Firefox is taking HUGE amounts of RAM
I am using Windows 7 Ultimate x64, Firefox 4 RC. As addons I have Adblock Plus, Download Statusbar, Hide Caption Titlebar Plus, Pentadactyl, Java Console (I've tried removing all of them but this doesn't solve the problem much). I've got only this tab open now and Firefox takes 150 MB of RAM. Yesterday, again only with one tab, it was taking 400+ MB (but I had browsed a bit more - I think it stacks and does not free memory as it goes).
Beside that, Firefox is constantly utilizing the CPU, even when nothing seems to be happening. There are some websites where Firefox takes constantly like 40% of the CPU with one or two tabs open and NOTHING going on in them (no Flash, etc).
Actually, as I am typing this message, the RAM usage went up to 185+ MB. From 150. While I'm typing. That's not normal. :)
Beside these, I've got no other complaints. But these are no small ones.
Any ideas?
All Replies (5)
I am having the same issue on XP, although it is using much more RAM. I left my machine about 8 hours when I returned Firefox was locked up and using 1.5GB of RAM. In fact I may be having the same issue with my machine at home (Vista X64), although I was unable to confirm the source of the problem as it locked the whole machine up. Nothing that I have not done with previous versions before.
Can't wait to hear a response I like the new version, at least once I figured out how to turn on / use "Save your tabs"on close.
The other post is two weeks old, what up?
Well, here is some info. I have just confirmed that the RAM usage is growing constantly when I load a web site using Java script. As soon as I disable the java script in Firefox it stops. I am going to try and see if it is site related or Java script.
OK -- Some more info. Running both IE8 and Firefox4 same three sites running on each browser. Java Script enabled. IE8 is using 14.9MB of RAM and is stable Firefox 4 using 150.7MB RAM and growing.
So it looks like Firefox and Java script, maybe?
Same symptoms on Linux (Fedora 12). FF4rc2 gets larger and larger, eventually dies after using up 1GB of RAM. I can reproduce this with all extensions disabled (but Javascript permitted).
This thread is at least [http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/ques.../792576?s=Firefox+4+Huge+Memory&as=s|active]
Ok, I found the solution (for at least my boxes!) Yay!
The trouble is that Firefox changed the amount of HTTP connections it permits simultaneously from 30 (pre version 6) up to 256 for version 7. Each connection uses CPU and Memory!!!!!
I won't ponder why they did that, but the fix is easy:
Lower the max number of HTTP connections
In the Location bar, type about:config and press Enter.
The about:config "This might void your warranty!" warning page may appear. Click I'll be careful, I promise!, to continue to the about:config page.
In the Filter box at the top, type network.http.max-connections.
Double-click on the network.http.max-connections preference, the "Enter integer value" dialog box will open.
In the field, type 30 which was the default value in old versions of Firefox and click OK.
My version 7.0.1 firefox suddenly started working! Yay!