High system ram consumption with no applications running

Question

I own a HP Envy X360 and have 16gb of ram. Having 2 times more ram than my old computer, it is barely performing better. After rebooting, the ram is sitting at around 30-40% used, looking at the user tab, the processes are only using about 1 gb, 2 at most when i do have some start up apps running, and there is 5 to 6gb of ram that I just seemingly don't have access to. Effectively turning the 16gb into around 10gb. Is there a way to fix that without having to spend money on a stick of 16gb for 24gb? Other 16gb laptops running windows 11 doesn't seem to have this issue.

Answer 1

Dear Shiqi Wang,

Welcome to the Microsoft Community

Thank you for sharing your concern regarding the high system RAM consumption on your HP Envy X360 laptop. I understand how frustrating it can be to experience performance issues despite having ample RAM.

There are several steps we can take to address this issue and optimize your system's RAM usage:

1. Resource Monitor: In addition to Task Manager, you can use the Resource Monitor tool to get a more detailed view of how your system resources are being utilized. It provides insights into memory usage by individual processes and services, which can help pinpoint any abnormalities or excessive usage.
2. Check for Memory Leaks: Memory leaks in certain applications or drivers can gradually consume more RAM over time, leading to high overall usage. Ensure that all your drivers and applications are up-to-date, as developers often release patches to fix memory-related issues.
3. Perform a Clean Boot: This process will eliminate 3rd party applications running in the background of your computer, along with services that are not needed to run windows.

• Press Win + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
• In the System Configuration window, go to the Services tab.
• Check Hide all Microsoft services and then click Disable all.
• Go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
• Disable all startup items, then close Task Manager and click OK in the System Configuration window.
• Restart your computer.

Disclaimer: A “clean boot” starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. It helps to determine whether a background program is interfering with your game or program and to isolate the cause of a problem. 

These steps of "clean boot" might look complicated at first glance. However, to avoid any trouble for you, please follow them in order and step-by step so that it will help you get you back on track.
4. Disable Startup Programs: Some programs start running as soon as you boot up your computer, consuming memory. You can manage these from the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc > Startup tab). Disable any programs that you don’t need to start up with your computer. This can help reduce the initial RAM usage after booting up your laptop.

If none of these steps work, it might be a good idea to reach out to HP support or a professional technician for further assistance. They can help diagnose if there are any hardware issues with your laptop that might be causing the high memory usage.

Best Regards,

Martin | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Answer 2

Those steps didn't quite seem to fix the problem, as I've tried them in the past and even after redoing them, the processes are still taking right about 1.5gb and the total used is still around 6-7gb. I been considering just throwing a 16gb stick replacing one of the 2 8gb sticks, and may I ask if that is a good idea as a long term solution? If it comes down to it in the next year or two I'll replace the other 8gb stick aswell but im not sure if mixing a 16gb with a 8gb would work well together if at all.

Answer 3

I understand that windows 11 machines may idle with 30-50% ram consumed, and I think that number makes sense on my older computer with 8gb. However that number is more or less the same after having 2 times the amount of ram. Many other windows 11 machines my friends own with 16gb can easily idle between 10-20, some even bellow 10%. They may have system optimizers but that still doesn't quite explain why im running 30-50, and that 5gb of ram thats always consumed, seemingly just don't exist to me. If there are other ways to optimize my system, I would be glad to try them out.

Answer 4

Dear Shiqi Wang,

Thank you for your prompt response. I truly appreciate your proactive approach in addressing the memory footprint concerns on your Windows 11 system.

It's essential to clarify that the troubleshooting steps outlined earlier were intended to identify any fluctuation in memory usage and to pinpoint any processes consuming excessive memory, rather than as a direct solution to altering the memory footprint itself.

In the context of Windows 11, observing a memory footprint ranging from 30% to 50% when no applications are running is indeed within an expected and reasonable range. It's important to note that this range can vary based on the total available RAM and the background processes running on the system. Notably, given that there are no abnormal memory-consuming applications or background processes, and the memory footprint does not significantly decrease after implementing the troubleshooting steps, it indicates a normal operational status.

While the Task Manager reflects approximately 7-8 GB of available memory, it's crucial to understand that this range is dynamically adjusted. Additionally, a considerable portion of the memory resources are utilized for caching, which is pivotal for ensuring optimal system performance and responsiveness.

Should you remain uncertain about the observed memory utilization, please feel free to share a screenshot of the Task Manager's Performance tab with me. I would be more than willing to assist in verifying if any anomalies are present.

Regarding your consideration of upgrading the RAM, increasing the capacity of your RAM will undoubtedly expand the upper limit of available memory and enhance overall system performance. Replacing your current 8 GB with 16 GB of RAM is a viable option. However, it's imperative to carefully consider the compatibility between memory sticks. Rest assured, most memory stick manufacturers offer after-sales support, providing the flexibility to address compatibility issues promptly should they arise.

Your dedication to optimizing your system's performance is commendable, and I'm here to support you throughout this process. Please don't hesitate to reach out for further guidance or if you have any additional queries.

Respectfully,

Martin | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Answer 5

Dear Shiqi Wang,

Thank you for sharing your concerns about the memory usage on your Windows 11 system. I understand that seeing a higher memory footprint even after upgrading to 16 GB of RAM can be frustrating, especially when compared to other systems with similar configurations.

While having more RAM generally allows for smoother multitasking and improved overall performance, it's important to note that memory usage can vary based on various factors, including the installed software, background processes, and system settings. Some optimizations and adjustments can potentially help improve memory utilization on your system.

Here are a few suggestions you can try:

1. Optimize visual effects: Windows 11 offers several visual effects that enhance the user experience. However, these effects can consume additional system resources, including memory. You can adjust the visual effects settings by:

• Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
• Type "sysdm.cpl" (without the quotes) in the Run dialog box.
• Press Enter or click OK.
• going to Advanced > Performance > Settings > Adjustment for optimal performance.

1. Adjust virtual memory settings: Windows uses a portion of your hard drive as virtual memory (page file) when the physical RAM is fully utilized. By default, Windows manages the virtual memory settings automatically. However, you can manually adjust the virtual memory size to optimize performance. To do this:

• Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
• Type "sysdm.cpl" (without the quotes) in the Run dialog box.
• Press Enter or click OK.
• going to Advanced > Performance > Settings > Advanced > Virtual memory

I hope these suggestions help optimize the memory usage on your Windows 11 system.

Best regards,

Martin | Microsoft Community Support Specialist