Firefox: Down Memory LaneI’m conducting a bit of a survey and I’ll need your help. It’s all about Firebox, the browser I love, and how it breaks my heart every day. Do you love Firefox? Then please help me with an intervention.
If you have Firefox open now and you’re running Windows, go to your Task Manager[1] and click on the Processes tab. Look for the process called firefox.exe and make a note of the number in the Mem Usage column[2]. Then go to your Firefox toolbar, click Help, then About Mozilla Firefox and make a note of the current version you’re running. Then come here and post this in the comments along with the number of tabs (or tabs and windows) you currently have open. Would also help if you said which OS you’re running.
Update: Adam provides instructions for Mac: you can find the memory usage by opening Activity Monitor (in utilities), looking for Firefox in the Process Name column, and seeing what the Real Memory usage is.
Eric provides Ubuntu instructions: you can check out the memory usage under System > Administration > System Monitor, but you’ll have to convert the stats from MiB.
You don’t have to restart your computer or browser or anything like that. I just want to get a snapshot of how much memory Firefox uses for different people. The more data I can collect, the better. I’ll start:
Memory Usage: 920,200K | 11 tabs | Firefox 3.5.7 | Windows XP
Yes, that memory usage is real. Remember the days when Firefox would only use around 300,000K? Or even the long ago when 100,000 was reasonable? Ah, nostalgia.
I showed you mine, now show me yours.
Notes
- Right click on the taskbar to find it. Or hit Ctrl Alt Delete. [↩]
- If the number keeps changing, you can round off to the nearest hundred thousand. Like 350,000 or whatnot. [↩]
Tags: browser, Firefox, linkedin, programs that use too much memory
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36 Responses to “Firefox: Down Memory Lane”
Memory usage: 129.380K
Tabs: 3
Version 3.0.17
Windows Vista
211,116K | 10 tabs | Firefox 3.5.7 | Windows XP Pro
Memory Usage: 142,252K | 2 tabs | Firefox 3.5.7 | Windows XP Home
109,348K – 2 tabs – Firefox 3.5.7 – Windows XP
For Mac users, you can find the memory usage by opening Activity Monitor (in utilities), looking for Firefox in the Process Name column, and seeing what the Real Memory usage is.
My numbers were very like yours, which is why, much as I adore Firefox, it’s no longer my regular browser.
140,344k – 5 tabs – Firefox 3.6 – Windows 7
Memory Usage: 144,000 | Five tabs| Firefox 3.5.7 | Windows XP. I’ll check on my Mac next time I’m using it.
So…what browser do you use now?
255 Meg. (66% CPU). 28 tabs, 3 windows. Firefox 3.5.6. Mac OS X 10.6.2.
*Why* am I still using Firefox?
Oh. Right. I remember. Dang!
Firefox.exe: 60,560K
Version 3.6
Windows XP SP3 (32bit)
I’ve only got this one page open (Firefox isn’t my primary browser).
Firefox.exe*32: 100,306 K
Version 3.5.7
4 Tabs
Windows 7
Firefox.exe 83,228k
3 Tabs
Version 3.5.7
Windows XP
355,860 K
13 tabs and one additional window with one tab
Firefox 3.5.7
XP professional
131,180
5 tabs
v 3.5.7
Windows XP
Because I’ve got Chrome open for Facebook with its pretty, pretty games. -.-
I once installed a toolbar (for Mousehunt on Facebook) and it had a massive memory leak. You might want to check what plugins and addons and whatnot you’ve got installed. Also, Flashblock ftw.
Not sure if you’re interested in Ubuntu stats, but…
75,800K | 6 tabs | Firefox 3.5.7 | Ubuntu 9.10
And for any other Ubuntu users, you can check out the memory usage under System > Administration > System Monitor, but you’ll have to convert the stats from MiB.
143,108 K | 2 tabs | 3.5.7 | windows xp
112,432K | 7 tabs | 3.5.7 | Windows XP
Memory Usage: 113,300K | 5 tabs | Firefox 3.5.7 | Windows Vista
(I’m idly wondering how much extensions and plugins factor in to the memory usage. Get enough third-party products that don’t care about optimizing their code, and you’re bound to have bloat.)
92,812K | 2 windows open, no tabs | 3.5.7 | Windows XP on my netbook.
129,976
5 tabs in one window
3.5.7
Windows XP (work version) on my desktop
262.17 | 7 tabs| Mac 10.4.11| Firefox 3.0.10
1 window, 7 tabs
usage: 121,252k
version: 3.6
1 window, 7 tabs
usage: 121,252k
version: 3.6
sorry, forgot to say: running windows 2000.
391,966
7 tabs, one window
3.5.7
XP
Memory 91,556, Version 3.6, Vista. 1 window, 2 tabs
Firefox version 3.015 (with about one million extensions), Mac OS 10.5, one window, 12 tabs including two with substantial video; 484.54 mg of memory in use.
458.48MB, 5 tabs, Mac/Leopard.
288,000 K | 8 tabs (in two windows) | 3.0.3 (I know, I know) with Adblock Plus 1.0.2 | WinXP
325MB — one window with 16 tabs, one window with 4 — Firefox 3.5.7 on Mac OSX 10.5.8
Given how much I have open, I’m actually pretty happy with that.
308MB – one window, 20 tabs – 3.6 on Mac OS 10.5.8
Less than Safari with only 2 tabs!
175 MB real memory, 3 tabs open, Version 3.5.7, OSX (10.5.8)
Windows 7 64 bit
Firefox 32 bit 3.5.7
1 window, 3 tabs at this particular moment
132,728k of memory
Mem: 407,712
Firefox 3.5.7
2 windows, 3 and 1 tab
Windows Vista
Memory usage: 70,000K, 3 tabs, 3.5.7, Mac OSX 10.5.8
375,000 3.5.7 23 tabs vista home
Memory Usage: 100072K | 8 tabs | Firefox 3.5.7 | Ubuntu
Memory Usage: 799 MB | 37 tabs | Firefox 3.5.7 | OS X 10.6.2