VLC, 720p mkv video, using all RAM? Slow iMac

Bikarbonat · Bikarbonat #1 (**permalink**)

02-27-2011, 05:04 PM

I have the 21,5" iMac i3 3.2ghz with 4gb of ram and I have som problems after playing back HD-movies.

My iMac goes really slow after watching movies in HD. Applications take a really long time to quit or start and it feels almost unusable. A restart of the computer seems to bring everything back to normal.

I managed to run Activity Monitor today after watching a 720p mkv file with VLC with a couple of others apps running, like Firefox and iTunes.
It shows that I use up almost all of my RAM, 3,8 gb and it seems to still use it even after I manage to quit the applications.

I ran a Hardware Test and it says everthing is fine.
So what can cause this problem? Havnt found an answer to it. I feel like it shouldnt use up all RAM like that.

/Joakim

schweb · schweb #2 (**permalink**)

02-27-2011, 06:19 PM

I've moved your post to a more proper forum; please be sure to check the forum descriptions in the future to find the best place to post.

By posting in the right forum you help people not only find your question faster, but it helps others looking for the same information in the future.

Thanks for understanding!

RustProofCorn · RustProofCorn #3 (**permalink**)

02-27-2011, 08:48 PM

Is your hd full? When mine does this it's because my HDD is cram packed and moving stuff to a external fixes it right up.

robduckyworth · robduckyworth #4 (**permalink**)

02-27-2011, 10:06 PM

what state is the ram? go into AM, and take a look at the pie chart under system memory. if the majority of it is inactive, this is normal and should not be worried about. the OS has simply reserved the memory for use later. if its active or wired however, these are being used currently and you will have to figure out what they are assigned to.

also take alook at your Pageouts in particular: this is when the system runs out of memory and writes to hard drive. this will cause slow downs in performance.

Bikarbonat · Bikarbonat #5 (**permalink**)

02-28-2011, 03:29 AM

Thanks for the answers!

Im no where near of filling up the HD at the moment, so thats not it.

robduckyworth
I'll have a look next time in AM and see what it says.

Also I managed to find a thread in a VLC forum where they said to try and uncheck MMAP (use file memory mapping) under settings. So I'll try this also and see how that goes.

Kevriano · Kevriano #6 (**permalink**)

02-28-2011, 08:00 AM

I would recommend you download PLEX and use that for HD playback. Smooth as silk. VLC isn't yet up to the task IMO.
Plex is free, and amazing.

Bikarbonat · Bikarbonat #7 (**permalink**)

02-28-2011, 10:05 AM

Thanks for the tip! I'll try that

schweb #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 27, 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 13,213 Mac Specs: MacBook Pro \| LED Cinema Display \| iPhone 4 \| iPad 2	02-27-2011, 06:19 PM I've moved your post to a more proper forum; please be sure to check the forum descriptions in the future to find the best place to post. By posting in the right forum you help people not only find your question faster, but it helps others looking for the same information in the future. Thanks for understanding! schweb \| community leader flickr » facebook » twitter » tumblr » google+ » about.me Mac-Forums: On Twitter \| On Facebook \| On Flickr
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robduckyworth #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 04, 2011 Location: Reading, UK Posts: 2,972 Mac Specs: 15" MBP, 2.5GHz i7, 750GB, 6770M 1GB, iPad 3, iPhone 4, custom PC	02-27-2011, 10:06 PM what state is the ram? go into AM, and take a look at the pie chart under system memory. if the majority of it is inactive, this is normal and should not be worried about. the OS has simply reserved the memory for use later. if its active or wired however, these are being used currently and you will have to figure out what they are assigned to. also take alook at your Pageouts in particular: this is when the system runs out of memory and writes to hard drive. this will cause slow downs in performance. If you find a post helpful, don't forget to use the reputation system (top right of post.) Join us in the IRC! How? Add me on Steam, Origin or PSN (Vita): robduckyworth
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Kevriano #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 02, 2006 Location: Crawley, England Posts: 4,560 Mac Specs: 20" Intel iMac 2.4 Ghz/3G Ram/320HD, Snow Leopard. PBook G4, 1.5Ghz/1.5 Ram/250 HD, Leopard 10.5.6.	02-28-2011, 08:00 AM I would recommend you download PLEX and use that for HD playback. Smooth as silk. VLC isn't yet up to the task IMO. Plex is free, and amazing. Try my custom Mac Forums Search Engine: Mac Forums Google Search Please use the reputation system if you consider any help given useful (it's the little ✓/✘ on the left <---)
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VLC, 720p mkv video, using all RAM? Slow iMac

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Bikarbonat #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 27, 2011 Posts: 3	02-27-2011, 05:04 PM I have the 21,5" iMac i3 3.2ghz with 4gb of ram and I have som problems after playing back HD-movies. My iMac goes really slow after watching movies in HD. Applications take a really long time to quit or start and it feels almost unusable. A restart of the computer seems to bring everything back to normal. I managed to run Activity Monitor today after watching a 720p mkv file with VLC with a couple of others apps running, like Firefox and iTunes. It shows that I use up almost all of my RAM, 3,8 gb and it seems to still use it even after I manage to quit the applications. I ran a Hardware Test and it says everthing is fine. So what can cause this problem? Havnt found an answer to it. I feel like it shouldnt use up all RAM like that. /Joakim
	QUOTE Thanks

Bikarbonat #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 27, 2011 Posts: 3	02-28-2011, 03:29 AM Thanks for the answers! Im no where near of filling up the HD at the moment, so thats not it. robduckyworth I'll have a look next time in AM and see what it says. Also I managed to find a thread in a VLC forum where they said to try and uncheck MMAP (use file memory mapping) under settings. So I'll try this also and see how that goes.
	QUOTE Thanks

Bikarbonat #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 27, 2011 Posts: 3	02-28-2011, 10:05 AM Thanks for the tip! I'll try that
	QUOTE Thanks

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