Free memory

[Man-wai Chang]

I got 2G RAM and task managed reported 0 Free memory, with the majority
gone to Cached. So is the free memory number real?

 

[Mike Hall - MS MVP]

Free RAM is wasted RAM. .Vista will Endeavour to use as much as it can for
the services and applications running at any one time.. in the event that
something else is started, it will recover RAM from other things if needed..

I got 2G RAM and task managed reported 0 Free memory, with the majority
gone to Cached. So is the free memory number real?

--
iTech Consulting Services Limited
Expert of ePOS solutions
Website: http://www.itech.com.hk (IE only)
Tel: (852)2325 3883 Fax: (852)2325 8288

--


Mike Hall
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/

 

[Rock]

I got 2G RAM and task managed reported 0 Free memory, with the majority
gone to Cached. So is the free memory number real?

Yes, you don't want free RAM. Vista does a much better job of memory
management than XP, trying to find a use for all RAM, either in running
programs or as a cache. When memory is needed by a process Vista allocates
it. The myth of maximizing free RAM is just that, a myth, and those
utilities for XP that purported to speed up a system by freeing RAM were
nothing more than snake oil remedies designed to separate unknowing users
from their hard earned cash.

 

[Man-wai Chang]

I got 2G RAM and task managed reported 0 Free memory, with the majority
gone to Cached. So is the free memory number real?

thank you all.

 

[Fat Bastard]

The Microsoft Performance Team blog will have a post on this very subject in
the next few days. I know cuz I wrote it

http://blogs.technet.com/askperf/

 

[Fat Bastard]

Actually it is already posted, it is the one about Superfetch and
Readyboost.

 

[Man-wai Chang]

Actually it is already posted, it is the one about Superfetch and
Readyboost.

Read. Thanks.

 

[nweissma]

Mr. Hall,

can you explain "(Vista) will recover RAM from other things..."

specifically, what can RAM be recovered from?

 

[Rock]

Mr. Hall,

can you explain "(Vista) will recover RAM from other things..."

specifically, what can RAM be recovered from?

Vista puts RAM that is isn't being used by a program to use caching other
programs and data it thinks might be needed based on user habits. That way
when it's called for the loading process is faster. If a different program
comes along that needs RAM, Vista purges the cached information and
allocates that RAM to the program that wants it. Vista does a much better
job than XP of utilizing memory so it's not wasted.