Firefox RAM CPU usage
I'm running FF 59.03. Currently I have two tabs open and and using 749Mb of RAM and have very volatile CPU usage anything from 3-100%. There currently two tabs open. One this page and another a university web page. There are 7 instances of FF running in the task manager. If I leave FF running over a few days RAM usage continually rises (with the same tabs open) often exceeding 1.6 Gb. Recently, too, CPU usage rises to 100%. My system is running Win 10 professional on an i7 CPU with 8Gb RAM. There are two add-ons running - Ghostery (an ad blocker) and Zotero (a bibliographic software).
Why does it consume resource like an alcholic on a bender?
I hope the tone of this message indicates my irritation. I'm kind of tired of reading add-on providers blaming FF and in turn FF blaming add-on providers for this issue with resources. I used to use FF and stopped --- because of this EXACT issue i.e.., FF consumed so much resource my system would stop working. I left FF but came back in the hope it would be improved. FF happens to work well with the work I do but this incredibly irritating since my system stops working properly.
Surely it is possible to code a system that can control the resources it consumes?
Please provide some sensible and tangible solutions. Do NOT randomly suggest removing add-ons. BOTH that I mentioned are installed "out of the box" with no adjustments. If there is an issue with them -- then kindly talk to their development team. Both are widely used. Thats for FF and and other providers to resolve not your users.
So something valid that I can do, please.
Thanks.
All Replies (3)
Hi, as to where you are reading that as that is years old info that does not apply as Firefox does not allow as much access it's files for Extensions any more. Firefox is a Multi-processor and Multi-thread Browser and what you are seeing is normal in Firefox. 8gig of ram is not much any more as 16gig is min now as well just because you can run Win10 does not mean you should. Being on a low resource older system that has not had motherboard updates and Microsoft has possibly already replaced your Video Card Drivers with it's own means that maybe you should be thinking of moving to the Extended Release Version of Firefox 52.7.4esr.
Please Copy/Paste about:preferences#privacy into the Address Bar then Enter. Go down to Heading of Permissions and at the bottom of that heading please make sure there is a Check Mark in the box for Prevent accessibility services from accessing your browser.
Then please go up to General --> Performance and untick everything. change the recommended size lower then see how it runs. Note: 1 = No Multiprocessor = slow again. Try 2, try higher, go lower till dind the sweet spot. Restart Firefox after making these changes please. Note : Hardware Acceleration is for Video Card, Monitor to see if remain off or to turn back on.
- https://support.microsoft.com/en-ca/help/4002019/windows-10-improve-pc-performance
- https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/26120-optimize-performance-windows-10-a.html
- https://www.gamingfactors.com/optimize-windows-10-for-gaming/
Security Issue : Please update Flash 27.0 r0 Flash Player Version: 29.0.0.140 Current Version https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/otherversions/ Step 1: Select Operating System Step 2: Select A Version (Firefox, . . . .) Note: Other software is offered in the download. <Windows Only>
Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.
Thanks for the response. Thanks for the hardware information. While 8Gb may be a little low but it works fine for me. Ancient hardware... well I guess anything older than 6 months is "old"! This is the constraint that most people work with - we aren't going to go shopping for kit every half year ;) Thanks for the reading too. I'm afraid I don't see my browser as "becoming my operating system". May be for some it is. For me and many others it is a support tool to my work, though, that I need to fine tune.
Thanks, too, for the input on accessability services which I've dissabled, as your suggestion.
I'll monitor changes under the performance options as well.
I am interested to see if FF's consumption of resources increases over several days use (i.e., where I've left the same tabs open for several days). My experience so far is that it gradually consumes more and more resource.
Hi, yes it can. welcome for the reading material. Yes understand it is just a tool to get what you need, if spend right a system is 5-8yrs if pay the big bucks. I am on yr 5 with 32gig of ram I put into a custom build I did myself. Just trying to give you enough info with the Win10 stuff to tame it also which frees up ram.
You may want to lower the processor amounts. You do not mention what it is set at. But that works well also.
I do not know if your a History user and a Session Restore user. IF not or if so you may want to follow info in here as to those tabs eating up over days. Another user with 8gig had same issues but on a Mac and said this worked well for her tonight : https://www.servethehome.com/firefox-is-eating-your-ssd-here-is-how-to-fix-it/ I have increased the time myself as I have a SSD and it is fine for me, I more than tripled the times for myself.
Glad is smoother for you.