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MemoKit User Guide

Back to Table of contents

    How it works

How Heavy Duty Memory Booster works
How Memory Optimizer works
How Resources and Memory Leaks Graphic Analyzer works
How Windows Resources Tracker works (for Windows 9x/Me only)
How Disk Cache Optimizer works (for Windows 9x/Me only)

   Memory Functions

Where can I see the low memory trigger level
How can I change low memory trigger level manually
Where can I see currently available physical memory
How can I recover amount of memory in one shot
How can I change time interval of memory recovery operation

   Accessories

How can I customize the Toolbar
How can I hide the Main window
How can I unhide the Main window
How can I get In-line Calculator
How In-line Calculator works
How can I use Shutdown Manager
 

How it works Back to  Features Overview

 

Memory Manager and Optimizer.

Everyone can find his/her computer in the situation of low memory condition while running several applications at the same time. There are a few reasons for this phenomenon:

bulletapplications using physical (RAM) memory only
bulletfile caching engine
bulletstreaming applications running several processes at a time
bulletlarge common libraries
bulletrarely active background applications
bulletamounts of allocated memory left due to applications bugs

All these reasons result in decreasing and even reducing to zero of available physical memory, which forces active applications to use permanent swapping (moving) of large amounts of data to/from hard disk. This dramatically decreases the system's performance.

Memory Manager and Optimizer solves this problem by using improved memory recovery mechanism,  which makes smooth swapping (moving) of all currently unused memory content  to Hard Disk. This allows active applications to use fast physical memory much more efficiently without  increasing of CPU usage.

Each time MemoKit starts, it automatically calculates the minimum amount of the allowed free memory called Current Minimum of Allowed Free Memory.
When currently available memory level falls to this trigger level,  Memory Optimizer activates "hysteresis memory recovery" mechanism, which tries to free an amount of memory 5-10 percent larger than the trigger level. This eliminates unnecessary fluctuations near the trigger level (see the picture below), which makes the system work much smoother and faster.
 

  "Hysteresis memory recovery" mechanism demonstration

 

Heavy Duty Memory Booster.

Heavy Duty Memory Booster is designed for working with memory-consuming multimedia and Internet applications. To meet their needs these applications usually allocate (demand) large amounts of fast memory (RAM), on account of other applications. Moreover, they often run a few active processes simultaneously. Due to this behavior the Computer system is left without free fast memory. All the fast memory keeps busy and any user's action leads to exchanging (swapping) of large data amounts between fast memory and hard disk. So the system has to run in the heavy duty conditions without any chance to get out without reboot.

The idea of Heavy Duty Memory Booster is to give the memory-consuming applications all the memory they demand except  a small amount which is sufficient for user's actions. Each time the memory falls to zero level, Memory Booster recovers a small amount of memory, which lets the system operate with its resources much faster without delaying or stopping heavy applications.


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Resources and Memory Leaks Graphic Analyzer

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Windows Resources - Basics (for Windows 9x/Me only)

Windows Resources and Physical Memory are two different notions.
From the user's point of view, Windows Resources are what can cause PC to stop functioning when they are too low. Physical memory (also called RAM) is what in most cases can "just" slow down your PC when PC's RAM gets low.

Actually you can have "tons" of free RAM, but resources consuming applications can still cause your PC to hang.

Let's try to understand what Windows resources are.

Windows resources are really small amounts of logically organized memory, describing all the objects created and used by Windows Operating System itself and by all running user applications. Windows designates only 64 Kbytes RAM totally for most of the resources. This explains why in this case the amount of available RAM does not enact.

Windows resources are measured in percent. Usually PC has from 40% to 98% of free resources in normal load. Windows resources falling below 10-20% can cause your PC to  "freeze" or show the well-known "Blue Screen of Death".

Physically Windows resources are classified into 3 different types: system, user and graphic.

Every time when Windows or any user application create an object (i.e. a window, an image etc.), it occupies some memory from the total amount of Windows resources (their System part). This memory is required for general description of created objects (their size, placement, details, types etc.)

When you use graphic or multimedia applications you can expect decrease in graphic resources. When you use applications, which create lots of windows, forms, menus or request printing/scanning functions, you can expect decrease in user resources.

You may also notice that every time when you see changes in user or graphic resources, the system resources also change respectively.

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Windows Page (Swap) - Basics.

A virtual memory Page File (Swap File) is used by Windows whenever it is necessary to move (swap) some of the information from the Physical Memory (RAM) and store it temporarily on the hard disk. When the stored information is necessary, it is transferred back to the RAM again, and other information takes its place in the swap file. There is a permanent information exchange between RAM and swap file, which enables the PC user to work with more programs at a time than it is allowed by RAM only.

 

How Resources and Memory Leaks Graphic Analyzer Works


Using MemoKit History you can find the reason of Resources and/or Memory leaks.

First of all, it is recommended that you occasionally check all MemoKit 3d-Graphs: for System, User, Graphic Resources, Page File and RAM. Use the slide bar to change time scale period or the "Autoscale" button to see all the collected data at once

     

If you notice that at the certain moment free resources or memory went down, just move to mouse to the Graph area.

The red vertical line will appear in the Graph's area. Move the line to the place on the Graph where you see significant decrease in Resources/Memory and look at the Program List. The list will display Programs that were running at that moment.

The Program List uses 3 different colors to display program status at the chosen moment:

  Blue - for just started applications
 
  White - for applications, running more than 2-3 minutes
 
  Gray - for closed applications.

Move the slider slightly and try to find the program(s) that just started at that moment or program(s) that had changes in their memory usage. Sometimes small changes in Memory or Page (Swap) File usage can reflect significant changes in Windows Resources usage.

You may use the following buttons to sort the Program List or filter closed programs

Sort the Program List   Filter Closed Programs

When you find the leaks culprit(s) just click on the Graph's area to freeze the red line and go to the Program List to find more info about suspected programs.

You can also try to close these programs just to see if they release all the resources or memory, they occupied previously. If they do not, the frequent usage of such applications may cause your PC to hang, because Windows Resources will be gradually decreasing.

This technique can let you know what programs are resources/memory consuming. This will prevent you from starting such programs when your PC does not have enough resources.

Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to free Windows Resources, that have been occupied and NOT released by poorly developed applications. Such resources remain locked by the Operating system and cannot be released. In this case the only way to restore Lost resources is to reboot your PC before it gets to Alarm Level.

Unlike Windows Resources, it IS possible to recover physical Memory (RAM). MemoKit constantly tracks your RAM status and automatically recovers it when it is needed.

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Windows Resources Tracker (for Windows 9x/Me only).

Windows Resources Tracker constantly monitors Windows Resources.

When their level falls below the warning level, MemoKit tray icon starts blinking:

warn.gif (310 bytes)

In this case you should just remember not to start resources consuming applications, because this would cause the system stop functioning. Resources and Memory leaks Graphic Analyzer can help you to find the leaks reason.

 

When Windows Resources level falls below the alarm level, MemoKit tray icon starts blinking:

alarm.gif (284 bytes)

and Alarm Box Message is displayed. In this case it is recommended to exit resources consuming applications, otherwise the system may stop functioning. Resources and  Memory leaks Graphic Analyzer can help  you to find such applications.

 
 

Disk Cache Optimizer.

Disk Cache Optimizer changes and tracks so-called VCache parameters of Virtual hard disk cache.

Virtual hard disk cache is important for improving hard disk performance. It uses fast physical memory (RAM) for storing  the data, which is not currently in use yet it is required. It can also read ahead by copying more data than the application may need, in the assumption such data will be required.

The disadvantage of disk cache is that it refuses to free up the RAM while running memory-consuming applications. When an application starts, the disk cache occupies for it a certain amount of fast memory (RAM). Unfortunately, just small amount of this memory will be recovered again. When the application requires more memory, the disk cache forces it  to use hard disk swapfile, which is much slower. Moving of large amounts of data also causes dramatic growing of Disk cache size. As a result,  the system performance is significantly degraded.

Disk Cache Optimizer is designed to solve the problem of Disk cache size growing. Each time the Computer starts Disk Cache Optimizer checks VCache parameters of Virtual hard disk cache and adjusts them according to total system physical memory (RAM), which maintains optimal settings and protects them from possible undesirable changes.

Memory Functions  

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