Database Users

{Help} Pinpointing a memory leak

Hi all,
i have read all i can find on the forum on this topic and i wanted to ask is a specific procedure existed for determining a memory leak (if i have one!) i find the gwes.exe file starts at 12mb at boot and generally increases untill a soft reset. it can reach 18mb. whilst i am not sure if this effects performance it causes my memory usage to rise constantly for no reason i can determine!
my setup - rom miri wm6.5 v26.3 - premium WITHOUT manilla
interface - spb mobile shell
dialer - phone ex
not much else
any ideas hints kindly recieved!
regards
Mat

lemat1 said:
i have read all i can find on the forum on this topic and i wanted to ask is a specific procedure existed for determining a memory leak (if i have one!) i find the gwes.exe file starts at 12mb at boot and generally increases untill a soft reset. it can reach 18mb. whilst i am not sure if this effects performance it causes my memory usage to rise constantly for no reason i can determine!
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GWES memory consumption growth is as natural as gravity and it happens to improve performance. This happens because it is smart enough to keep resources in fast RAM so that next time they will not be loaded from (comparatively slow) flash memory. Basically this is the point in having RAM and the reason why you paid for it - it has to be loaded with stuff to make things faster. This sport of freeing RAM is just ridiculous in most cases (although not always, of course). You pay for it and then don't use.
Secondly, what you describe is not a memory leak. A memory leak is a situation of uncontrolled memory usage growth (if your GWES gradually ate all available memory to a point where device would crash that would be a memory leak). In general, there's nothing wrong with applications consuming more and more RAM as they work as long as they can free this RAM on demand. See for yourself: on your PC, load a memory-hungry application such as a web browser, note how much RAM it uses initially. Then use it for a while, RAM consumption will grow. Then minimize it and see how RAM usage drops dramatically. Even if an application uses half of all RAM it doesn't mean that this RAM isn't available for other programs when needed. When it's not needed, why not use it?

Does using high RAM have effect on speed?

Since the new official WM6.5 is using a lot of RAM, does this affect the speed of the device?
Or does it merely mean that there can't be as many apps open until it reaches critical level?

Not directly, it should not. Only if it reaches a certain level, as you said.
It's likely however that WM6.5 uses more processing power than 6.1, but I can't say for sure.

It should not affect the performance, I have been up to 80% or more and never experienced any lag issues.

Cool thanks for the replies

One of the biggest misconceptions about RAM on Windows Mobile or indeed most operating systems, is that it's a good thing to have lots of free ram available. It's not. It's a complete waste of resources. The most efficient use of RAM would be bouncing off 100% used as much as possible.

It's good to have free RAM up until you have nothing more to execute. Having more RAM ensures you never reach this limit and start swapping.
I may not use all 4GB on my PC at once, but when the next version of XXXXX game comes out, I may end up using more than I do now. The overhead ensures I don't have to go out and buy more memory to ensure reliable performance.

A little off topic, but seems like a good place to ask: Opera (using 6.1, original or TESS) often struggles rendering complex (and sometimes even simple) pages. When you scroll to a new part of the page there are delays while it redraws the new bits. When you scroll back, it has to redraw the original bits. There are annoying delays and large ugly grey areas while it does this. I often have 3-4 tabs open BTW.
The question is, can Opera be allocated more memory (since I have plenty, especially since TESS) or is it completely automatic under WM? I've poked around in the registry and there are a couple of keys for "memory allocation" and "heap allocation", or some such, under the Opera section, but they're just numbers, they don't look like Mbytes, if you see what I mean.
The slow redrawing thing feels like a memory problem, as though it's redrawing from storage cache rather than quicker RAM cache, that's why I ask.

ArtieQ said:
It should not affect the performance, I have been up to 80% or more and never experienced any lag issues.
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I fully agree with you.
The only problem is that programs that use lots of memory will not start. In fact I can play with Xtrakt only if I disable manila, otherwise the system not have enough memory to start it.
Sorry for the bad English

im sorry but if your PC or phone whatever you like is using alot of RAM, say %90, then this is going to cause the device to slow down.
once you reach a certain limit of RAM left, it has to start using disk space as temporary RAM and as such everything becomes slower.
RAM makes it quicker ONLY when the program you want is loaded into the RAM. So in windows if you have alot of programs running in the task area, then yes these programs will run up very quickly. But try then to open up another program when your memory is briming and you will find that it will slow it up.
To have memory running at a high percentage used is bad practise. In theory its good because it means things are loaded, but its only the things that are loaded that notice the speed benifits. There needs to be a cut off point.

adamrob69 said:
im sorry but if your PC or phone whatever you like is using alot of RAM, say %90, then this is going to cause the device to slow down.
once you reach a certain limit of RAM left, it has to start using disk space as temporary RAM and as such everything becomes slower.
RAM makes it quicker ONLY when the program you want is loaded into the RAM. So in windows if you have alot of programs running in the task area, then yes these programs will run up very quickly. But try then to open up another program when your memory is briming and you will find that it will slow it up.
To have memory running at a high percentage used is bad practise. In theory its good because it means things are loaded, but its only the things that are loaded that notice the speed benifits. There needs to be a cut off point.
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Your understanding of the OS and therefore your conclusions are wrong. Desktop Windows is a different beast to Windows Mobile. When physical RAM gets low in Windows, it swaps data out to the disk. In WM it doesn't, it asks programs to close down (then forces them if none of them do), on a least recently used basis. For this reason, in WM, you might as well have applications using free RAM since they're effectively 'cached' and ready to be called up quickly. Should you start another process that requires that RAM, then the old processes will be closed very quickly. In WM, free RAM is wasted RAM.

Hi
For this reason, in WM, you might as well have applications using free RAM since they're effectively 'cached' and ready to be called up quickly. Should you start another process that requires that RAM, then the old processes will be closed very quickly. In WM, free RAM is wasted RAM.
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Exactly Which is why having the HTC task bar shut down applications on clicking the cross is a complete waste of time. Windows Mobile is designed to leave applications loaded even when you close them, that way they are ready immediately when you want them again. This saves times and also power.
As already stated Windows Mobile will close applications automatically if required to free up some space.
Empty RAM is a complete waste, and is an argument against increasing RAM in Windows Mobile devices to silly headline amounts as even in standby that RAM has to be kept powered even if not being used.
Regards
Phil

Available Memory, how much do you typically have?

Good day!
I've tried a few different apps now, Memory Usage, Advanced Task Killer, and I seem to hover between 110m to 25m. I kill some apps and it jumps back up to 110 and then slowly works its way back down to the mid 20's. Is this normal?
Tips? What is your available memory like?

To sum it up: Free memory is useless memory. You should have as little memory free as possible.
Explanation. Android handles memory management really well. When an app is opened and needs more memory it will shut down unused processes and free up memory on an as needed basis. For apps this can be everything from pausing individual functions all the way to saving an apps state to disk and restoring it the next time it's opened.
Task killers are mostly solutions looking for a problem, I've been running without one for months and my amount of free memory fluctuates as expected when surfing the web and things like that but so far there haven't been any times where I've had to free up memory. So don't stare yourself blind on memory meters and try freeing up memory. Android handles that well enough on its own.

+1..
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That's good info! I kinda knew I was making something out of nothing with the numbers. The phone has been fine in terms of performance.

my 2 cents....i typically have between 30-60mb free. phone does not lag or anything. i used task-killer for a few days when i got phone, then actually thought about what it was doing and the way the system (linux based) is designed. i ditched it and have not looked back!
ps. my phone is rooted R2BA024 firmware, fwiw.

I usually have like 80 mb free ram just for the case and i use task manager to kill apps that are using data connection when i dont need them

I got totally obsessed with task killing but having read a lot of the lads reports on here I am on my third day of not touching it and I have to say my phone is doing fine all by itself!

goth50 said:
I usually have like 80 mb free ram just for the case and i use task manager to kill apps that are using data connection when i dont need them
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I think you'd be better off setting up data synchronisation properly. I'm assuming you're talking about background syncing of course. So that you don't accidentally kill an app in the middle of a sync which might cause corruptions. I've had that happen when synching my gmail to a linux machine and the network went down, the cleanup required was insane and I lost a whole months worth of mails from the google servers.

ddewbofh said:
To sum it up: Free memory is useless memory. You should have as little memory free as possible.
Explanation. Android handles memory management really well. When an app is opened and needs more memory it will shut down unused processes and free up memory on an as needed basis. For apps this can be everything from pausing individual functions all the way to saving an apps state to disk and restoring it the next time it's opened.
Task killers are mostly solutions looking for a problem, I've been running without one for months and my amount of free memory fluctuates as expected when surfing the web and things like that but so far there haven't been any times where I've had to free up memory. So don't stare yourself blind on memory meters and try freeing up memory. Android handles that well enough on its own.
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Heh...handles memory very well, but how about the battery life!? The more apps you have- the less power you've left.

mymagicmyhero said:
Heh...handles memory very well, but how about the battery life!? The more apps you have- the less power you've left.
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That's debatable, most background apps drain miniscule amounts of power. The exception naturally being things that makes use of the hardware while backgrounded by playing music, syncing, calculating pi or things like that. Most apps though, just hang out in memory not really doing anything. A lot of the time, if not most, it's more efficient staying there as opposed to shutting it down and starting it up again later.

+1 yes, just hanging out idle in memory wont cost you any battery, the memory will be on an base current either way, what does cost you battery is the read and write actions to memory so if you frantically clean out that memory your phone will have to write alot more to it working with your different apps resulting in a slower (less prepared) device sucking more battery then neccessary. Leave the memory handling to your device ;-)
Sent from my X10i using XDA App

Memory and Performance Query

I have one question again. Supposed i have a low phone memory due to so much application installed, will it affect my phone performance, coz i noticed that my phone lags with almost full apps installed in it, I wonder if low phone memory that affects the performance of my phone or bcoz of the running apps simultaneously. One thing after i uninstalled the apps from memory card it still has the folder left in it, is it safe if i remove it manually? Is that the cache? Where is the program files in the memory card where the application is so i can delete the uninstalled apps?
Thanks in advance. Lab2 guys.x0x0

having multiple apps running on your phone will slow it down because each app uses tge phones processor and RAM (random access memory) to function and at different times or circumstances they use different levels of both, leaving multiple apps running leaves tge phone without much memory to get through basic functions such as texting or playing music with ease, there is a simple, easy and free way to solve your first problem, go into your android market and look up "advanced task killer" download the free version and it will show you what is running and how much of your RAM is available and you can stop all the apps from running by just clicking "kill selected apps" and your phone will run alot smoother
as for your second issue, theres nothing to worry about, those folders just contain information the apps that you have previously installed, have downloaded, you can delete them without risk of any damage
Sent from my X8 using XDA App

so even tho my phone memory is full that doesnt affect the performance of my phone right. i only have 43mb left in my phone memory and its a big laggy to respond. Thanks much. x0x0

or instead using of Advance Task Killer, use Fast reboot to improve battery life. You'll be more enlighten if you visit this site [FIX] Drain Battery Fix for CyanogenMod.

You should worry about how much specific app uses your cpu not ram, less free ram = faster phone.
So try to determinate wich apps are using your cpu and kill tham.
Ignore this post if youre using eclair
Sent from my X8 using Tapatalk

Thank you guys for the sweet response. BTW it works i think the prob is my spb3d launcher that makes my phone lags.

Install System application and kill processes from there.

RAM terrible usage

hi all
why my device using to much memory check the pic plz ..
am on stock Rom 4.4.2 but rooted
http://www.gulfup.com/?wLwT4r

3mmar3d said:
hi all
why my device using to much memory check the pic plz ..
am on stock Rom 4.4.2 but rooted
http://www.gulfup.com/?wLwT4r
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Use a program like Android System Info to find what programs are running. If you are rooted just freeze the apps that are safe to freeze and you see running in the background.

xclub_101 said:
Use a program like Android System Info to find what programs are running. If you are rooted just freeze the apps that are safe to freeze and you see running in the background.
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am already using Greenfiy and Battery Doctor .. !

Correct me if I am wrong but doesn't Android utilize ram differently then most systems. Isn't free ram wasted ram in this case.
What I have been told is that the Android OS loads apps into memory as a way to speed up processing and increase battery life and automatically empties this ram when more ram is needed. This is done to optimize performance and battery life.
So even if you might not use a certain app, its still left in memory incase u do use it and to avoid random increases in processing power decreasing overall battery life.
Sent from my SM-N900W8 using xda app-developers app

You're RAM usage is perfectly fine

what happen with the ram usage ? Is so normally .
Remember , android os system is a multitasking os.
So when you close the program it not totally close , still running in background .

Replace Touchwiz with Apex or Nova launcher, and kill as much bloatware as possible.
Touchwiz alone is 600MB.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk 2

balpreetsaini said:
Correct me if I am wrong but doesn't Android utilize ram differently then most systems. Isn't free ram wasted ram in this case.
What I have been told is that the Android OS loads apps into memory as a way to speed up processing and increase battery life and automatically empties this ram when more ram is needed. This is done to optimize performance and battery life.
So even if you might not use a certain app, its still left in memory incase u do use it and to avoid random increases in processing power decreasing overall battery life.
Sent from my SM-N900W8 using xda app-developers app
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Yes, Android manages memory different way and it's stupid way to put it mildly. Unless I manually go and kill useless applications, they take up memory and many of those apps I never used and never ever will. And no matter what anybody tells you it takes time to clear memory for new programs to load and defragment it. Primary reason I had to root my phone to fix this idiocy and freeze or delete all the bloat since I was tired to force stop dozens of apps after each reboot. I won't even go into all other issues like when those programs run in the background wasting battery, use internet, or wake the phone from deep sleep.
And how on Earth loading and running never used apps in background optimizes performance and battery life?
Part of the reason they do that is "just in time" compilation, another stupid idea, which they just tried to fix in KK.
Just like others suggested OP could root and freeze/delete all the garbage he doesn't use and surprise, surprise the phone will run faster and battery will last longer.

You don't need to root to remove most of the bloatware. I didn't, and mine averages around 1.2GB in use with Firefox, Facebook, Whatsapp, LWP, Zooper, Twitter and Gmail open. It boots to 700MB in use.