Understanding RAM Usage

Forum: HD Install
Topic: Understanding RAM Usage
started by: piccolo

Posted by piccolo on Mar. 15 2006,12:26

My system: DSL Hard Disk Install over an computer 486 DX/2 66MHz and 16MB RAM

1) BIOS and DSL RAM detection not match:

BIOS detects 16 MB RAM, well.
DSL detects 13 MB RAM, well?.

2) My CPU Usage Statistic could can go to 100% when start up an application but RAM Usage Statistic not have important change, never overcome 8 MB. Ever arround 7MB. This is correct?. I expect also great changes RAM Usage Statistic.

Somebody have the same experience or some explanation for this?. Tanks

Posted by skaos on Mar. 15 2006,13:13

1)
Run "dmesg | grep Memory" (without quotes) to find the memory of the system (this is from a Vector system, not DSL):

Memory: 125892k/131072k available (2207k kernel code, 4608k reserved, 962k data, 148k init, 0k highmem)

Memory used by the kernel is not reported when you use free, top etc.

Posted by piccolo on Mar. 15 2006,15:44

Tanks skaos,
Memory: 13216k/16384k available (1386k kernel code, 2780k reserved, 567k data, 144k init,ok highmen)

This answers my first question. Respect to my second question, perhaps my system is very limited for run even an DSL desktop. I think increase RAM memory to 64 MB.