I've been paying attention to how much RAM my machine uses at any given time via the activity monitor, and a Dashboard widget I downloaded (which seems to be fairly accurate). After I've used something heavy like Photoshop and/or Illustrator, much of my RAM remains shown as active. (like right now, I show only about 425M of free RAM, all I have open is this one Firefox window/tab). If I restart the RAM readings recover.
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RAM remains active with nothing in use
- Thread starter Dobiewonkanobie
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RAM is basically a smaller hard drive, it stores things. Once you cut power, it forgets them. All you're seeing is the things its remembering. It will overwrite them if need be, but until power to the RAM is cut, it will stay quite full after intensive programs.