RAM problem - usage never going down

[Andy348]

I've got 4GB of ram and it seems like my usage is never going down. If I open up Firefox, MSN, iTunes, Limewire, etc, my iStat pro will show how much ram is being used and it obviously goes up to whatever is appropriate. My problem comes when I close all that stuff and it doesn't show the usage going down at all. When I click on it to see whats using it, it shows a kernal task.

Now if I restart my MB the usage will return to barely nothing. What should I do?

[Tallest Skil]

Hmm. What MacBook do you have?

[Eidorian]

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1342

Please do a search first.

[Andy348]

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1342

Please do a search first.

I'm not using activity monitor, I'm using iStat.

And I have a 2.1Ghz White macbook

[Eidorian]

I'm not using activity monitor, I'm using iStat.

And I have a 2.1Ghz White macbookThe same rules would apply for reading memory usage under OS X.

[Andy348]

The same rules would apply for reading memory usage under OS X.

I've read and understood that, but my "problem" still persists.

For example, I just ran my Parallels and Windows 7. Upon closing that, my bar went from about 3/4s full to half full. I close everything and just let my Mac sit for 20 minutes, come back and its still at half RAM and pretty hot on the bottom.

[Eidorian]

Are you getting more page outs or not afterward? "Free" RAM is a big misconception.