Database Users

What the **** is up with the ram?

On the nexus one there is about 500 mb of ram. Whenever I put my phone on and I kill all my tasks, I only have 120 mb. This is not the biggest problem because after about 30 minutes of using the phone, no matter if I kill all the apps, the ram goes to 70mb - 79mb.

Android 2.2 should fix this.
Or you can use a custom ROM such as cyanogen, with which i have over 230MB free RAM after closing apps

There are already a million and now one threads on this subject, search and you shall find all you could ever care to know about the subject.

You should be using the RAM, not freeing it. The only way you lose battery is if the Application/Widget is downloading or using the CPU/GPU. On your PC, do you go to task manager and kill apps every time?

I know it's a hard habit to kick coming from a G1 where it seemed necessary. But on a Nexus, you really don't need to. The only times I have to use it are when an application hangs.

What the **** is up with everyone not wanting the memory in their phones/computers to be used? That is what it's for! If its not being used it is going to waste.
If you guys are using task managers you have failed.

lol chillout!
People are obviously fine with it and welcome not to moan on the internet to people about not being able to use it.
Install a custom ROM if you want to dry your tears about not being able to use the extra RAM.

mets3214 said:
On the nexus one there is about 500 mb of ram. Whenever I put my phone on and I kill all my tasks, I only have 120 mb. This is not the biggest problem because after about 30 minutes of using the phone, no matter if I kill all the apps, the ram goes to 70mb - 79mb.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Killing apps is 100% unnecessary on the Nexus One.
It actually wastes MORE power to kill apps and have them restart all the time, than it does to just leave them alone.
For the next week, uninstall all your task killer apps.
Then tell us how it went.

Ram goblins got to your ram, oh noes!

I'll answer his question. currently the nexus one only has half of the 512mb of RAM freed up, so you only have 256 mb right now. the next update is freeing up the other half.

RogerPodacter said:
I'll answer his question. currently the nexus one only has half of the 512mb of RAM freed up, so you only have 256 mb right now. the next update is freeing up the other half.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, you're right we didn't really directly answer his question I guess. But the point is, people shouldn't be looking at the free memory measurements anymore. Anything that isn't being used by applications will be used by the operating system for caching and other such things (this is a good thing). As soon as another applications starts up and needs that space, the kernel will give it up. Free memory doesn't use less power than memory that is in use by a sleeping process.
While you are correct that not all of the current memory of the device is addressable with the current kernel, when this limitation is removed in the next update (assuming it will be) it still wont solve the OP's problem. All it is going to mean is that even more memory will be taken up as cache space and buffers by the kernel and applications will be closed down even later so you'll still see a pretty small amount of "free" memory. If close to half of the RAM is going completely unused, then that's a lost opportunity by the kernel to cache or prefetch something.
Don't use task managers. They aren't needed and provide nothing. All they do is give fodder to the Steve Jobs' of the world that claim you need to manually micro manage memory on android devices as evidence by the number of people that use them.

Nerd rage much?

So just to clarify, apps don't really "run" in the background, they are just more readily available if they have ram dedicated to them? I'd rather not use a task manager but if it saves any of this pathetic battery I would sacrifice some performance...

DMaverick50 said:
So just to clarify, apps don't really "run" in the background, they are just more readily available if they have ram dedicated to them? I'd rather not use a task manager but if it saves any of this pathetic battery I would sacrifice some performance...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only thing task managers do is kill your battery. If you find that your phone is sluggish , doesn't respond well etc, uninstall some bad apps. Some apps aren't coded very well and remain active all the time killing your battery. Having an app checking all the time if another app is killing your battery is also killing your battery.
Bottom line: Don't use a task killer unless you find it absolutely neccesary to keep your phone running at decent speed.

DMaverick50 said:
So just to clarify, apps don't really "run" in the background, they are just more readily available if they have ram dedicated to them? I'd rather not use a task manager but if it saves any of this pathetic battery I would sacrifice some performance...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look at the link in my signature, it'll explain how the android system manages programs.

[Q] RAM usage high

I just got my galaxy s4 and right out of the box i realized the RAM usage is quite high (around 1.2gb). i've cleared running apps and cleared the memory on the in the ram settings. is this just something i have to deal with or something else?

Its touchwiz. Its like that. Try aosp.
Sent from my SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

toxicpaulution said:
Its touchwiz. Its like that. Try aosp.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh that sucks. I would root, but I do like some of Samsung's added features and I don't know if I would lose them or not.

that's what the ram is there for. to be used.
you could consider a debloated and slimmer touchwiz rom from the android development section and pair it with one the great kernels also located here. might get the results you want plus be able to keep touchwiz, if thats your thing.

xxorianna said:
I just got my galaxy s4 and right out of the box i realized the RAM usage is quite high (around 1.2gb). i've cleared running apps and cleared the memory on the in the ram settings. is this just something i have to deal with or something else?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
High RAM usage is a good thing not a bad thing. The whole point to RAM is to keep stuff in it so it doesn't have to be reloaded, which causes lag. What are you trying to accomplish by clearing the memory?

GeorgeP said:
High RAM usage is a good thing not a bad thing. The whole point to RAM is to keep stuff in it so it doesn't have to be reloaded, which causes lag. What are you trying to accomplish by clearing the memory?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh I always thought that if the RAM is full the phone would run slower.

xxorianna said:
Oh I always thought that if the RAM is full the phone would run slower.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is not windows. in android, unused/idle ram is wasted ram.

xxorianna said:
Oh that sucks. I would root, but I do like some of Samsung's added features and I don't know if I would lose them or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you root you won't lose any Samsung features unless you delete them with Titanium Backup. I deleted all crapware on my phone and it is fast as anything with awesome battery life.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337

[Q] Anyone else seeing very high RAM usage?

Should I be concerned? So used to closing things out via Task Manager (from S3 & S4) to keep running smooth. I can't get the S5 below 1.34GB usage of 1.81GB available. Seems really high with nothing open or running.........

jcool13 said:
Should I be concerned? So used to closing things out via Task Manager (from S3 & S4) to keep running smooth. I can't get the S5 below 1.34GB usage of 1.81GB available. Seems really high with nothing open or running.........
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Free RAM is wasted RAM.

tdrussell said:
Free RAM is wasted RAM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. you are right to talking about. Every time Free RAM will become a expandable RAM. Must irresponsible...

More reply if you post it here http://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-galaxy-s5/help

Lodaserves said:
More reply if you post it here http://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-galaxy-s5/help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:good::good: i think this are really good area to get any reply or help..

Empty ram uses the same amount of battery as full ram. Might as well have some things loaded into ram for faster access and so other apps calling on these resources don't have to expend your battery while trying to turn things on
Follow Me @Bash_array

Lodaserves said:
Yes this is true.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Can you see my signature ? Do not remember it..

CM11 High RAM Usage

I've noticed lately that CM11 is using abnormal amounts of memory. It doesn't slow my phone down all that much, but it's just bothering me because I know its not supposed to. Before I got this G2, my S3 ran CM10.2 and it used a ton less memory (between 4 and 600mb).
And from what I know, KitKat is supposed to use less resources.
I also have a normal amount of processes running. Just basic apps like Snapchat, Kik, Voice and Voice+, and all the normal Google services that always run. I even uninstalled FB cause I barely use it and at any given time it would be using up 70mb, and it made no difference,
I cant just keep killing my apps cause they reopen automatically. Even when I do, it doesn't even make a temporary difference. Even when I kill the cached apps.
Its just really bothering me. Any suggestions?
I have a couple screenshots.

free ram = wasted ram

sawyerbenjamin said:
I've noticed lately that CM11 is using abnormal amounts of memory. It doesn't slow my phone down all that much, but it's just bothering me because I know its not supposed to. Before I got this G2, my S3 ran CM10.2 and it used a ton less memory (between 4 and 600mb).
And from what I know, KitKat is supposed to use less resources.
I also have a normal amount of processes running. Just basic apps like Snapchat, Kik, Voice and Voice+, and all the normal Google services that always run. I even uninstalled FB cause I barely use it and at any given time it would be using up 70mb, and it made no difference,
I cant just keep killing my apps cause they reopen automatically. Even when I do, it doesn't even make a temporary difference. Even when I kill the cached apps.
Its just really bothering me. Any suggestions?
I have a couple screenshots.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The amount of free ram looks fine. That's what I get on my end with stock LG G2
Sent from my LG-D801 using Tapatalk

It bothers me so much that people still don't know how Android runs and manages resources.
It's not Windows, it's not MacOS, it's Android, it allocates everything on the RAM so that it can be accessed faster, and this improves load times, multitasking, etc.
Free RAM is pretty much wasted RAM and please, do not install task killers nor kill tasks manually. Android does it alone and does it better. Whenever it needs free RAM it will shut down something that's not being used and haven't been used in a long time to free that RAM up.

As two others have stated, free RAM is wasted RAM. I only have about 600mb of RAM free on the Optimus G3 ROM.

prowsterz said:
As two others have stated, free RAM is wasted RAM. I only have about 600mb of RAM free on the Optimus G3 ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope I don't sound stupid. It's just more of an OCD thing. Just a couple days ago and prior to that, my phone stuck around 750-850mb. Now its using a over a gig 100% of the time and its just bothering me. I figured there was an actual reason for this. Maybe its from Xposed modules? I never noticed it until I started using Xposed a couple days ago.
But its not a big deal I guess.

sawyerbenjamin said:
I hope I don't sound stupid. It's just more of an OCD thing. Just a couple days ago and prior to that, my phone stuck around 750-850mb. Now its using a over a gig 100% of the time and its just bothering me. I figured there was an actual reason for this. Maybe its from Xposed modules? I never noticed it until I started using Xposed a couple days ago.
But its not a big deal I guess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're not having actual performance issues as a result, then don't worry about it. If you always have X amount of free RAM, then you don't need that RAM. As has already been stated, free/unused RAM is wasted RAM. Something most people don't understand about how computers work is that storage and RAM and two completely separate things. Storage is just that - STORAGE. Nothing runs directly from storage. RAM is where things run. When you - or the system - goes to run an application, it gets read from the slow storage and loaded into the much faster RAM and runs from there. This is why more RAM is better (notice I didn't say more free RAM). It allows more applications to be cached in RAM ready to run fast - or to keep more services loaded to allow for more cool features.
More RAM is better, but if you're always clearing it out to keep X amount free and then reloading the same apps again, you are doing yourself no favors from a performance perspective. I am sure you have plenty available at all times for the system to load new apps. It will kill them on its own either when it needs to, or when it sees that haven't accessed that app after a certain amount of time.

rebar71 said:
If you're not having actual performance issues as a result, then don't worry about it. If you always have X amount of free RAM, then you don't need that RAM. As has already been stated, free/unused RAM is wasted RAM. Something most people don't understand about how computers work is that storage and RAM and two completely separate things. Storage is just that - STORAGE. Nothing runs directly from storage. RAM is where things run. When you - or the system - goes to run an application, it gets read from the slow storage and loaded into the much faster RAM and runs from there. This is why more RAM is better (notice I didn't say more free RAM). It allows more applications to be cached in RAM ready to run fast - or to keep more services loaded to allow for more cool features.
More RAM is better, but if you're always clearing it out to keep X amount free and then reloading the same apps again, you are doing yourself no favors from a performance perspective. I am sure you have plenty available at all times for the system to load new apps. It will kill them on its own either when it needs to, or when it sees that haven't accessed that app after a certain amount of time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am 100% fully aware of what Random Access Memory is and what purpose it serves, and I can distinguish it from storage. I know far more than the very basics of a computer. I was just wondering what was using all the extra RAM up. It was bothering me because prior, my phone was using a lot less. Idk why you assumed I didn't understand what RAM and storage was.

sawyerbenjamin said:
I am 100% fully aware of what Random Access Memory is and what purpose it serves, and I can distinguish it from storage. I know far more than the very basics of a computer. I was just wondering what was using all the extra RAM up. It was bothering me because prior, my phone was using a lot less. Idk why you assumed I didn't understand what RAM and storage was.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read your own post again and see if you can figure out why i thought it needed explaining.
Sent from my LG-D801 using XDA Free mobile app

rebar71 said:
Read your own post again and see if you can figure out why i thought it needed explaining.
Sent from my LG-D801 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I didn't mention storage once.

sawyerbenjamin said:
Yeah I didn't mention storage once.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EDIT: No, you didn't mention storage. But just by asking the question, people generally are demonstrating a clear lack of understanding about how computers work. I usually just keep quiet, but every now and then, I feel compelled to fully explain it in the hope that the topic won't return. Alas, it always does.
I apologize that you were the unlucky one that I singled out on this occasion. I did not mean to offend. I thought I was being helpful. Maybe I helped someone else.
Sent from my LG-D801 using XDA Free mobile app

[Q] Opening task switcher takes very long (2-4 seconds) on 5.0 Lollipop SM-G900F

I flashed the polish Android 5.0 lollipop on my SM-G900F Galaxy S5. I have the latest xxxBNL9 update. When i hit the task switcher (left) button it takes very long to minimize the screen and open the task switcher. Typically it takes 2-3 seconds. When i do it repetitively it goes quicker. I've already set the "transition animation scale" to off (or 0.5x) in "developer options". Frequently closing all apps also doesn't help.
Please help me. I multitask a lot and this delay is very annoying.

Unfortunately... this is android's fault, it is also experienced by some Nexus Roms.

trettet said:
Unfortunately... this is android's fault, it is also experienced by some Nexus Roms.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that surprises me. I thought it was the bulky touchwiz for sure. I guess there's nothinh to be done but wait for Google to fix it. Thank you for the information, could you provide a link for anyone else who has the same question?

pizzaman79 said:
Well that surprises me. I thought it was the bulky touchwiz for sure. I guess there's nothinh to be done but wait for Google to fix it. Thank you for the information, could you provide a link for anyone else who has the same question?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I couldn't particularly find one on xda, but I've found lots of complaints on reddit..on Nexus and Android subs...just look it up..
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Free mobile app

Agreed.
It was faster on 4.4.

There is a memory leak in 5.0 and even 5.0.1-2 that if you keep the phone on more than 2 days running the system eats up the RAM.
Was noted and linked to in the S5 firmware thread.

lynxblaine said:
There is a memory leak in 5.0 and even 5.0.1-2 that if you keep the phone on more than 2 days running the system eats up the RAM.
Was noted and linked to in the S5 firmware thread.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Touchwiz is a bit of a memory leak on itself, but i think the memory leak doesn't just affect nexus phones, but also the Galaxy S5. When i look in my memory manager, with only a few small open apps (totalling less than 200mb) my memory is almost full, 1.4 /1.67gb used.
I don't know if that's the actual cause of the delay on opening the memory manager. It might well be, because with more memory it can keep the task switcher open/active longer. The times when there is a delay are probably when the task switcher app was closed because of low memory. When you open it several times, it goes much faster.
Note: I cleared my cache partition after a failed root attempt and reflashed the stock rom (without doing a factory reset). That helped a bit. It went from 2-4 seconds to 1-3 seconds to open the task switcher. It helped, but it's not a permanent fix.

The only temporary workaround as of yet is to reboot the phone regularly, like every 2 days.

2gb is really not enough for this phone... that's why we are seing a lag free note 3 touchwiz rom because it has 3 gb of ram.
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Free mobile app

What you talking is nonsense. If 2 are gigabytes of RAM too little why are then 200 to 300 megabytes always free? If you have more than that it is useless. Why would anyone want to have a lot of RAM just sitting there and does nothing. Eats more battery, literally taking space in phone but does nothing.
Sent from my SM-G900F

AlwaysAndroid said:
What you talking is nonsense. If 2 are gigabytes of RAM too little why are then 200 to 300 megabytes always free? If you have more than that it is useless. Why would anyone want to have a lot of RAM just sitting there and does nothing. Eats more battery, literally taking space in phone but does nothing.
Sent from my SM-G900F
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Having 200-300 MB of ram means yoh have too much crap running, i have 600ish free right now, and as far as i know having more ram would not affect battery life, nlt sure where you got that from.
Sent from my SM-G900A using Tapatalk

Rakuu said:
Having 200-300 MB of ram means yoh have too much crap running, i have 600ish free right now, and as far as i know having more ram would not affect battery life, nlt sure where you got that from.
Sent from my SM-G900A using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course it affects battery life because phone could have less RAM in total (physically less) which needs less juice. Less RAM needs less physical space and battery can be bigger. So again, if you have a lot free RAM just sitting there, it does nothing and I don`t know which smart ass even started comparing ROM optimization and free RAM.

AlwaysAndroid said:
Of course it affects battery life because phone could have less RAM in total (physically less) which needs less juice. Less RAM needs less physical space and battery can be bigger. So again, if you have a lot free RAM just sitting there, it does nothing and I don`t know which smart ass even started comparing ROM optimization and free RAM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Other than having less size for the battery(which is is untrue, you could just have one larger sized ram stick) having more ram does not lead to less battery life. Like i said before where did you hear that? Googling that only brings up the contrary so im confused where you got that information.
Sent from my SM-G900A using Tapatalk

Sending 15 photos via fb messenger causes crash because it needs more ram.
Free ram isn't FREE RAM, it's cached memory, it is still being used but if an needs more it will free it and the cached process will be moved to swap or forced close...and yeah have fun sending a support or bug report to facebook, because they're not fixing it.
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Free mobile app