MBP 16GB RAM huge memory consumption

[Romahaaa]

Hey guys.

I was 99% happy user of MBP 15" 2015 until this moment. From some point ~1-1.5 weeks ago I got a feeling like my machine has not enough resources to handle absolutely same tasks I did before for many years - work applications start working with some lags and delays, and in general looks like it start to work much slower.

I always had a tool for monitoring - iStatistica and tool for cleaning - MacCleaner. I started to pay attention to data like RAM / CPU usage realized (didn't pay much attention before as had no problem), that RAM usage is always pretty hight. Running browser + 2 work applications I see that remaining memory was in range of 30-200mb just after I experienced some delay or lagging. Swap Used reached up 4GB sometimes. Furthermore Cached Files value always in a huge range of 4-6.5GB.

I am really not sure how was these data values before when everything worked find. Now, just after MacOS started after reboot Memory Used ~4GB and Cached Files ~4GB! This means just from the start 8GB are taken just without using any applications. Looks insane.

I am not familiar to RAM usage anatomy but from what I found in different threads and topics that Swap Used should be as big as I have. Again, I am not an expert, but looks like when free memory about to finish and some files rewritten from RAM cache to SSD (Swap) at this point lags and delays appears.


Just a note, memory pressure is ALWAYS in a green range, CPU not overloaded also.

Another theory I got that somehow 4K monitor connected using Display Port > Thunderbolt affect it. Really, have no idea how can it be possible, but looks like it works a bit better when it's detached.

Please, give me some suggestions what can I improve here? Maybe some data measurement needed more for deeper analysis?

 

[IceStormNG]

That looks normal. a) macOS (especially Catalin and Big Sur) is a memory hog and b) unused RAM is wasted RAM. So it's good that the OS fills it with caches. RAM should always be full.

The system should drop these caches when the RAM is needed for applications. That's why memory pressure is a better indicator to see whether you have enough memory or not. As long as it's green, everything is fine.

 

[Romahaaa]

That looks normal.

Thanks for reply. Yeah, seems that RAM is ok, but here what I found yesterday.
1. The terrific lags was caused when I used JetBrains Rider IDE. I found an issue people complaining about same problem, and seem this happened because of their software bad optimization. This is not related to the hardware problems at all.
2. I found couple of comments in stackexchange and reddit saying that MBP 2015 has some problems with display resolution scaling. Here is a comment:

---

Scaling is your culprit. Anything different than 1080p or 4K is going to tax the GPU and cause lag. It's unfortunate. I think a solution which costs a lot more money would be to purchase a 5K monitor then run it at 1440p (the only acceptable resolution imho) This would be the default resolution since it's exactly half of 5K. 1080p is exactly half of 4K which is why the GPU doesn't struggle on a 4k monitor when run at that resolution. Of course 4k at it's natural resolution is far too tiny to be useable which I'm sure you found out. So 1080p and 4k are just not useable for a 27" monitor. Purchasing a blurry 1440p monitor or a 5K monitor run at retina 1440p are the only options to get a lag free experience imho on a 27" external display paired with a MacBook Pro.

what exactly my case, as I used 1440p resolution as it's the most comfortable for 4K displays.

Does this means it's something I can't fix?

 

[Macbookprodude]

2015 MacBook Pro dual graphics 2.5 ghz - plays fine 1440 no problems. Maybe a problem with the GPU ? GPU issues like this are on a 2011, not a 2015.

 

[Romahaaa]

Can't say anything about GPU as not much tool to check it on MacOS. I don't know any suitable. I checked performance in Bootcamp for some games years ago, and that Radeon M370x had a problem with thermal throttling. Not sure, does it behave same in MacOS or not.
But.. my mac was just cleaned recently, thermal paste was changed.

 

[Macbookprodude]

Can't say anything about GPU as not much tool to check it on MacOS. I don't know any suitable. I checked performance in Bootcamp for some games years ago, and that Radeon M370x had a problem with thermal throttling. Not sure, does it behave same in MacOS or not.
But.. my mac was just cleaned recently, thermal paste was changed.

Try Cinebench to test the GPU - You need a video stress test. If it passes, then great, the video is fine, if not, then you need a new logicboard.

 

[Romahaaa]

I run it for multicore test, had no error or something like that. Score about 2400

 

[ewu]

I wonder which mac os are you using.

if it is Big Sur, it will explain everything you meet, because it is very ram consuming.
Mac os catalina is ram consuming as well.