Develop Bugs

[TUT] - Explanation about the RAM on Defy with JB - How to improve it

(Moderator, i posted this here because this it's a solution about the lack of RAM on Defy running CM10)
Hello people!
We are all excited about the Defy with CM10 Jelly Bean
But there is one thing that many users are complaining like a grumpy old man
It's about using too much RAM in Android 4.1.1 on Defy
Well, first I want to say one thing:
WAKE UP PEOPLE! IT'S ANDROID OS, NOT WINDOWS! :good:
And now comes the old explanation about RAM on Android:
- The Android OS is based on Linux, as everyone knows. The system features a smart task manager that handles all apps minimized to the re-start of apps more faster.
When the system needs more RAM to run any app, it kills unused apps to free up more RAM. And it will be that way forever, because that's how it works with the linux memory management.:angel:
End of this beautiful love story.
[Q] - So my friend Salo-S, why my Defy uses so much RAM in JB?
- I just finished explaining right now. But however, I have not seen any lack of free RAM on my Defy+, is always at 185 ~ 230 free (open with some apps, like Google Now or WALKMAN player of Xperia S).
[Q] - And then? what you have to do with that?
Simple. Check what apps are consuming as much memory as you describe.
Probably you installed an app that consumes a lot of RAM.
Solution: Full-Wipe IT. Reinstall the CM10 and now pay attention to their apps.
[Q] - Oh Salo-S, my phone keeps in low memory like 100 ~ 85 free.
Ok, then do yourself a LITE version of JB!:cyclops:
How? I explain.
My wife has a XPERIA X8 which has only 185 RAM running good the CM9.
Witchcraft? No, it's just removing unnecessary content as LiveWallpapers, Dev Apps, Google Apps and some many other apps that do not affect the functioning of the system.( Something like a LITE version of ICS )
185MB of RAM the phone has, ICS runs well with only 40 ~ 50 MB free.
I do not think this is useful in Defy with JB, but try!
This is the solution if your Defy loves sushi of RAM memory.
The Android system has a great management of RAM, I think all this unnecessary.
It is the explanation and tips for users with RAM problems, I think this will help ..
Right now friends, we can stop asking about the SWAP on Defy (we have locked bootloader) and stop talking about low RAM. This all explained now.
Thanks to Quarx and Epsylon3 to make JB possible and good on our Defy's!

Thanks ,
nice explanation !!
but still this thread is more worthy of general section

Shubhamqweasd said:
Thanks ,
nice explanation !!
but still this thread is more worthy of general section
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thought so....

It might sound rude to fans of Task-Killer apps and V6 Supercharger (it works, but not for everyone),
but Salo-S is right. Even with task killing, it only temporarily frees up the RAM, but if you have a lot
of apps installed, the RAM will fill up again in a few minutes.
So the best way to free up ram on a low-RAM device like Defy and Defy+, is to limit the number of
memory-hungry apps in your phone.

droid_<3er said:
It might sound rude to fans of Task-Killer apps and V6 Supercharger (it works, but not for everyone),
but Salo-S is right. Even with task killing, it only temporarily frees up the RAM, but if you have a lot
of apps installed, the RAM will fill up again in a few minutes.
So the best way to free up ram on a low-RAM device like Defy and Defy+, is to limit the number of
memory-hungry apps in your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can install as many apps as you want, you just need to avoid that they start automatically. i use this app and it really helps to control when which app starts.
hope this will help you guys

@salo-s
basically you were right. but have you ever read some posts in quarx' cm10 thread?? it is a fact that our defy runs very slow with cm10 and 50-70 MB free RAM (or less). This happens when you flash full gapps and some favorite apps. if you flash minimal gapps (and also some favorite apps) free RAM is about 120-150 MB and the rom is very smooth and responsible.
some useres think it's a cache problem. more free ram = more cache = smoother system.

Salo-S said:
(Moderator, i posted this here because this it's a solution about the lack of RAM on Defy running CM10)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That doesn't matter.
It's a guide, you're not developing anything, therefore it doesn't go in the Dev section.

Salo-S said:
(Moderator, i posted this here because this it's a solution about the lack of RAM on Defy running CM10)
Hello people!
We are all excited about the Defy with CM10 Jelly Bean
But there is one thing that many users are complaining like a grumpy old man
It's about using too much RAM in Android 4.1.1 on Defy
Well, first I want to say one thing:
WAKE UP PEOPLE! IT'S ANDROID OS, NOT WINDOWS! :good:
And now comes the old explanation about RAM on Android:
- The Android OS is based on Linux, as everyone knows. The system features a smart task manager that handles all apps minimized to the re-start of apps more faster.
When the system needs more RAM to run any app, it kills unused apps to free up more RAM. And it will be that way forever, because that's how it works with the linux memory management.:angel:
End of this beautiful love story.
[Q] - So my friend Salo-S, why my Defy uses so much RAM in JB?
- I just finished explaining right now. But however, I have not seen any lack of free RAM on my Defy+, is always at 185 ~ 230 free (open with some apps, like Google Now or WALKMAN player of Xperia S).
[Q] - And then? what you have to do with that?
Simple. Check what apps are consuming as much memory as you describe.
Probably you installed an app that consumes a lot of RAM.
Solution: Full-Wipe IT. Reinstall the CM10 and now pay attention to their apps.
[Q] - Oh Salo-S, my phone keeps in low memory like 100 ~ 85 free.
Ok, then do yourself a LITE version of JB!:cyclops:
How? I explain.
My wife has a XPERIA X8 which has only 185 RAM running good the CM9.
Witchcraft? No, it's just removing unnecessary content as LiveWallpapers, Dev Apps, Google Apps and some many other apps that do not affect the functioning of the system.( Something like a LITE version of ICS )
185MB of RAM the phone has, ICS runs well with only 40 ~ 50 MB free.
I do not think this is useful in Defy with JB, but try!
This is the solution if your Defy loves sushi of RAM memory.
The Android system has a great management of RAM, I think all this unnecessary.
It is the explanation and tips for users with RAM problems, I think this will help ..
Right now friends, we can stop asking about the SWAP on Defy (we have locked bootloader) and stop talking about low RAM. This all explained now.
Thanks to Quarx and Epsylon3 to make JB possible and good on our Defy's!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very good explanation on the way Android Memory Management works.
To extend on it, people you can use AutoKiller Memory Optimizer app from Play Store. Using this App you can increase the Minimum amount of RAM to be free. Basically, this app is not a task killer but is just an extension of the natural Memory Management system in Android as it helps you customize the Amount of minimum RAM to be free and change the value of RAM to be consumed by the Non-Active Apps etc.
I have been using it for months now (on Stock Froyo, CM7, CM9) and it has been working it's magic ever since.

Question for those with high free RAM

So I have been trying loads of ways to have a high amount of free RAM (for the Play). I've read comments from people who seem to mostly have 200MB+ free. But looking at my list of running services, I notice that Facebook uses a huge amount of RAM, ranging from 40MB - 60MB. So my question is, to those people who consistently have high amounts of RAM, do you have Facebook uninstalled?
I am on Stock ROM, and would like to keep it that way, I have rooted and removed all the bloatware I possibly could. But my free RAM hasn't really changed much. Ranging from 160MB - 220MB. (I only seem to get 220MB after exiting games like FIFA 12 and Dead Trigger)
Sent from my Xperia Play. U jelly?

TehJoeker said:
So I have been trying loads of ways to have a high amount of free RAM (for the Play). I've read comments from people who seem to mostly have 200MB+ free. But looking at my list of running services, I notice that Facebook uses a huge amount of RAM, ranging from 40MB - 60MB. So my question is, to those people who consistently have high amounts of RAM, do you have Facebook uninstalled?
I am on Stock ROM, and would like to keep it that way, I have rooted and removed all the bloatware I possibly could. But my free RAM hasn't really changed much. Ranging from 160MB - 220MB. (I only seem to get 220MB after exiting games like FIFA 12 and Dead Trigger)
Sent from my Xperia Play. U jelly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you have Facebook uninstalled?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.
I use the browser to access my facebook account.

Try using Fast for Facebook. A lightweight fb app with less permissions and speedier than the main app plus holo themed. Its still in beta so some features are missing.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 2

I have Facebook installed but I usually have 210mb free.Every time I'm done with Facebook I go to Running Services and close it that way. If I keep it running I usually get 180mb. I'd delete it and use browser but I need the notifications, plus I like how it uses the profile pics for my contacts.
It's a hassle but oh well.

Yep, removed it cuz facebook doesn't control my life

[Q] Strange ram usage

Hello everyone!
I've searched all the webpages, but i couldn't find an answer, so i'll try it here!
So the problem is on my Sony Xperia S with stock rom 4.0.4.
On the Sony Xperia S, you have 1 GB ram, but 400 mb is prereserved for android, so you have 600 mb for user usage.
The strange thing is that there still is some hidden ram usage, because if you look at the screenshot, you'll see that the apps you can close in the task manager don't include the whole 600 mb, but only around 400 ~ 300 mb. I wanna know where that is used for, because 300 mb isn't much for user usage ..
Thank you in advance
ps.
sorry for my bad english !
remove spaces in the links
http ://img705.imageshack.us/img705/6121/ramj.png
http ://img10.imageshack.us/img10/3863/cached.png

Cached services use it.wait for jellybean cause it gives 800mb User ram
Sent from my LT30p using xda premium

josephnero said:
Cached services use it.wait for jellybean cause it gives 800mb User ram
Sent from my LT30p using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright, and there's no way to stop those services?
And how long wil it take before the update arives? Because this ram issue is really affecting the way of playing games or just doing some normal web searching.. :crying:

It's normal.. I mean: everybody on Stock ROM has same usage. However, you said 300MB is not too much.. But it's not like on PCs: On Android every MB RAM free it's wasted MB. Android is managing RAM automatically, killing processes etc. in background to give another application more RAM (That's why more and more ppl argue about using task killers, which are useless in 4.0+)

juliantje15 said:
Hello everyone!
I've searched all the webpages, but i couldn't find an answer, so i'll try it here!
So the problem is on my Sony Xperia S with stock rom 4.0.4.
On the Sony Xperia S, you have 1 GB ram, but 400 mb is prereserved for android, so you have 600 mb for user usage.
The strange thing is that there still is some hidden ram usage, because if you look at the screenshot, you'll see that the apps you can close in the task manager don't include the whole 600 mb, but only around 400 ~ 300 mb. I wanna know where that is used for, because 300 mb isn't much for user usage ..
Thank you in advance
ps.
sorry for my bad english !
remove spaces in the links
http ://img705.imageshack.us/img705/6121/ramj.png
http ://img10.imageshack.us/img10/3863/cached.png
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That much free ram is normal. If you want more free ram, firstly don't use task killers. Secondly go to settings--->apps and force stop any apps that you have installed like Facebook etc which run in the background. If you force stop an app, it can never start on its own unless it is a system app. Thirdly, I don't know if you are rooted but if you have superuser access then just debloat your rom by deleting unnecessary apks like Music Unlimited and all other crap. If you don't know how to do all this then the best would be to just flash a custom rom as all custom roms will provide much better performance than stock.

300 - 400 Mb free ram is enough to play games... Android frees up more ram itself if its needed.

R: [Q] Strange ram usage
For example Stock Gives 635Mb band Cm10.1 720Mb..
Sent from my Xperia S using xda app-developers app

High RAM usage?

I've noticed on my e975 EU version even with 0-1 apps open the ram free is only 1gb... Other phones have far more ram available including my previous nexus 4. Anyone else notice this? I often find with quite a few apps open I only have 2-300mb free

I've never seen less than 500mb free but its true. Never more than 1gb.

I checked earlier with 0 apps running it was at almost 1gb used.. what on earth is using almost 1gb!? If phones with only 1gb can use less than that on jelly bean.. why does this phone use so much?

According to ram usage i am using approx 400mb, task manager says im using 800mb. Maybe 400mb is reserved for system? This is on stock rom with only a few apps installed.
Keep in mind free ram is wasted ram. Free ram is like having a fast car and only using first gear. Still curious to know where it all ram is used nontheless.
Sent from my LG-E975K using xda premium

I get what your saying with 'Free ram is wasted ram' but when you run out of ram.... things will start to stutter.
Having a few apps open to find you only have like 300mb left is insane.
I've had phones with only 1gb ram before and with lots of apps open they are using like 700mb/1000mb... it's almost like this phone is going 'Oh I have 2gb available so i'm just going to chomp up 1gb for the sake of it and leave you with 1gb left....'

If you're root use an app called "Greenify". Simply hibernate the apps that don't use adding to the list of the app, then add the widget to hibernate the app that you added (all except whatsapp, twitter in my case). In addition I use a tasker manager (don't added to greenify) and add a widget too, that combination gave me 1,2 gb free using a lot of widgets

Im stock un-rooted.
I only have 2 widgets on my home screens, 1 is the standard world clock and the other is play music. Tried removing both and it barely made a dent...

kalo88 said:
Im stock un-rooted.
I only have 2 widgets on my home screens, 1 is the standard world clock and the other is play music. Tried removing both and it barely made a dent...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's weird, only 900 mb free?? Mmmm, try using advanced task manager from the play store (I don't remember if root is needed), that will free you more memory. But in the 900 doesn't mean that the phone will be heavier, backward the used ram is exploited to make the Optimus lighter

Seems odd eh...

I also have 600 - 700 MB of RAM when I do not use anything.
There are just icons on my homepage, and a calendar widget (stock one).
At this case, It gives me 600-700 MB of free RAM. I always use "clear RAM" button. But why it gives us so limited free ram?
I used to use 4X HD with 1GB of RAM. There were 350-400 MB free which almost same with this optimus g?
Can someone explain this situation?
Or I think we need a new update. or CM10.1

It just feels like the phone is using up too much or isn't optimised properly.
As said above, phones with only 1gb available use about 3-500mb... Our phone with 2gb available seems to use about 900mb-1gb with nothing running. It's like it's gone 'Oh there's twice as much free so I'll just use twice as much...'

What about the AOSP custom Roms ...is the ram usage is same on that kind of Roms too?
Sent from my LG-P500 using xda app-developers app

No clue, i'm 100% stock unrooted Maybe someone will know.
My nexus 4 was far better at ram usage than my optimus g mind you. No matter what it never used more than 1.2gb

I think the Lg UI(stock firmware) is a memory hungry ...i suggest to try AOSP roms with lg skin :thumbup:
Sent from my LG-P500 using xda app-developers app

Using cm10.1 and have always about 1.4gb free, and this is more than enough for everything.

Y, stock rom have a crazy high ram usage, now im on PA and got 1.2gb free.

My doubt would be if, on stock rom, you get many slowdowns when you experience this high RAM usage. For me (who doesn't still have a LGOG, but is seriously thinking of buying one), it's the thing that matters most - if the lack of free RAM results in worse usage.
Otherwise, most efforts could do more harm than good - a task killer that kills an app which will restart seconds later is wasting RAM and battery instead of saving them.
I'd give priority to greenifying unruly apps you need often and freezing apps you rarely/never need but won't/can't uninstall (with Titanium Backup, or any other app that can freeze system apps) - always making sure you're not freezing some system app that will bring your phone to its knees. With this well configured, I'd say a task killer would only bennefit those of you that rarely use your phone. Everyone who often takes it out of their pocket and updates Facebook/Twitter or plays games should let Android take care of itself, as it will keep in memory the apps you've been using the most - as it should.

Don't use task killer apps, they aren't good for Android. Maybe something like a LMK Manager but you need root to change lmk.

kalo88 said:
It just feels like the phone is using up too much or isn't optimised properly.
As said above, phones with only 1gb available use about 3-500mb... Our phone with 2gb available seems to use about 900mb-1gb with nothing running. It's like it's gone 'Oh there's twice as much free so I'll just use twice as much...'
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
M$ Windows does the same thing - if you have 2GB it uses only the half, if you have 8GB is use nearly 3,5-4GB. I think it preloads a few things including the most common used apps in memory perhaps?

I rooted/decluttered my Tab Pro, but still using 1.2 of 1.8GB RAM?

This is a new Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4. I rooted it and I'm running Google Now Launcher (supposedly the lightest one). I uninstalled or disabled a lot of apps, starting with Samsung bloatware.
According to CCleaner:
- 1.43GB of 11.76GB of memory used
- 1.2GB of 1.82GB of RAM used
CCleaner says:
- Processes: User: 0 processes, System: 53 processes
Is this normal? Is there any good info on which of the system processes I could disable?
The biggest system processes:
- com.android.keyguard 130MB
- security storage 78MB
- Google Play services 67MB
- Google App 56MB
- Chrome 51MB
- Settings 46MB
- Samsung Keyboard 28MB
- Samsung WatchON 24MB
- Hangouts 24MB
- Search Applications Provider 22MB
- Internet 21MB
- Youtube 22MB
- Google Play Music 20MB
- Google Play Store 19MB
- Google Contacts Sync 19MB
- Flipboard 17MB
- Gmail 15MB
- Google Play Newstand 14MB
- Gallery 14MB
95% of the time, the tablet will be used with DJI Pilot App. I just need this 1 app and access to some internet and app store functions...
Can I disable a lot of the services listed? What is "com.android.keyguard" and "security storage" and "Samsung WatchON"? That would free up 220MB alone.
Any other suggestions to clean up and optimize Tab Pro would be greatly appreciated.

It isn't a PC. Having RAM free does not necessarily (and probably will not) increase performance.
Android manages RAM pretty efficiently. It will clear RAM when it needs it.

If you're so into this free RAM thingy, just disable ALL the Google stuff (because you said you don't use them).
Even more, dive into the world of ROMs and flash CM12.1. With CM I have 1.2GB *free* on startup and >1GB free for everything I do except gaming. TabPRO's 2K screen takes quite some additional resources, or else you'll even be getting 1.4GB free, like what I've seen on my other devices.
Sent from Google Nexus 4 @ CM12.1
[WARNING: XDA Premium 4.0.13+ lacks Signature function - do not update]

redpoint73 said:
It isn't a PC. Having RAM free does not necessarily (and probably will not) increase performance.
Android manages RAM pretty efficiently. It will clear RAM when it needs it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Efficient or not, I'm still left with a tablet that is performing poorly when it tries to run DJI Pilot App.
I disabled animations and uninstalled what I could and I only run the DJI App with Airplane Mode because any notifications create lag - and it makes a big difference. But it's still not that good, and I'm looking for other areas of improvement. If not RAM, then where else do you think I should focus?
CM12.1 as AndyYan suggests?
I just need to run this one App and I need to run it well...

witold123 said:
CM12.1 as AndyYan suggests?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I would agree with the suggestion. The stock TouchWiz is a laggy piece of crap. It drove me crazy how laggy it was with just normal usage (launcher, browsing, etc.) and CM12.1 is much much better.

You could try to disable Sasmsung's DVFS. (by rooting, installing xposed and Sasmung DVFS disabler from the Play Store "https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ma.wanam.dvfs&hl=nl".
Don't know if it will improve things but it seems like Samsung somehow limits CPU & GPU after heavy load.
Don't know if it has any negative effects. Maybe some battery life impact.

Thmz159 said:
You could try to disable Sasmsung's DVFS. (by rooting, installing xposed and Sasmung DVFS disabler from the Play Store "https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ma.wanam.dvfs&hl=nl".
Don't know if it will improve things but it seems like Samsung somehow limits CPU & GPU after heavy load.
Don't know if it has any negative effects. Maybe some battery life impact.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Folks have stated that disabling Magazine UX and using a different launcher also help with the lag.
Honestly, though, unless you are a fan of the Samsung features; CM12.1 not only puts you on Lollipop, but just a better experience overall.