Clearing RAM when little is running

[acme]

I have 8GB on a Mac Book Pro. right now, very little is running: OS X, of course, iTunes, Hardware Monitor, Quicksilver and Safari.

Menu Meters says that 3809MB used; 4129BM are free. Considering that I'm only ripping MP3s and typing this post, seems like much more RAM ought to be free.

Maybe the RAM was actually needed by apps which are now closed?

Do I even need to worry about this, or is there a way to free up all the RAM supposedly being used?

thank you,

a

[DeltaMac]

OS X has a pretty good system memory manager.
How would you go about deciding how much RAM memory a particular app (which may be using a variety of system processes) is the correct amount that should be used, and what is not enough (or too much)? Are you just guessing?
There's no practical way to manually set how much RAM is used by an app, as that would be determined by how that app is coded, and what OS X decides to give to that app.

Bottom line, no, you really don't need to be concerned. You're already giving the system a good amount of memory to use. If you have a 2011 MacBook Pro, you could even double the RAM, if you want...

[acme]

OK..thank you. good to know.. the 8GB I now have does seem like plenty...page out figures mostly in the lower, single-digit range.

a

[acme.mail.order]

<bullhorn>Step away from Activity Monitor - slowly. Place the Terminal on the ground. Come out of the shell with your GUI above your head and assume the position on the Dock.</bullhorn>

[DeltaMac]

I think acme.mail.order is trying to say that your system is working fine.

Quote: "all resistance is futile..."

Monitoring your system is not necessary, unless you would be troubleshooting a problem where that might help - and, so far, you haven't told us anything that resembles an actual problem...