Inactive Memory?

Discussion in 'macOS' started by GeorgeFox, Dec 9, 2009.

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  1. GeorgeFox, Dec 9, 2009

    GeorgeFox macrumors newbie

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2009
    #1
    I have an early 2006 Mac Pro with 5GB of RAM and I am running 10.6.2 .

    In activity monitor it says I am down to 100 MB of RAM free. Under inactive it says 3.58 GB used. I go to the drop down menu and show only inactive processes; but if i add up the real memory for all the processes it is significantly less than 3.58 GB.

    Does anyone have any idea what this means exactly?

    Thanks
     
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  2. mac2x, Dec 9, 2009

    mac2x macrumors 65816

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    Sep 19, 2009
    #2
    Inactive RAM typically will be released by the system as needed. I don't know the why's and wherefore's though. :eek:
     
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  3. flopticalcube, Dec 9, 2009

    flopticalcube macrumors G4

    flopticalcube

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    In the velcro closure of America's Hat
    #3
    Inactive is RAM that was used previously by a process but no longer in use. If the page is requested for use again, its already there and becomes active. If a page is not there, it is taken from the disk and an inactive page (oldest?) is replaced by the new active page.
     
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