High memory usage??
 

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[Closed] High memory usage??

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I keep getting notification of high memory usage (291mb) caused by Firefox.
Can anyone tell me what this means in idiotspeak? And if it is a problem, how to cure/rectify?

Many thanks from a computer idiot.


 
Posted : 07/11/2011 10:34 am
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It sounds a little too much, but not ridiculous.

Have a look here - http://www.technipages.com/why-firefox-takes-up-too-much-memory.html

and here - http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/High%20memory%20usage

Aren't all the smart kids using Chrome now (I'm not)?


 
Posted : 07/11/2011 10:41 am
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I get the same regardless of browser used (FF, Chrome, Safari). Chrome causes hangs. All use inordinate amounts of memory, more than when I'm doing Photoshops or video and stuff.

I think it's cos of the increasing amount of infomation that is stored in the cache, all that Flash and video and stuffs. I dunno though I'm sure [s]someone clever[/s] a geek will be along shortly to explain it all...


 
Posted : 07/11/2011 10:44 am
 jonk
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Firefox has some memory leak issues mine used to get up to about 600mb so i started using chrome and its much better at releasing memory once it has used it.


 
Posted : 07/11/2011 10:45 am
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Aren't all the smart kids using Chrome now (I'm not)?

I've found Chrome particularly bad when using sites that use Flash, such as YouTube and them.

Tried Chrome for a bit, but after several unexplained hangs and other problems (eating RAM), I've given up on it and gone back to Safari. Not had any issues since.


 
Posted : 07/11/2011 10:48 am
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What's actually giving you the message?


 
Posted : 07/11/2011 10:49 am
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Flash is often the culprit - often poorly made ads. A few years back there was a CRC one on here that would make your browser go mental - you could hear when it was on the screen. Use a plugin that switches flash off and see what difference it makes.


 
Posted : 07/11/2011 10:50 am
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Firefox has some memory leak issues mine used to get up to about 600mb so i started using chrome and its much better at releasing memory once it has used it.

Chrome is generally worse at memory than Firefox these days.

[img] [/img]
http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2011/09/browser-speed-tests-firefox-7-chrome-14-internet-explorer-9-and-more/


 
Posted : 07/11/2011 10:52 am
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Also, you probably need some more memory in your PC.

291MB is chuff all these days, I can only assume it is complaining because you only have something like 1GB total memory.


 
Posted : 07/11/2011 10:53 am
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Thanks chaps, I don't run that may add-ons and have just added Flashdanceer to complement the other blocking add-on I have. Disabling the add-ons doesn't really affect anything.
Assume away GrahamS. the marketing spiel says 2GB DDR3, whatever that means. 😛
It's a little pop up, Molly, that tells me the usage and recommends that I close down Firefox and then re-open, it's just something I've never seen before and while I'm no geek I do like knowing a little about what's happening.
Cheers for the links geoffj.

Just having the Google search page open would appear to ram it up by 50mb!!


 
Posted : 07/11/2011 11:16 am
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Hmmm.. 2Gb is still quite low but [i]should[/i] be okay, provided you're not running tons of other memory hungry stuff.

Is the pop-up actually from Windows or from Firefox?
What versions of Firefox and Windows?


 
Posted : 07/11/2011 11:26 am
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2Gb is still quite low but should be okay
😥
Not sure where the pop-up is from, maybe assume Windows.
Firefox 7.01 and Windows7.


 
Posted : 07/11/2011 11:31 am
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Reboot.

Start Firefox safe mode (hold Shift after clicking the icon). Does it still do it?

Install the latest versions of Flash, Shockwave, Java.

Can you take a screenshot of the pop-up?


 
Posted : 07/11/2011 11:47 am
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I've done the safemode stuff that geoffj linked to and yes it still has a reading of anything between 230 and 280.
I'll try and get a screen shot.


 
Posted : 07/11/2011 11:53 am
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You can also type about:memory into the Firefox address bar and it will give you a breakdown of memory usage. "resident" is the most important one. Mine is currently sitting at 358MB with 9 tabs open.


 
Posted : 07/11/2011 12:12 pm
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Screen shot, and as you can see it's from AVG...
[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 07/11/2011 12:12 pm
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I'm getting the same with AVG. Firefox 8 & Windows 7. Pop up appears and says I'm using circa 500mb of memory with Firefox. No system issues though, and no other bits of software (music/ video editing) seem to create the same popups.


 
Posted : 07/11/2011 12:15 pm
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Yeah, that's your problem right there. It's going "hey, look at me, look how clever I am, think how much trouble you'd be in if I weren't here!!" I'd uninstall it and stick [url=www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/]MSE[/url] on instead, TBH.

AVG used to be great. It's a big bag of billy bobbins these days, sadly.


 
Posted : 07/11/2011 12:15 pm
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Cougar +1

MSE or Avast! FTW.


 
Posted : 07/11/2011 12:34 pm
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Avast used to slow things down waaaay too much, so unless things have changed that's a no-no.
I've just installed MSE to see how that goes.

Thanks one and all. 🙂


 
Posted : 07/11/2011 12:47 pm