![]() The OS you use, the quality of the components, and what you have running in the background will all change the memory your computer uses at idle.Įach of these factors must be considered when you ask to understand what percentage of memory should your computer be using. You don’t have a specific answer for how much physical memory should my computer be using because there are a ton of factors that can affect it. Then your computer has to run every interaction it is responsible for, even if you aren’t using them at that moment.ĭrivers allow you to use keyboards, speakers, monitors, and all other pieces of hardware attached to your computer. That means that your system has to be using 1 MB of memory at an absolute bare minimum. The kernel can use as little as 1 Megabyte and up to 10 MBs of memory. That is the portion of the operating system that is always in the memory. Different operating systems use memory differently, so a low idle on a Mac could be considered a high idle on Windows.Įvery operating system has a kernel. What is your computer using its memory for when you’re not using it? Lots of things.įirst, your computer has to run your operating systems. Why Does My Computer Use Memory When Idle? When you take into account everything your computer is doing in the background, it would be pretty easy to account for that memory usage. If your system is idling around 25%, that shouldn’t raise any flags at all. You may want to see how many programs are running in the background if this is your normal idle. Some Windows computers could be working too hard if they were using that much. Some Macs would be completely fine using 40% of their RAM at idle. If your friend is using high-end graphics programs, and you are just writing an email, your average RAM usage will vary widely. It depends on what specs your device has and what you do on it. You might be using 30% of 16 GBs of RAM, and your buddy may be using 30% of 32 GBs of RAM on average. It is convenient to look for an average memory usage percentage, but unfortunately, this isn’t a number that exists. So let’s pivot the question from how much physical memory should my computer be using, to the more useful, how do you use your RAM more efficiently? What is the Average Memory Usage Percentage? Some computer experts say that unused RAM is wasted RAM. If you have 8 GBs, it would be less concerning. If you only have 4 GBs, this could be a problem. When you talk about non-relative memory, you are using specific numbers.įor example, my computer is using 4 GBs of memory. You’re using the same percentage of memory, but that comparison is apples to oranges when your overall memory isn’t exactly the same. If your friend has 8 GBs, they would be using 4 GBs. If you have 4 GBs of RAM, that means your computer is using 2 GBs. When you talk about relative memory, you are looking at the percentage of memory used.įor example, say your computer is using 50% of its memory. Memory is used for every process on your computer, including your Operating System or OS. RAM is memory that allows you to open up programs. Memory is measured in Gigabytes (GBs) of RAM. So when you check your computer’s memory, a portion will always be in use. Just running the operating system takes up some memory. To learn the answer to those questions, you have to look at where your computer uses its memory. It is easier to answer questions about the computer’s performance, like is your computer running slow because you don’t have enough memory, or is your computer wasting your memory on things it shouldn’t be? It’s hard to give an exact answer because every computer is so different. ![]() ![]() The bottom line is that your computer is using memory the whole time it is on.Īs for the question of how much physical memory should my computer be using? Let’s jump right in! How Much Memory Should My Computer Be Using When Idle? If you want to learn all about how much RAM or physical memory your computer or laptop is supposed to use when it’s idle and how to reduce the usage, then you’re in the right place. MacOS uses as much memory as possible to have it available for all of your other applications and programs. Memory is used for every process on your computer, including your operating system or OS.ĭuring idle time, Windows reserves anywhere from 1.8 to 2.4 GB of RAM. Here’s how much physical memory or RAM your computer or laptop should use when it’s idle:
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