Question:
How can I reduce my RAM usage?
Teh Tarik
2011-04-25 00:01:01 UTC
I'm running Vista Home Basic 32-bit, with 2GB of RAM on Service Pack 2.

I've turned off Aero, deleted every single application that I don't need, and disabled Superfetch and Windows Search, yet my computer's idle RAM usage is still 58%. I know that sounds about normal for Vista, and the more RAM a computer is using the faster it pulls up stuff, but I need that RAM for when I am rendering my animations!

I'm not a heavy gamer but I occasionally play the Sims 3 and it frequently bluescreens on me even when it's the only application open.
Six answers:
Konakona
2011-04-25 00:04:23 UTC
Well besides stopping any unneeded applications from running, and disabling all visual effects (not just aero), there isnt much you can do. Why not get a 64bit os and add more ram? and if your doing that id just suggest getting win7 home 64bit. Get 4-8gb of total ram and you will be fine.



Really all i can say is /facepalm @ trying to do 3d animation on vista 32bit with 2gb of ram lol



@guy above

gamebooster=no

its a scam program, it really does almost nothing. It says you end up getting like 100-200mb+ of ram from using it with the ram usage displayed in the program itself, but that was a lie... i looked at the actual ram usage, it freed like 28mb. really its not worth getting.



Well even with a 32bit os, depending on your graphics card, you should be able to use probably 3gb of ram. So find a way to add 1gb of ram.(if you have 2 slots with 2 1gb sticks, replace 1 with a 2gb stick, if you have 4 slots and have 2 1gb sticks, just add another 1gb). a 2gb stick of ddr2 ram is like $30 tops, if you have ddr3 ram its like $18 lol. and if you are able to get a 1gb stick thats even cheaper.



lol @ 2mins/frame, sorry but thats terrible XD



no no a stick of ram. you need to find out whether you have ddr2 or ddr3. and you need to open the side panel on your computer and see how many ram slots you have on your computer, and how many are being used.



this is ram:



DDR2: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007611%20600006042&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=50



DDR3: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007611%20600006050&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=50



a motherboard can only support 1 type, so you cant use ddr3 in a ddr2 motherboard.



What you are talking about (sticking a 2gb usb drive in your computer) and using that as virtual ram is called ready boost. Since you are so low on ram it may help, but its much slower then normal ram. you would be better off buying a real stick of ram then getting a flash drive.

But since you are stuck on a 32bit OS, the best you could do is probably upgrade your ram to 3gb total, then get a 2-4gb flash drive and use ready boost.





Easy way to tell ram, umm go download this: http://www.piriform.com/speccy/download/standard

thats the direct download link, so it will pop up asking to download. Ok install that and run it. Go to ram/memory section. Find out whether it says you have ddr2 or ddr3 ram (it also says lots of other stuff about your computer).



ok then next just take off side panel of your computer, and try to look for the ram sticks (click the ddr2/3 links above to see what ram looks like), this is a pic of a motherboard with nothing in it http://www.overclockersclub.com/vimages/ecs_g33t/5.jpg ok see the red/purple next to each other slots in the top right? thats where the ram sticks will be in, your motherboard will probably look different.



See how many sticks you have in your computer, and how many slots you have.

So if you have a open ram slot, you can buy 1 1gb stick. if you have all your ram slots full with other ram, you will need to buy 1 2gb stick adn replace it with 1 of the sticks inside your motherboard.



so after you ran that program to find out ddr2 or ddr3, and after you looked inside and figured out 1gb or 2gb. go to the links above for ddr2 if you have ddr2 ram, ddr3 link for ddr3 ram. From there just find the cheapest stick that match those 2 areas.



You can youtube "how to install ram" or something similar.
Judith
2016-04-30 10:43:52 UTC
Do you have an Intel video card? Vista's Aero desktop requires a good video card, a good video card requires VRAM, intel's video cards use system RAM instead. I.E. without a good video card, Windows Aero will eat system RAM. This is actually the video card's fault and not windows'. It has already been suggested to turn down or off Aero desktop features. Also reduce the number of programs running needlessly in the background. Windows Side-Bar (gadget thing) usually eats a lot of RAM, I disable that feature. Honestly though, I wouldn't run Vista on anything less than 2GB of RAM. People often complain that Vista is not good because it requires more out of PCs. However, following their logic, Windows 98 will eat Windows XP anyday. Even still, if your PC does not sufficiently support Vista, you would be better off with XP.
K.J
2011-04-25 00:11:43 UTC
According to MS. Free Ram = Wasted Ram

Vista should clear Ram when needed. But you have even disabled Superfetch and still over 1 GB Ram usage. Not normal. Search your computer for viruses.

P.S For rendering 2 GB ram ain't enough. Buy more...Rams Cheap.
Vijay
2011-04-25 00:20:53 UTC
1) I suggest you to look at the services which will be in Administration (Control Panel), easy to understand so u can disable those services which u donot need. some services like bluetooth, some card recognition services, printer services, wifi, remote registry, remote assistance are some services which are not used by many. U can at your choice enable/disable them.



2) Check the Task manager section which lists out processes & services. if you can figure out what is not reqd u can delete. Please note some programmes/processes like Realplayer message center & update center, Java update, Adobe update are not at all required. U can manually update whenever reqd.



3) Also check your Security software and disable unnecessary features which it has like Backup, system monitoring for better performance, sending anonimous stats for which i will run some processes, sending monthly reports.



4) I use Windows7 and its super stable compared to XP and as effective as Vista, so best bet for 32bit users is use windows7. (I too have 2GB ram, 32bit)
?
2011-04-25 00:01:58 UTC
Vista has that issue use Win. XP or 7

you can try using a program called GameBooster



edit- yea I know, it works best on old wooden computers and I downloaded it of thepiratebay anyway
MS
2011-04-25 00:10:52 UTC
right click on my comp .. advanced .. performance ... settings performance options... choose . adjust for best performance .. ... advanced ... virtual mem .. icrease it to around 2 gb ..



hope it will help for sure :)


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