System runs smoothly at high RAM usage, only a few apps visible, but there might be a memory issue.
System runs smoothly at high RAM usage, only a few apps visible, but there might be a memory issue.
Strongly support this view. Unless your system freezes due to an Out-of-Memory warning, everything should be fine. The user mentions sluggish game performance, but it could stem from other factors rather than RAM alone. As I previously noted, Task Manager doesn’t display all details—Resource Monitor would offer a clearer picture. Standby memory usage is often debated; while it consumes RAM, that space can be reclaimed when needed, so it shouldn’t be counted as actively used. The performance section categorizes these details for clarity. Volume Shadow Copy Service should appear in memory usage stats during operation, at least in the detailed view. Hibernation is unclear to me since it only activates when you explicitly request it, writing data to disk.
It explains the basics clearly—six items are essential, ten are free. If your browser tabs are large (5–10GB), playing games might cause problems unless you have a huge amount of RAM. However, I can handle games even with many open tabs, usually using only 1–2GB.
Task Manager can't display precise memory consumption details. It only lists programs running in ring 3. When a virtual machine is active, its memory usage spikes but isn't shown because the VM software allocates memory at the kernel level (ring 0). Core elements like drivers remain invisible to Task Manager since they operate below the program execution hierarchy.
@PolluticornWishes The pictures you shared aren't very informative and don't capture the complete situation. Here are some steps to try - 1) Start in safe mode to check if memory remains high. If not, the issue likely lies with a problematic program. 2) It’s wise to optimize first, given your system is packed and you only have 16 billion bytes of RAM. In 2024, such optimization isn’t common. Turn off startup and background apps in settings, disable unused services, and run automatic maintenance via the control panel. Use Winaero Tweaker, enable the svchost combine option, and turn off automatic maintenance and updates (still update Windows regularly). Finally, try the tool by Chris Titus Tech - https://christitus.com/windows-tool/. Execute the first PowerShell command with admin rights, then follow the GUI. This should reduce process count from over 200 to under 80 or even 60, significantly lowering memory usage and freeing kernel resources. For further improvements, consider more advanced tweaks beyond these steps. 3) Reinstall Windows for a permanent solution. 4) Consider upgrading to a new laptop for a complete reset.
Thank you for the clarification. I understand what you mean about missing details like driver memory usage. What bothers me is the claim of inaccuracy. It would be more accurate to say the data is incomplete rather than wrong. The facts are correct, but it doesn’t cover everything. I also think how the information is shown can be misleading.
Empty a few items from the standby list in RAMMap. What is your system's uptime?
That was my intention too by mentioning it doesn't reveal everything—because it doesn’t. I prefer using Resource Monitor, as you’d typically spot a memory leak right away. Then you usually have enough time to trace its source rather than assuming a leak just because the browser is using all the RAM.
P.S.: I think it’s similar to “microstutter,” though people often use that term loosely. It’s not a common phenomenon, and a memory leak likely doesn’t actually mean “memory leak” either.