Percentage of RAM usage much higher than that of the individual programs added together?

Donk · Dec 11, 2023

Why does the percentage of memory usage in the column title not nearly match the result of the added memory usage in the column for the individual programs, but is always apparently much higher?

E.g.: How do 82% of RAM come together in the corresponding column name in the Task Manager, even though adding the memory usage of the individual programs in this column would obviously not come close to this 82%?

wiganken · Dec 11, 2023

Memory leakage? Some (badly designed) programs do not release memory back to the OS after the program stops. The program is not running so you do not see it listed but it has tied memory up.

Make sure all drivers are up to date. See: - Keep Your System Running Smoothly by Finding and Managing Memory Leaks

Donk · Dec 11, 2023

Thank you for the link.

The drivers should all be up to date. I think I've had the "problem" of this display on all computers so far (I use the same programs always).

x BlueRobot · Dec 11, 2023

I wouldn't rely on Task Manager to look at RAM usage, take a look at Resource Monitor or RAMMap from Sysinternals.

Donk · Dec 11, 2023

Just found this: Resource Monitor

I assume it is not the right one, updated in 2013 the last time.

RAMMap shows this:

zebal · Dec 11, 2023

Donk said:
Why does the percentage of memory usage in the column title not nearly match the result of the added memory usage in the column for the individual programs, but is always apparently much higher?

Because memory is not used by programs only, it is also used by Windows and drivers, however those won't be shown in task manager.
If you run task manager as Administrator more stuff will be shown but still not all system use.

x BlueRobot · Dec 11, 2023

Donk said:
I assume it is not the right one, updated in 2013 the last time.

No, Resource Monitor is part of the operating system, there is no need to download anything: Open Resource Monitor in Windows 11 Tutorial

Donk · Dec 11, 2023

If you run task manager as Administrator more stuff will be shown but still not all system use.

If it were only a small difference, I could understand it, but the difference is huge. This apparently also means that Win seems to constantly be using 8 - 10 GB of RAM, so there isn't enough left for the programs.

No, Resource Monitor is part of the operating system, there is no need to download anything: Open Resource Monitor in Windows 11 Tutorial

Oops, OK, thank you. I seem to remember always downloading the program in the past.

zebal · Dec 11, 2023

Donk said:
This apparently also means that Win seems to constantly be using 8 - 10 GB of RAM, so there isn't enough left for the programs.

Note that Windows might reserve a portion of memory without using it, this is then shows are "used" but is in fact unused.
I suggest you to read "Pushing the limits of Windows memory" MSDN article to have a firm grasp of Windows memory.

Berton · Dec 11, 2023

Also put dxdiag in the Start, Run box to see what video is using, seems to always take some of the system RAM even with a video card with its own memory being used instead of the onboard adapter.