Firefox is a memory hog - Can I do anything about it?

[ScottRNelson]

My home computer "only" has 4 GB of RAM (it also has four processors). Apparently that isn't enough for Firefox to visit several web site, like cycleworld.com. It's using 3GB of memory on at least half a dozen processes. Having one tab for gmail and one for BARF has six processes, but uses about 400K or so, not nearly so bad.

Trying to read the same Cycle World article on Chrome uses about half as much memory. But I really would rather use Firefox than Chrome.

So I'm wondering if it's running some hidden stuff that I don't know about. Maybe mining Bitcoin or secretly sending out spam emails or something.

I already tried going to about:memory and telling it to Minimize memory usage, but that doesn't seem to do anything at all. Google searches on the subject aren't providing any useful information for me.

Do any of you have any ideas of what can be done to use less memory and CPU while visiting multiple pages in multiple tabs in Firefox?

If there is some magic way to get "jumpy ads" to hold still, that would be a good bonus.

BARF is great at not wasting resources, but a number of good news sites that I like to visit seem to wipe out the machine.

 

[Abacinator]

If you don't have a least 16GB of RAM, you need to add more. Memory is so cheap right now it doesn't make sense not to.

As far as ads go, run uBlock origin and you can whitelist BARF. The jittery popup ads can usually be done away with by using the NoScript plugin but it is pretty heavy-handed.

 

[UDRider]

Wow. Sad that nothing has changed in years.

 

[kelsodeez]

turn off hardware acceleration, turn off flash, install ublock origin, hit the gym, lawyer up

 

[NorCalBusa]

If you don't have a least 16GB of RAM, you need to add more. Memory is so cheap right now it doesn't make sense not to.

As far as ads go, run uBlock origin and you can whitelist BARF. The jittery popup ads can usually be done away with by using the NoScript plugin but it is pretty heavy-handed.

^ this. :afm199

 

[ScottRNelson]

I have a hard time wanting to give in and buy so much memory. When I started in the computer industry, 64KB was a lot. I can still remember a company that I worked for in the 80's building a 1 MB memory card, and it was big, that sold for like $10,000. Modern software just wastes memory all over the place. :afm199

I'll have to figure out what kind of memory my computer takes, then track down a 16GB board. Can you buy boards from Fry's and have them send it to you?

 

[Abacinator]

Download hwinfo. It'll tell you what kind of memory you have. I just buy from Amazon. 16gb will probably run you about 60 bucks.

 

[Tim-That CX Guy]

Use Chrome?

 

[ScottRNelson]

Use Chrome?

The wife uses Chrome and I use Firefox so that the bookmarks and stuff don't get mixed up.

At least you didn't recommend Internet Explorer.

 

[ScottRNelson]

Download hwinfo. It'll tell you what kind of memory you have. I just buy from Amazon. 16gb will probably run you about 60 bucks.

The install is taking forever. It might have been faster to shut down, open up the box, look at what's in there now, then reboot. :laughing

 

[ScottRNelson]

Download hwinfo. It'll tell you what kind of memory you have.

Okay, downloaded it, installed it, I don't see anything about the memory other than that I have 4GB of it, which I already knew.

I'm uninstalling it and finding out what kind of memory I have the old fashioned way.

 

[thedub]

The wife uses Chrome and I use Firefox so that the bookmarks and stuff don't get mixed up.

:laughing

Share Chrome with others

 

[Abacinator]

It'll say ddr2 or 3 or whatever you have and the speed. For example, DDR3 1600

 

[295566]

The wife uses Chrome and I use Firefox so that the bookmarks and stuff don't get mixed up.

At least you didn't recommend Internet Explorer.

Ok Boomer :laughing

 

[berth]

Okay, downloaded it, installed it, I don't see anything about the memory other than that I have 4GB of it, which I already knew.

You...you only have 4GB of RAM on the machine?

Honestly, that's the problem.

 

[ScottRNelson]

Dual Channel, DDR3 at 1333 MHz is that's in there now.

I just ordered two 8GB DIMMs and will find out in a few days if my computer is all wonderful again.

 

[Lagwagonlead]

If you don't have a least 16GB of RAM, you need to add more. Memory is so cheap right now it doesn't make sense not to.

This is totally inaccurate. It depends on the use of the computer. A lot of people don't need more than 8GB. Saying memory is cheap also depends on the person and situation. I will never purchase additional RAM for my laptop even though it has 4GB because I see it as a waste of money as it rarely uses up over 3GB.

 

[Abacinator]

This is totally inaccurate. It depends on the use of the computer. A lot of people don't need more than 8GB. Saying memory is cheap also depends on the person and situation. I will never purchase additional RAM for my laptop even though it has 4GB because I see it as a waste of money as it rarely uses up over 3GB.

Lol ok

 

[WorldSBK]

My home computer "only" has 4 GB of RAM (it also has four processors). Apparently that isn't enough for Firefox to visit several web site, like cycleworld.com. It's using 3GB of memory on at least half a dozen processes. Having one tab for gmail and one for BARF has six processes, but uses about 400K or so, not nearly so bad.

Trying to read the same Cycle World article on Chrome uses about half as much memory. But I really would rather use Firefox than Chrome.

So I'm wondering if it's running some hidden stuff that I don't know about. Maybe mining Bitcoin or secretly sending out spam emails or something.

I already tried going to about:memory and telling it to Minimize memory usage, but that doesn't seem to do anything at all. Google searches on the subject aren't providing any useful information for me.

Do any of you have any ideas of what can be done to use less memory and CPU while visiting multiple pages in multiple tabs in Firefox?

If there is some magic way to get "jumpy ads" to hold still, that would be a good bonus.

BARF is great at not wasting resources, but a number of good news sites that I like to visit seem to wipe out the machine.

Switch to Ubuntu.

It's totally free and uses much less memory than Windows.

I've converted many home PCs running Win7 to Ubuntu and they run great !

https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop

Attached is a screenshot of the kind of graphical user interface you'd have.

 

[NorCalBusa]

I have a hard time wanting to give in and buy so much memory. When I started in the computer industry, 64KB was a lot. I can still remember a company that I worked for in the 80's building a 1 MB memory card, and it was big, that sold for like $10,000. Modern software just wastes memory all over the place. :afm199

I'll have to figure out what kind of memory my computer takes, then track down a 16GB board. Can you buy boards from Fry's and have them send it to you?

What is "Fry's"? Long ago, I recall a retailer called that, but they've faded to black and empty shelves... Rumor is they're switching to some sort of game-multi-lane-bowling-tag-adventure thing...