mac which is located by clicking the Apple symbol in the upper left of your display. Find the OS X version and build number on your Mac - Apple Support

Once we know exactly what iMac you have then we can tell you the RAM specifications to look for.

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Answer 8

Kappy

Level 10

362,017 points

Sep 21, 2015 2:34 PM in response to Rusty K

Yes, you can do that. Or try finding what you need elsewhere such as OWC or DataMem. These are both vendors I have used for years and can recommend confidently.

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Answer 9

Rusty K Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 21, 2015 3:33 PM in response to rkaufmann87

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Answer 10

Rusty K Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 21, 2015 2:50 PM in response to Rusty K

Did I send the correct info?

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Answer 11

Kappy

Level 10

362,017 points

Sep 21, 2015 2:52 PM in response to Kappy

This is the memory specs you need to look for:

Maximum Memory	32 GB (Core i5 or Core i7 Actual) 16 GB (Apple)
Memory Slots	4 - 204-pin PC3-8500 (1066 MHz) DDR3 SO-DIMM

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Answer 12

Old Toad

Level 10

216,112 points

Sep 21, 2015 2:57 PM in response to Rusty K

Download and run Etrecheck. Copy and paste the results into your reply. Etrecheck is a diagnostic tool that was developed by one of the most respected users here (and recommended by Apple Support personnel) in the ASC to help identify the more obvious culprits that can adversely affect a Mac's performance.

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Answer 13

Rusty K Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 21, 2015 3:12 PM in response to Old Toad

Problem description:

slow performance

EtreCheck version: 2.4.2 (142)

Report generated 9/21/15, 5:08 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: (What does this mean?)

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) (Technical Specifications)

iMac - model: iMac10,1

1 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2-core

4 GB RAM Upgradeable

BANK 0/DIMM0

Empty

BANK 1/DIMM0

Empty

BANK 0/DIMM1

2 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM1

2 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n

Video Information: (What does this mean?)

NVIDIA GeForce 9400 - VRAM: 256 MB

iMac 1920 x 1080

System Software: (What does this mean?)

OS X 10.10.5 (14F27) - Time since boot: about 11 days

Disk Information: (What does this mean?)

ST3500418ASQ disk0 : (500.11 GB) (Rotational)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 499.25 GB (92.73 GB free)

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

OPTIARC DVD RW AD-5680H ()

USB Information: (What does this mean?)

BUFFALO HD-PCTU2 500.11 GB

AUDIO STORAGE II (disk1s1) /Volumes/AUDIO STORAGE II : 500.11 GB (398.56 GB free)

Apple Internal Memory Card Reader

Seagate Expansion 1 TB

BACKUP (disk2s1) /Volumes/BACKUP : 500.24 GB (6.50 GB free)

IMAGE STORAGE I (disk2s2) /Volumes/IMAGE STORAGE I : 499.97 GB (467.39 GB free)

Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Firewire Information: (What does this mean?)

Apogee Electronics Duet 400mbit - 400mbit max

Gatekeeper: (What does this mean?)

Mac App Store and identified developers

Kernel Extensions: (What does this mean?)

/System/Library/Extensions

[loaded] com.Apogee.driver.DuetFWOverideDriver (1.4.4 - SDK 10.8) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.digidesign.usb.elevenrack.driver (1.0.1) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.m-audio.usb.midisupport.driver (1.1) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.nike.sportwatch (1.0.0) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.master (5.7.2) [Click for support]

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

[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.leopard (5.7.2) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.panther (5.7.2) [Click for support]

[loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.snowleopard (5.7.2) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.tiger (5.7.2) [Click for support]

Startup Items: (What does this mean?)

M-Audio Firmware Loader: Path: /Library/StartupItems/M-Audio Firmware Loader

PACESupport: Path: /Library/StartupItems/PACESupport

Startup items are obsolete in OS X Yosemite

Problem System Launch Agents: (What does this mean?)

[killed] com.apple.CallHistoryPluginHelper.plist

[killed] com.apple.CallHistorySyncHelper.plist

[killed] com.apple.cloudd.plist

[killed] com.apple.cloudphotosd.plist

[killed] com.apple.cmfsyncagent.plist

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

[killed] com.apple.EscrowSecurityAlert.plist

[killed] com.apple.gamed.plist

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

[killed] com.apple.nsurlsessiond.plist

[killed] com.apple.photolibraryd.plist

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

[killed] com.apple.rcd.plist

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

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

[killed] com.apple.warmd_agent.plist

16 processes killed due to insufficient RAM

Problem System Launch Daemons: (What does this mean?)

[killed] com.apple.AssetCacheLocatorService.plist

[killed] com.apple.ctkd.plist

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

[killed] com.apple.GSSCred.plist

[killed] com.apple.ifdreader.plist

[killed] com.apple.nehelper.plist

[killed] com.apple.nsurlsessiond.plist

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

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

[killed] com.apple.softwareupdate_download_service.plist

[killed] com.apple.wdhelper.plist

11 processes killed due to insufficient RAM

Launch Agents: (What does this mean?)

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

[running] com.ApogeePopup.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.nike.nikeplusconnect.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.sony.SonyAutoLauncher.agent.plist [Click for support]

Launch Daemons: (What does this mean?)

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

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

[running] com.digidesign.elevenrack.helper.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.DuetDaemon.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2.Agent.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Agent.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] PACESupport.plist [Click for support]

User Launch Agents: (What does this mean?)

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

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

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Scheduler.plist [Click for support]

User Login Items: (What does this mean?)

Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)

CleanMyMac 3 Menu Application (/Applications/CleanMyMac 3.app/Contents/MacOS/CleanMyMac 3 Menu.app)

AdobeResourceSynchronizer Application Hidden (/Applications/Adobe Reader.app/Contents/Support/AdobeResourceSynchronizer.app)

DuetPopUp UNKNOWN (missing value)

Kodak Share Button Agent Application (/Applications/Kodak Share Button App/Kodak Share Button.app/Contents/MacOS/Kodak Share Button Agent.app)

HP Product Research UNKNOWN (missing value)

HPEventHandler UNKNOWN (missing value)

Internet Plug-ins: (What does this mean?)

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 19.0.0.185 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 11.0.12 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

AdobePDFViewer: Version: 11.0.12 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

Flash Player: Version: 19.0.0.185 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10

Silverlight: Version: 4.0.50524.0 [Click for support]

iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0

Safari Extensions: (What does this mean?)

serfsearch

3rd Party Preference Panes: (What does this mean?)

Digidesign Eleven Rack [Click for support]

Flash Player [Click for support]

Time Machine: (What does this mean?)

Skip System Files: NO

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 499.25 GB Disk used: 406.52 GB

Destinations:

BACKUP [Local]

Total size: 500.24 GB

Total number of backups: 52

Oldest backup: 2015-05-18 19:59:05 +0000

Last backup: 2015-09-21 21:22:15 +0000

Size of backup disk: Too small

Backup size 500.24 GB < (Disk used 406.52 GB X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: (What does this mean?)

4% WindowServer

1% fontd

0% taskgated

0% askpermissiond

Top Processes by Memory: (What does this mean?)

670 MB kernel_task

455 MB firefox

119 MB iconservicesagent

115 MB Finder

111 MB mds_stores

Virtual Memory Information: (What does this mean?)

550 MB Free RAM

3.46 GB Used RAM (1.16 GB Cached)

250 MB Swap Used

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Answer 14

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,522 points

Sep 22, 2015 11:41 AM in response to Rusty K

Rusty K wrote:

Your 2009 /2010 machine needs PC8500 DDR3 1066MHz 204 Pin RAM. It can accommodate up to 16GB, I would recommend 8GB or more. Your machine has 4GB currently, you can get it to 8GB by adding 2 x 2GB DIMMs. As recommended use OWC or Crucial to get the correct RAM.

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Answer 15

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,522 points

Sep 21, 2015 3:36 PM in response to Rusty K

One MAJOR problem you have is you installed CleanMyMac on your system. This is considered malware by many experienced users. My recommendation before you do any upgrades or changes is to fully uninstall the app. This may be challenging but it needs to be done first. OS X does not need any cleaning, antivirus or third party utilities to maintain itself. If OS X is left alone and just kept up-to-date it tends to function well for years.

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