From: DervishD <lkml@dervishd.net>
To: Shaun <mailinglists@unix-scripts.com>
Cc: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org
Subject: Re: Memory, where's it going?
Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2005 09:53:28 +0100 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <20051228085328.GA25380@DervishD> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <dotjb6$j8$1@sea.gmane.org>
Hi Shaun :)
* Shaun <mailinglists@unix-scripts.com> dixit:
> I see that free shows that 7.7GB is cached and i'm not sure why so
> much is cached.
Because free memory is a *waste* of memory. Why leaving unused
memory when it can be used for caching? The kernel will (up to some
extent, I suppose) try to use all free memory for caching if no app
needs it.
If you have 8GB of memory, it's a bit difficult to fill it just
with the running apps, so the kernel cleverly uses the rest for
caching things so the system runs faster.
For example, I have 1GB of RAM, and even when I use X (seldom...)
I never eat up more than, let's say, 500MB. So, I have another 500MB
of memory unused: the kernel uses it as cache, and that makes my
system run much faster (I noticed a speed increase when I switch from
512 to 1G).
Raúl Núñez de Arenas Coronado
--
Linux Registered User 88736 | http://www.dervishd.net
http://www.pleyades.net & http://www.gotesdelluna.net
It's my PC and I'll cry if I want to...
next prev parent reply other threads:[~2005-12-28 8:52 UTC|newest]
Thread overview: 6+ messages / expand[flat|nested] mbox.gz Atom feed top
2005-12-28 8:45 Memory, where's it going? Shaun
2005-12-28 8:53 ` DervishD [this message]
2005-12-28 9:06 ` Shaun
2005-12-28 9:55 ` DervishD
2005-12-28 14:00 ` Tommy Reynolds
2005-12-28 16:41 ` DervishD
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