Resource percentage free

[kayofcircles]

I know this is probably a complex question, but is there a "good" percentage of system resources free? For example, I recently installed ZoneAlarm and found that it is using approx 6MB. I have a friend whose laptop is currently showing "64 MB, 62% free". Should I recommend she install ZA, or will her resources drop too far and cause her grief? I just read a post where the questioner said they only have 32% free which seems awfully low...at least compared to mine. So, is there a "safe" range?

[BigBlue66]

Hi Kay,

Wow, only 32% free? I'm surprised the 'puter even functions. 62% seems a little too low to me as well. I get nervous if my resources fall below 85%, but then, that's just me. I like to have my free resources running over 90% if at all possible.

I would suggest that before you tell your friend to install ZA, that she invest in at least another 64mb of RAM, if not more.

I'm sure there will be opinions galore on this topic. Can't wait to read them.

Cheers,

Big Blue 66


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Um, I must have been drunk at the time.

[kayofcircles]

That's what I thought..thanks, BigBlue. Don't think I am ever in the 90% range..right now, with ZA, OE, IE, and that packet writer thingy I can't figure out a "bypass" for, I am at 70%. My friend is not gonna let us touch her laptop..so adding RAM is out even if we had ever worked on a laptop..which we haven't and I don't want to. We're planning to build me a newer, "midsized", puter soon so I am not concerned about adding RAM to this one.

So, your vote is "over 80%" is good, 90% better...right?

[BigBlue66]

That's right, Kay. However, when I mentioned the above 90% range, I meant to say that's what I like to see before loading up any programs. It's very common to shrink the resources when multiple programs are running at once.

But I still say 62% is a might too lean. What are you referring to when you say the packet writer thingy? Is that per chance related to CD burning software? Let me know what your OS is and I'll see if I can help with a reg tweak for it. I assume if you're running 98, you have already ran msconfig to try to disable it from loading at startup? If you're running NT, I can tell you how to disable it on startup. If you're running 95, then you need to find your startup folder and delete it. Let me know.

If you're running at 70% with all those programs going at once and you're not experiencing any problems, then I guess you shouldn't worry about it. Disabling the packet writing would help though.

Oh, and I don't blame you for not wanting to open up that laptop. I wouldn't either. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

Cheers,

Big Blue 66


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Yes Sir, Occifer!

[YODA74]

mine is only 63%sys.resource only thing i've put in was adaware??don"t feel so bad kay! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/cool.gif

[sea69]

hmmmmmmmmmmm....... here's mine:

Microsoft Windows 98 4.10.2222 A
Clean install using /T:C:\WININST0.400 /SrcDir=C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS /IE 5 5.00.2919.6307
Uptime: 0:00:01:40
Normal mode
On "COMPUTER" as "???"
Compaq Computer Corporation
AuthenticAMD AMD Athlon(tm) Processor
128MB RAM
85% system resources free
Windows-managed swap file on drive C (16677MB free)

___________________________________________

The above is what my machine says in "System Information" when 1st booted up, without running anything at all (except start up items, and system information)

Additionally, Resource Meter - upon boot says:

System resources: 84%
User resources: 84%
GDI resources: 92%



by BB_66:

"I get nervous if my resources fall below 85%, but then, that's just me. I like to have my free resources running over 90% if at all possible."

these go down dramatically as you open other normal things that you need in order to be able to do anything- such as your browser, communication programs, email apps (OE), and anything else that you open up.

I would like to know how you can keep your resources to an 85% level ??

Maybe I’m missing something-( wouldn’t be the 1st time)

Hehe

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif


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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)

[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 08-17-2001).]

[kayofcircles]

Win98. When had EasyCD and Adaptec, just went in and turned off the Adaptec in msconfig, and made a desktop shortcut to turn on the Adaptec when I needed it. For the new burner, has "C/Win/System/PtUDFAPP.exe/T" to start the abCD program. Tried a shortcut on desktop, but wouldn't turn on the program..and don't understand that T at the end. It is NOT under Start/Programs...only the CD Extreme. It is listed in Add/Remove as a separate program..."Sony abCD 1.5". The abCD is essential; I usually only use the packet writer to save files, but discovered that I have to have it running or the CD Extreme locks up the puter after recording. (That's when I found my way here...trying to get that new burner to work!)

Forgot to check before turning "on" any programs, but did look yesterday while running just my PaintShopPro (and the OS and abCD) and was at 90%...so http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif.

[BigBlue66]

Yeppers Sea, you missed it. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif Refer to my second post above. I said I like to see over 90% before I open any programs. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif And, the way I get it over 90% is to not have a load of stuff loading at startup.

BB 66


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Yes Sir, Occifer!

[This message has been edited by BigBlue66 (edited 08-17-2001).]

[BigBlue66]

Kay, sounds like you may be stuck with it. I am not familiar with that brand of burner or its software. Maybe someone else is.

BB66

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Yes Sir, Occifer!

[kayofcircles]

No biggie, BigBlue. If I got a read of 90% when it's running, must not be sucking much. But raises my initial question again...what is a good range for performance while running apps? Is there a "low" where the system is gasping, so to speak?

[sea69]

kay, @ 33% I am in the "yellow" -(low)- range... next comes RED..

I got there by having- (10) Browser windows of IE open, sisoftsandra, OE, Napster on and playing, cam apps running and recording, system info, resource meter, sound controller app, and two word docs open, and of course my WinPoET dsl connection.(memory HOG)-lol

all is a-ok.

hehe


http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)



[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 08-17-2001).]

[kayofcircles]

Thanks, Sea. Just wanted another "check" for troubleshooting.

[kaos]

I don't worry until they get below 20%. Why worry about where your resources are at if you get no out of memory errors? I notice no dif at all if I have 85% or 15%.

[This message has been edited by kaos (edited 08-17-2001).]

[kaos]

I would suggest that before you tell your friend to install ZA, that she invest in at least another 64mb of RAM, if not more.

I thought this was in my previous post. but.. BigBlue, MB's of RAM and system recources are 2 different things. 64MB more of RAM won't make any difference.

[sea69]

hehe.. I'm sure he (BB_66)- knows that... what he most likely meant was that for overall system perfomance another 64MB's of RAM would be the ticket.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)




[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 08-17-2001).]

[kaos]

I kinda thought that, just wanted to make sure for others reading. I didn't want people thinking if they had less than 60% or even 30% to think something was wrong is all. That's just what I got from your guys posts. Sorry.
It doesn't matter if you have 90% or 10%, if you don't get any out of memory errors, there's nothing to worry about. And adding more megs of RAM won't help. I know a little bit (very little) about some complicated stuff, not like you guys, but, there's so much easy stuff that I have NO clue about. BB, please don't think I meant to demean you bro, I hope you understand I didn't mean it that way. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif


[This message has been edited by kaos (edited 08-17-2001).]

[This message has been edited by kaos (edited 08-17-2001).]

[pjungwirth]

I was little curious about whether resource usage was the same as memory. You're saying it's not? What is it, then?

Paul
~{:-)

[kaos]

pjungwirth,
You can do a search on google and see the difference. IMO, making sure you have 90% or more resources free is impossible if you have an antivirus, firewall, your int. conection and only one open browser it's below 90% already. It doesn't matter if you have 65% resources free or even 15%. If you don't get an out of memory error, then you will never notice how many resources you have free. No matter how many MB's you have of memory, whether it be 16MB or 512MB, it doesn't matter, it will always be the same as far as resources go. Nothing can change that except what you have running in the background. I'm not trying to be argumentative, it's just that those are the facts. I don't want people to believe if they go out and buy more RAM, their problems would go away. Sorry, if I sound so negative.

[This message has been edited by kaos (edited 08-18-2001).]

[Paleo Pete]

Infini Source (http://www.windows-help.net/techfiles/win-resources.html) has a very good article concerning system resources, and our own PC Guide (http://www.pcguide.com/ref/mbsys/res/) has what looks to be a detailed chapter. I haven't read it yet, but the window will stay open till later or tomorrow when I can...

Right now, with mIRC running, two browser windows, ZA, Quick Link III, McAffee antivirus, Net Launch (internet auto-dialer), resource meter I'm showing

System Resources 68% free
User Resources 68% free
GDI resources 77% free

That's a P-233MMX, 64MB, total of 15 items showing in Task Monitor. (3 finger salute.)

------------------
Support the right to keep and arm bears.
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[buck52]

Howdy pjungwirth

Here's an article for you to read http://www.pcnineoneone.com/howto/resources1.html

buck

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just hav'n fun

[kayofcircles]

Thank you, kaos, because I did have the wrong idea. I DID think resources were RAM (in combination with other things). Thanks to Pete and buck also...although buck's link kept popping up the Flash download for me.

Forgive me for asking this, but if resources too low are not causing sluggishness...as I do notice if I have tons of windows open and copying/pasting large amounts...what does cause the "sluggish"?

[kayofcircles]

kaos: You said "Why worry about where your resources are at if you get no out of memory errors?" I read about the difference between resources and RAM (articles above), but then I just read this post (http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/001781.html). So it's a RAM problem if you get "out of memory" errors, but not a RAM problem if resources fall too low? What I got out of above articles is that all you can do when resources drop too far is close out programs...right?

[pjungwirth]

Interesting!

So your User and GDI resources are two 64K areas of memory that manage GUI components, huh? In that case, adding memory won't do a *thing* to increase resource use, because the 64K limit is built into the OS.

Thanks for the helpful links, everyone! I found the Infini Source link the most informative. The PC Guide link is about something else. It uses "system resources" in a more general, less technical way: to refer to IRQs, DMA channels, I/O addresses, etc. It's even got this note:

Note: The term "system resources" is also sometimes used to refer to special memory areas in various Windows operating systems. This is a different concept altogether, that just happens to use the same name.

So the Infini Source link says that the User area has one 16-bit heap and two 32-bit heaps, and the GDI area has one 16-bit heap and another 32-bit heap. But then it says each area has a maximum of 64K of space. Huh? I'm guessing the author means one heap of 16-bit structures, two heaps of 32-bit structures, etc. Do you think this is correct? Who's ever heard of a 16-bit heap? That's more like a register!

It's great fun being initiated into the mysteries of Windows. Thanks you all!

Paul
~{:-)

[iisbob]

Great links, and it seems most have gotten an idea of how system resources and physical memory differ.

Think of system resources as a permant block of cells that windows has to use everytime it's open-they can't be emptied as programs close, even tho they're not in use anymore ( kinda like using a rag that needs to washed before using it again http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif )

Here's a good link that'll help explain it further.

Zdnet on system resources (http://www.zdnet.com/zdhelp/stories/main/0,5594,2271378-2,00.html)



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iisbob
"Soap and education are not as sudden as a massacre, but they are more deadly in the long run."

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." --Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

[BigBlue66]

Hey thanks Sea for stickin up fer me. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

I agree, in the grand scheme of things, that adding more physical RAM to your system will not necessarily improve on overall system resources, but hey, it can't hurt. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif I don't think there's one of you out there that wouldn't agree that adding another 64mb of RAM to a system that only has 64mb in the first place, will improve things tremendously. It's neither here nor there as to whether it improves 'system resources' or if it just increases overall performance.

So, let's put it to bed already.

Cheers,

BB 66


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Yes Sir, Occifer!

[kayofcircles]

Thanks, iisbob , that's just what I needed.

[kaos]

Hey thanks Sea for stickin up fer me

BigBlue I didn't mean it to sound like I was arguing w/ you. I have a bad communication problem on BB's. As much as I've tried, I can't type words very well to make it sound any better. I cringe sometimes after I read my posts, hoping it isn't taken as bad as it sometimes looks. I would never attack anyone on a BB, I come here for how nice this place is and because Pete will always keep it that way. It's not so hard in real life when you can hear my tone of voice, see me smiling, etc. I'm not saying this too kiss up, but, everyone here that posts knows so much more than me about pc's so I would be an idiot for trying to argue w/ anyone. Then if I had a problem, noone here would help me. That's the last thing I would want.

[iisbob]

you're quite welcome Kay; and Kaos every post of yours i've read seem just cordial-i don't read anything threating in them-then again i've never been known to be a meek person either. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif I'm sure a lot of my posts have seem like the wrath of God coming down http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif , sometimes yoiu just can't say things in any other way than," Hey-you're wrong! ". Most times the truth hurts.

When i was just outa highschool a friend of mine in college had a garfield poster that i used to think ( actually i still think it pertains, especially through our Politically correct world sometimes ) was one of the " truest " statements of life:

Tact is for Weenies! i still get a laugh after all these years when i think of it. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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iisbob
"Soap and education are not as sudden as a massacre, but they are more deadly in the long run."

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." --Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

[sea69]

bad!... BAD!! kaos!!

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif


(j/k)

hehehehe

we all know that the printed word appears much more harsh than intended (mostly)

and I will 'jump' to the defense of anyone here that I consider a "Member in Good Standing".

= anyone that Pete has not barred...(or pissed off everyone)- hehe

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif



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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)


;)~

[kaos]

bad!... BAD!! kaos!!
LMAO! I just got a Cartman image in my head reading that. Thanks for the laugh and the understanding.

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Just one frickin' time I would like to post w/o having to edit.

[sea69]

you did it!!

(posted w/out editing)

hehe.. I helped.. cut you off from it..

lol

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif



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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)


;)~

[BigBlue66]

Hey Kaos,

No hard feelings. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif You were absolutely correct in what you said. No argument here. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

Guess it's mostly my fault. I didn't delve deep enough into Kay's query. I didn't pick up on her confusion on the matter. However, my original recommendation of adding another 64mb to a system that only has 64mb to begin with, still stands. Especially with WIN98, it can only help. Anything above 128mb though, is mostly fluff and/or bragging rights.

And as you pointed out, Kaos, having over 90% resources free on startup is impossible if you have a bunch of programs loading at startup. That was my point. I disable everything except the four most recommended programs from running at startup. If after I check my resources after booting, and they're over 90%, then I am happy that everything is as it should be. Only then will I startup other programs, knowing full well that my 'resources' are going down with every doubleclick of the mouse. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

Cheers,

Big Blue 66


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Yes Sir, Occifer!

[gogreen1]

Big Blue 66, New at pc. Was very interested at your answer on resourses. Would you tell me the four most recomended programs for running at start up. Really would appreciate it. Thanks. Jim

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Jim

[iisbob]

Well, gogreen1 not to step on Blue's shoes ( http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif ) but i'll give you a list that IMNO is all that should be in your startup group.


Must have:

Explorer systray loadpowerprofile (may be more than one; usually just two) ptsnoop (or something similar for your modem)

Probably should have:

antivirus any kind of system tool kit (ie: Norton works)

That's really all you need at startup-if you have a program that you want to run at startup that's your preference, just remember that windows resources are finite; so unless it's a tweak program you just can't live without-wait until you start it yourself to run the program. Of course there are a few pesky ones ( like realplayer) that want to put themselves in your system tray and start up at boot; most programs give you an option to not start with windows-i would say that %99 of the time you don't need them to do so, so tell them no.

You can run MSCONFIG, type it into your run/(command window) hit enter, look for the startup tab-look inside at the running programs; see if you can recognize what they are-you don't want to uncheck the must haves, but it's ok to uncheck the others. Try unchecking one at a time and rebooting-run your system for awhile and make sure everything's ok.

Every system is a little different in it's configuration, so you'll have to kinda experiment to see what you need to run/not run. There are probably one or two things i missed, but the rest of the guru's should help fill it in.


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iisbob
"Soap and education are not as sudden as a massacre, but they are more deadly in the long run."

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." --Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

[This message has been edited by iisbob (edited 08-20-2001).]

[mjc]

Here is what I have "on" at start up:

9 entries

[list=1]
CacheSentry an IE cache manager
EM_EXEC Logitech Mouseware
KidDesk Lite (a somewhat effective means of keeping my kids out of my stuff....)
ScanReg
SO5 Integrator Pass One
SO5 Integrator Pass Two for StarOffice integration.
SystemTray
TClockEX a little configurable clock/resource monitor
WinEject a CD eject program
[/list=a]

I have PowerManagement disabled...no need for a power profile.
Manually run an AV about once a week, and start ZoneAlarm before IE (might add that to the start list, nothing is attempting to dial out, so maybe not), run AdAware about once a week also.

Explorer will automatically run at startup unless you configure something else to run instead.

And with what I listed I have 95%++ free system resources... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif. But like has been mentioned elsewhere each system is different, and if I want anything else running I just start it after booting....

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

Gun Control...hitting what you aim at!

[BigBlue66]

Here's mine:

1) Scanreg
2) Systray
3) LoadPowerProfile
4) TaskMonitor

The only time you need ptsnoop is if you have a software based modem. Can I go to bed now?

IISBOB: Same to ya, lad. :P http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Good night, John Boy.

BB 66




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Yes Sir, Occifer!

[gogreen1]

Thanks iisbob, Big Blue66 and mjc for your expert advice. Jim

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Jim