This wikiHow teaches you how to determine your computer's Random Access Memory (RAM) usage when running a program or group of programs. You can do it on Mac and Windows computers.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: On Windows
Step 1. Open the program (s) you want to test
You should have every program you want to use to test your computer's RAM running before continuing.
For example, if you want to see what RAM looks like when running a web browser, OBS Studio, and a video game, you must have all three of these programs running before continuing
Step 2. Open the Advanced User menu
Right click on the icon Beginning
to do it. You should see a pop-up menu appear.
- You can also press the ⊞ Win + X keys to open the Advanced User menu.
- If you have a program that you can't minimize without closing it, press Alt + Ctrl + Esc and then skip to the next step.
Step 3. Click Task Manager
It's in the middle of the pop-up menu.
Step 4. Click the Performance tab
This tab is at the top of the Task Manager window.
Step 5. Click Memory
You'll find it on the left side of the Task Manager window. Doing so will bring up a real-time view of how much memory the computer is using.
Step 6. Look at the amount of RAM in use and the available RAM
Scroll to the bottom of the window and then check the numbers under the headings "In use (compressed)" and "Available", respectively. This will tell you how much RAM is currently being used and how much is left.
You can also look at the waveform in the middle of the page to see roughly how much RAM is being used
Method 2 of 2: On Mac
Step 1. Open the program (s) you want to test
You should have every program you want to use to test your computer's RAM running before continuing.
For example, if you want to see what RAM looks like when running Safari, QuickTime, and GarageBand, you should have all three of these programs running before continuing
Step 2. Open Spotlight
Click on the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner of the screen to do so. A search bar will appear in the middle of the screen.
Step 3. Open Activity Monitor
Type activity monitor and then double click the result Activity monitor from the menu that appears below the Spotlight search bar.
Step 4. Click on the Memory tab
It's at the top of the window. Doing so will bring up a list of programs that are currently affecting your computer's RAM.
Step 5. Check the amount of RAM in use and RAM remaining
At the bottom of the window, you will see a heading "Physical memory" and a heading "Memory used." The first title refers to the amount of RAM your computer has installed, while the second refers to the amount of RAM that is currently in use.
- Subtract the "Used Memory" value from the "Physical Memory" value to calculate the amount of RAM remaining.
- You can also look at the "MEMORY PRESSURE" graph to see a real-time representation of approximately how much RAM is being used.