Serous Memory Leaks since updating to Windows 10 Anniversary Update

Windows 10 has actually implemented a new memory management system.
Don't forget, unused memory is wasted memory.

The way the new memory management system actually works is applications will be moved and compressed to the system process working set (now used by system and compressed memory).
Instead of idle pages (which haven't been accessed in a long time) being written to disk, they are kept in memory through this compression. So when you do need that memory which has been trimmed, it is still a quick soft fault back into the working set.
It was simply impractical for pages to be written to disk and placed on a standby list, only to be read straight back in when you have a lot of memory left available.

What you're seeing is slightly different, but it still isn't a memory leak. Leaks happen when applications don't fail to release memory, thus keeping that memory from being reallocated. To me, it simply looks like some of your windows services are performing a lot of tasks.
But with the size of your RAM, you have little need to worry.
 
- Agree. Windows memory management has improved significantly over the years.
- The word "Memory Cleaner" is actually misleading. Cleanmem (and other programs) uses the build-in MS API called "EmptyWorkingSet". So. it works hand-in-glove with Windows. That API moves parts from the "In Use" memory to the "Standby" memory (See Resouce Monitor in Win 7, I still have to make the switch to Win 10). So, the amount of "unused" memory doesn't grow. And from that point onwards the regular memory management has to do its job.
- I actually like Cleanmem because it can collapse the filecache when it has grown beyond a user defined limit. I have one backup program that makes the filecache grow & grow & grow (GBs !!!). Then my sytem turns into a snail. But Cleanmem keeps the size of that filecache from becoming too large.
- When Cleanmem forces Windows to "collapse the filecache" then Windows will push that filecache data from "In Use" to "Standby" (as well).

- Since that memory leak appeared after the Anniversary Update, it suggests that something in Win 10 has changed (for the worst).
 
As far as I know, EmptyWorkingSet places the pages into the modified page list.
Emptying everything into the standby would result in a massive amount of I/O by writing everything to the page file.
When pages are in the standby list, they can either be soft faulted back into the working set, or overwritten if there are no free pages left.
So there is little point in using a memory cleaner, if they aren't in use, they'll get moved to the modified page list anyway.

It's not a memory leak, as previously said. Just because it happened after that update, doesn't mean it was that which resulted in a higher usage of specific services.
 
Since that memory leak appeared after the Anniversary Update, it suggests that something in Win 10 has changed (for the worst).
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I don't agree or else the problem, if it is a problem, would be widespread. And I don't see it on any of the 5 W10 systems here. Nor am I aware of any similar reports on the forums I visit regularly.

It suggests to me a 3rd party program or driver on this specific system does not comply with standard protocols.
 
Thank you Jared, Digerati, satrow, and Willy2 for the advices. After reading all of your post made me feel understand about the improved memory management which it really sets me into peace and mind. And Jared, I just check on Task Manager and saw the cache size is 28.2gb and 384mb left on free. That makes the apps and programs load very quickly! Cached ram = so good! :D

Overall, I start to agree on Digerati that a 3rd party driver or program maybe causing the problem. If I recall correctly, I have the chipset drivers, the realtek audio drivers, intel rapid storage technology driver, killer network drivers, graphic drivers, pen tablet drivers, and last but not least, the samsung rapid mode thing. I updated the gpu drivers and the killer network drivers and some of them are already updated, at least to my knowledge. I just realized that the 1.4gb non-paged pool was caused by samsung rapid mode which was enabled on samnsung magician program. To be quite honest, I never had a problem with that unless this caused the memory leak in the first place, I would've disabled rapid mode. Now I began to wonder which of the drivers is the culprit. :)
 
- I think it was the combination of the new Win 10 version and a driver that wasn't "up to snuff" (yet).

- "EmptyWorkingSet" pushes pages to both "Modified" & "Standby". Pages that have been "modified" when they were in the "In Use" part go to the "Modified" list. Un-modified pages (e.g. filecache) go to the "Standby" list.
- Windows keeps track what programs are used the most and loads those programs with low priority into the memory cache/"Standby". That's why unused memory is wasted memory.
- A cache of 28 GB ? When I look at the 1st picture it tells me that "Available" (= Cache + Free memory) is 28 GB and the Cache is 6 GB. Free memory is (28 - 6) = ~ 22 GB. Or am I overlooking something ?
- You can try to find out which process is using too much memory. But that requires a dive into the registry (Services section).
 
I just realized that the 1.4gb non-paged pool was caused by samsung rapid mode which was enabled on samnsung magician program.
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FTR, a few years ago when I first started using SSDs, Samsung Magician really messed up my systems. It totally changed my sleep settings and utilized a bunch of resources. I uninstalled it and all my problems went away.

Frankly, I think it is a gimmick. Windows 7, 8, and especially Windows 10 know how to optimize SSD use just fine. SSDs don't need any 3rd party app. I still prefer Samsung SSDs (I have an 850 Pro and an 850 EVO in this machine) but I won't let Samsung Magician near it. And have no regrets with that decision.
 
Like Bill, I too experienced the same wonky behaviour from certain parts of Magician. Use it to setup your new drive and test it, forget using anything else it offers or uninstall it afterwards.
 
Use it to setup your new drive and test it
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But you don't even need it to set it up. Windows has all the tools you need. You can even run Error Checking or check disk (chkdsk) on an SSD - you just don't need the /r switch with chkdsk.
 
Setup = clone. Test = check speeds are in the right ballpark and that Trim is active.
 
Yeah, when replacing a HD for a SSD, the clone option is nice. I use Acronis or Macrium for that so forgot about Samsungs.
 
Willy: Yeah I still have like 28.3gb of available memory left while the cached size was 23.4gb according to task manager right now while the free section of ram was 4gb. I dont think this is unheard of when the cache/standby size is rather big. Not sure if its a bad thing. I'd also thought free ram is wasted ram, not standby. Got confused for a second right there. Maybe I can try your suggestion but not sure about it.

Digerati and Satrow: Hmm..I didn't know that Samsung Magician can messed up some systems. To me, I didn't think it messed up my system...at least yet. To be honest, I'd rarely used it. :/
 
Free listed pages are wasted memory because they are what the name implies, free. Standby pages are pages which haven't been modified at all, (or modified pages which have been written to disk) and are available to be overwritten when the free page list is exhausted.

Every software package is different, even the most abysmal software like Norton doesn't always affect users. However, there is usually a correlation. If it isn't causing problems, there isn't a reason to remove it.
 
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Jared said:
Free listed pages are wasted memory because they are what the name implies, free. Standby pages are pages which haven't been modified at all, (or modified pages which have been written to disk) and are available to be overwritten when the free page list is exhausted.

Every software package is different, even the most abysmal software like Norton doesn't always affect users. However, there is usually a correlation. If it isn't causing problems, there isn't a reason to remove it.
Click to expand...
Oh okay! Free ram = wasted ram...Got it! Thanks for the clarification. Just like the drivers, its all about the complexity...err I guess. :)

satrow said:
Also, Magician is the only way to update the firmware on Samsung SSDs.
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Yeah! However, I'd have to read other user's feedback for problems about firmware updates before procede to update. Sometimes I heard a bad firmware can brick ssds. I did update the ssd firmware once, didnt have any problems afterwards. :)
 
I've had a similar issue since the update. I'll boot up and everything will be fine for awhile then sometime later (the amount of time varies sometimes it will be 20 minutes sometimes hours) I'll go to get on a game and it will stutter like crazy. I check task manager and my ram usage will be at 80+ percent while idling (I have 16 gigs) and I can't figure out why. It never did this before the update but it's driving me up a wall. That's actually what led me to this forum lol
 
Welcome, Zannah, better to make your own topic and give full details, screenshots, etc.
 

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