Memory Analysis questions

[michial]

I have a few questions about reading memory usage on istat and activity monitor. Please explain page outs? I have a new cMBP 15 inch 2.3 with 4GB but 16 on the way from OWC. Not sure how to read the memory descriptions of page in, page out, swap, and istat pro descriptors like: wired, inactive vs free.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Mac OS X: Reading system memory usage in Activity Monitor

 

[michial]

Mac OS X: Reading system memory usage in Activity Monitor

Thanks! I have about 3GB of both page ins and outs. The activity monitor shows a "kernel task" by "root" using up 500 mb and 97 threads. What is that? I recognize the other things listed like mail, safari,etc.