2015 13" RAM Usage

Hey everyone,

I have an early 2015 13" rMBP with the standard 8 GB of RAM. I just had a question about RAM usage and overheating, etc.

I used to have an 11" MacBook Air with only 4 GB of RAM. When it would get slow, I'd check the Activity Monitor and it routinely used up about 3 GB of the available 4.

Now with the MBP, I do mostly the same stuff as I did with the Air. I use it for College and my job, which is writing. Nothing too intense at all. However, the fan(s) have been coming on a lot lately, and they are really loud. I just checked activity monitor, and it said I was using 7 GB of the 8 GB of RAM. Anyone know why this is?

The only thing I can think of is I use Chrome. But wow. As I type this, the fan is extremely loud. I have about 7 Chrome tabs open, and 1 Word Doc, nothing else. And the computer is on fire, it's so hot.

But back to the RAM, does it simply use more because there is more? I was just confused as to why I would use up so much more than my old MBA did, when I generally use it in the same way.

Thanks

 

Thanks for the response. The Pressure Graph was all green last time I was in activity monitor, which sounds good. This helped a lot, thanks.