RAM inspection

[IIO]

which of the various tools i probably got somewhere let me inspect the RAM, so that i can at least see which applications or documents are loaded by a MacOS9 system itself and how much memory they use?

one of my G4 with a heavy modified system folder requries 580 mb since a while - and no, it is not a broken RAM stick, it is that specific system folder.

[ssp3]

1. Apple Menu -> About this Macintosh 
2. Memory Mapper (application).

* Sounds like something is leaking memory in your setup.

[IIO]

no leak, it is a constant value and seems to be close to 512 (system occupies 582)

even more strange, it only happens when 2 or 3 memory sticks are installed. with only one, the system only needs what it should.

[robespierre]

You should be able to inspect the system heap with MacsBug; I don't have it to hand so you'll have to find the exact commands, unless someone else knows.

Edit:
should be as simple as

Code: [Select]

> hx -- switch to system heap
> ht -- display heap totals
> hd -- walk the heap displaying all blocks


[V.Yakob]

I recently came across the ProcessInfo application.

[ssp3]

no leak, it is a constant value and seems to be close to 512 (system occupies 582)

even more strange, it only happens when 2 or 3 memory sticks are installed. with only one, the system only needs what it should.

Any chance that you have set Finder or any other application's minimal/preferred memory too high by mistake?

Anyway, Memory Mapper will show you the offender.

[IIO]

i am pretty sure it must something i´ve done myself a few months ago, but it wasnt finder hacking and also not adding new items to the extensions or panels folder or something in that area.

there is a low chance that it has something to do with my only half-working SATA card, but then again it is only with that specific system folder, not with juvenile ones or an older backup.

[IIO]

quicksilver, universal OS, was working for many years before.

[ovalking]

>no leak, it is a constant value and seems to be close to 512 (system occupies 582)

RAM Disk?

[nanopico]

What's the total RAM capacity installed?

[IIO]

3x500.

when 3 are installed, 900 are free (and the rest taken by Mac OS)
when 2 are installed, 400 are free
when 1 is installed, Mac OS only takes what it should*)

2 different machines, 2 different sets of RAM sticks, only a certain system folder.

*) (as if that, what causes it, could not be loaded at all, like in that suggestion about possible automounted RAM disk)

[IIO]

i´ve tried to boot with complete /preferences folder moved out, no difference.

my extensins folder is well organized using label colors and it is the same since more than 10 years.

only new items added were the PARIS drivers. they´re not even inits.

[IIO]

what about an app which can write the RAM content (or most of it) into a file? similar to how OSes do it when going to hibernation?

[ssp3]

What does the "Memory Mapper" application show? Have you tried it?
https://macintoshgarden.org/apps/memory-mapper-15

[IIO]

What does the "Memory Mapper" application show?

all of the these utilties show used memory by process.

it would help me to find out that the finder needs 600 mb RAM because the finder needs 600 mb RAM. which is close to meaningless.

i have yet to fullfill my duty to use macsbug as proposed weeks ago, this will probably show a bit more.

[ssp3]

Replace the damn Finder with the fresh copy!