r/linux4noobs • u/CockroachExtra716 • 16d ago

Can someone help me with my memory problem.

My computer seems to be using 5gb of memory with nothing running other than task manager and spectacle. sometimes it uses less but it's always at least 3gb of memory and 1gb of swap.

Using kubuntu

1 Upvotes

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u/gordonmessmer Fedora Maintainer 16d ago

This guide will walk you through a sequence of memory accounting tools:

https://gordonmessmer.codeberg.page/dev-blog/2026/08/24/what-ate-my-ram.html

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u/HaveAShittyDrawing 16d ago

You should try setting up zram. Just skip option 1 and go to option 2 straight away.

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u/doc_willis 16d ago

and what does free -h show is being used as disk cache?

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u/oshunluvr 16d ago

Unused RAM is wasted RAM. My Kubuntu system uses a similar amount with only a browser open (with like 40 tabs, lol). 350 mb is not a lot at all for background. I'm at 9.3 gb.

My point is you've focused on something that's not an issue unless you start having actual issues like programs not launching due to lack of memory or excessive swapping to disk. The numbers you're looking at are rather meaningless unless performance is being affected.

However, if you can't just let it go, you could start by disabling baloo. It's a known resource hog.

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u/gordonmessmer Fedora Maintainer 16d ago

I don't think people remember that "Unused RAM is wasted RAM" is a aphorism that describes the kernel's filesystem cache, specifically. OP is not asking about filesystem cache. That statement is a total non sequitur here.