On TV.com: Why Is Everyone in TV High School SO OLD
BNET Business Network:
BNET
TechRepublic
ZDNet

October 24th, 2008

OS X versus Vista, RAM division

Posted by Ed Bott @ 3:11 pm

Categories: Apple, Windows Vista

Tags: Microsoft Windows Vista, RAM, Apple Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Operating Systems, Software, Apple Mac OS, Microsoft Windows, Ed Bott, Memory

As I noted earlier this week, I’ve begun using a MacBook (the basic white model) and keeping a log of my experiences.

Yesterday, I received the adapter cable I needed to hook this machine to an external monitor so that I could use it in a desktop configuration. (A note to the thrifty: Don’t pay Apple $29 for this mini-DVI cable. Instead, go to Monoprice.com and pick up the generic adapter for $9.96. With shipping, it was still under $12, and it works just fine.)

Now that I have this system up and running on a full-sized screen, I’m ready to make some head-to-head comparisons with Windows. Because this system has a mere 1GB of RAM, I was curious to get a sense of how thrifty OS X Leopard is when it comes to memory usage. I was especially curious to see how Leopard compares to Vista, which as been slammed by critics as a resource hog.

To get started I opened Safari and opened a single web page, then began playing an MP3 track in iTunes. With those tasks running, I checked the results from Activity Monitor:

Memory usage for basic tasks on a 1GB MacBook

As you can see, the OS reports that 581MB is in use, with 430MB free.

Next, I launched a similar set of tasks on a system running Windows Vista Ultimate. To make the comparison fair, I used the System Configuration utility to disable all but 1024MB of memory in the system, which has 4GB of RAM. This system is using the full Aero interface (disabling it had no significant impact on the RAM footprint). I opened Windows Media Player and Internet Explorer, began playing the same MP3 tune and browsed to the same page that was open on the Macbook. Here’s what Task Manager showed for memory usage:

Memory usage for basic tasks on a 1GB Vista machine

For those keeping score, the Vista machine is using 594MB of RAM, which is roughly 2% more than its Mac counterpart running the same set of tasks.

Vista gets a bad rap for lots of things, including its reputedly voracious appetite for memory. As you can see, Vista compares favorably to OS X in this regard and doesn’t deserve that reputation.

Ed BottEd Bott is an award-winning technology writer with more than two decades' experience writing for mainstream media outlets and online publications. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.

Email Ed Bott

Subscribe to Ed Bott's Microsoft Report via Email alerts or RSS.

  • Talkback
  • Most Recent of 238 Talkback(s)
Vista and OS X battery life
Vista runs through a battery faster (on a Mac)
because the Mac was optimized for OS X, and
only through Boot Camp drivers and whatever
Apple does to its EFI boot system (no BIOS on an
... (Read the rest)
Posted by: Asiafish Posted on: 02/13/09 You are currently: a Guest | | Terms of Use
Why must we try to compare apples to oranges?  dcoaster | 10/24/08
And yet...  Ed BottZDNet Moderator | 10/24/08
Actually ...  Adrian Kingsley-HughesZDNet Moderator | 10/24/08
Vista needs more software running  Mikael_z | 10/24/08
No...  jamesrayg | 10/25/08
indeed  eggmanbubbagee@... | 10/25/08
Security by obscurity . . .  brian ansorge | 10/27/08
heh  isulzer | 10/25/08
Uh, no...  Ed BottZDNet Moderator | 10/25/08
am i?  isulzer | 10/25/08
Questions  Ed BottZDNet Moderator | 10/25/08
and shimming is..  isulzer | 10/25/08
So, isulzer...  Sleeper Service | 10/25/08
that ive used...  isulzer | 10/25/08
You are aware...  Sleeper Service | 10/25/08
wrong again  isulzer | 10/25/08
@isulzer, Windows 95 is DOS.  logic_earth | 10/25/08
not quite  isulzer | 10/25/08
*facepalm*  Sleeper Service | 10/26/08
Shimming  Ed BottZDNet Moderator | 10/26/08
semantics again?  isulzer | 10/26/08
isulzer, you are wrong, because you said shimming is like a wrapper  bmerc | 10/27/08
Step back a bit...  DCMann | 10/27/08
Actually....  awasson@... | 10/28/08
Not true  rparker009 | 12/12/08
Don't get me wrong.  dcoaster | 10/24/08
Which means  LiquidLearner | 10/24/08
new to the intertubes?  CarlitosLx | 10/30/08
Why so sluggish then?  GoPower | 10/24/08
Define sluggish  LiquidLearner | 10/24/08
Don't Forget Running Aero Makes Everything Better! (NT)  logic_earth | 10/24/08
"?"...  Cayble | 10/24/08
Performance...  logic_earth | 10/25/08
yep. but.  isulzer | 10/25/08
Shared mem  ShadowGIATL | 10/26/08
Not here  Ed BottZDNet Moderator | 10/24/08
Wierd experience  Necrolin | 10/25/08
Imporved Hardware Drivers Maybe? (NT)  logic_earth | 10/25/08
drivers or crapware  eggmanbubbagee@... | 10/25/08
How many people...  Necrolin | 10/27/08
Most likely...  LiquidLearner | 10/25/08
Um, not exactly...  eMJayy | 10/25/08
Actually it can't...  914four | 10/30/08
Sluggish? Since when?  Cayble | 10/24/08
because you're using a pirated copy of Vista  qmlscycrajg | 10/25/08
Sluggish?  notsofast | 10/27/08
Not sluggish here with 2GB  CrashPad | 10/28/08
Apple slugs  mswift@... | 11/19/08
Funny  rparker009 | 12/12/08
b .bu..but, everybody knows Vista is sluggish  eggmanbubbagee@... | 10/24/08
The problem with your logic....  dcoaster | 10/24/08
Very True Dcoaster --Here's Why.  gypkap@... | 10/27/08
Vista and OS X battery life  Asiafish | 02/13/09
I regularly use Vista on my Asus EEE PC 1000H (1Gb RAM) with Aero and  Zukuzu | 10/24/08
Pay no Attention....  daMan25 | 10/24/08
True, but then again...  GuidingLight | 10/24/08
Iphone  magallanes | 10/27/08
If HP runs Vista with the VIA CPU  marks055@... | 10/24/08
The ony false allegation is yours.  Sleeper Service | 10/25/08
What are you?  Kromaethius | 10/27/08
RE: OS X versus Vista, RAM division  Linux User 147560 | 10/24/08
Don't forget to add Compiz there.  Zukuzu | 10/24/08
I actually have...  ShadowGIATL | 10/24/08
Why not test it yourself?  ye | 10/25/08
Easy answer...  Linux User 147560 | 10/25/08
You were asking for Linux numbers, not OS X or Windows.  ye | 10/26/08
Ummm  Linux User 147560 | 10/26/08
I opted for a Windows solution because...  ye | 10/27/08
He didn't need to reboot either...  cornpie | 10/27/08
Oh and no  Linux User 147560 | 10/26/08
Exactly. You can get Linux numbers all day long.  ye | 10/27/08
.....  Linux User 147560 | 10/27/08
@Linux User 147560: How do you arrive at this conclusion?  ye | 10/27/08
You take lessons from Fox News?  Linux User 147560 | 10/27/08
@Linux User 147560: You didn't answer the question.  ye | 10/27/08
Simple  Linux User 147560 | 10/27/08
Windows XP SP3 results:  ye | 10/26/08
I've got a Macbook that is sluggish  cfischer83@... | 10/24/08
At least make it believable!  ye | 10/25/08
Apple's and PC's suffer the same problems....  Narg | 10/27/08
Can anyone say why Vista is such a power hog?  Jeremy W | 10/24/08
It seems to be...  Sleeper Service | 10/25/08
erm. different problem there.  isulzer | 10/25/08
Yes? And?  Sleeper Service | 10/25/08
Click on the link and read it.  isulzer | 10/25/08
By new you mean...  ShadowGIATL | 10/26/08
on a desktop?  isulzer | 10/26/08
Which the article...  Sleeper Service | 10/27/08
Actually...  ShadowGIATL | 10/26/08
RE: OS X versus Vista, RAM division  atari_z | 10/25/08
RE: OS X versus Vista, RAM division  atari_z | 10/25/08
Put another GIG of RAM in that Macbook & use Parallels to run Windows  GiveMeGizmos | 10/25/08
No, use Boot Camp instead...  Ben_E | 10/25/08
Might try that later  Ed BottZDNet Moderator | 10/25/08
which seems to be the correct choice.  isulzer | 10/25/08
Oh I see...  Ben_E | 10/25/08
RAM is RAM  surfasb | 10/27/08
Funny you should say that...  DCMann | 10/27/08
I think I see what you mean...  Ben_E | 10/27/08
Your Vista needs that fat graphics card though  smellcoffee | 10/25/08
Thats False  logic_earth | 10/25/08
Not really accurate  Ed BottZDNet Moderator | 10/25/08
Bells and whistles  ShadowGIATL | 10/26/08
I call FUD!  Wolfie2K3 | 10/28/08
um ed....  isulzer | 10/25/08
Cache not paged.  logic_earth | 10/25/08
Sorry, you're just plain wrong  Ed BottZDNet Moderator | 10/25/08
well  isulzer | 10/25/08
RAM != wrost power usage.  logic_earth | 10/25/08
id assume that..  isulzer | 10/25/08
You really need to go to school  Ed BottZDNet Moderator | 10/25/08
ah.  isulzer | 10/25/08
Oh and to top it all.  isulzer | 10/25/08
Is that because Macs...  Sleeper Service | 10/25/08
i guess you mean..  isulzer | 10/25/08
oh nvm.  isulzer | 10/25/08
Actually  LiquidLearner | 10/25/08
ok.  isulzer | 10/25/08
VM vs Physical mem  ShadowGIATL | 10/26/08
nop. no such degrees  isulzer | 10/26/08
Your still misguided  ShadowGIATL | 10/26/08
You misread what i say again.  isulzer | 10/26/08
LOL  theoxygenthief | 10/26/08
Thanks.. and actually..  ShadowGIATL | 11/14/08
Daemons  de-void | 10/27/08
Vista spreads the OS load much, much better  progon | 10/25/08
keep in mind  isulzer | 10/25/08
Interested..  ShadowGIATL | 10/26/08
consider.  isulzer | 10/26/08
Well...  ShadowGIATL | 10/26/08
its as simple as...  isulzer | 10/26/08
What? You made the assertion you have to support it.  ye | 10/26/08
i pointed out some  isulzer | 10/26/08
@isulzer: Irrelevant.  ye | 10/27/08
nop.  isulzer | 10/27/08
@isulzer: Not for the part where I jumped in.  ye | 10/27/08
The memory allotments are the same. But...  ashdude | 10/25/08
The Great and Powerful Oz...  Ed BottZDNet Moderator | 10/25/08
Sorry... process management.  ashdude | 10/25/08
actually  isulzer | 10/25/08
He's saying OS X and Linux are better than Vista  LiquidLearner | 10/25/08
Sarcasm  theoxygenthief | 10/26/08
Forget Vista - its irredeemable! 7 is the new hope.  graywz | 10/25/08
Theres a good marketing strategy.  isulzer | 10/25/08
Given that sales have risen...  Sleeper Service | 10/25/08
k here we go...  isulzer | 10/26/08
Mac cannot bite big momory?  no nonsense | 10/26/08
Mummery?  isulzer | 10/26/08
Or murmury!  no nonsense | 10/26/08
Different ways of allocating ram  theoxygenthief | 10/26/08
I would compare  ShadowGIATL | 10/26/08
It would defy the point if you could  theoxygenthief | 10/26/08
How about you post results for your assertion?  ye | 10/26/08
Not my job, unlike Ed  theoxygenthief | 10/26/08
yes well.  isulzer | 10/26/08
Yes, it is your job. If you make an assertion then it's...  ye | 10/27/08
Boring  theoxygenthief | 10/27/08
Irony  Sleeper Service | 10/27/08
See below  theoxygenthief | 10/28/08
Reading comprehension is fine here.  ye | 10/27/08
Remember, Ye is the same guy who says...  bmerc | 10/27/08
No it's not  theoxygenthief | 10/28/08
Clicks and time  mlindl | 10/26/08
Zero.  Sleeper Service | 10/26/08
Vista still blows... Why is it doing forced reboots?  T1Oracle | 10/26/08
erm.  isulzer | 10/26/08
Old habits die hard.  ShadowGIATL | 10/26/08
Forced?  ShadowGIATL | 10/26/08
That's the problem, a modular OS is nothing like a car engine  T1Oracle | 10/26/08
When you turn off your computer?  isulzer | 10/26/08
I didn't know OSX did that.  T1Oracle | 10/26/08
Aint that the truth.  isulzer | 10/26/08
You mean install updates at shutdown? Windows been able to since XP SP2  logicearth@... | 10/26/08
if you look at it in a twisted way  isulzer | 10/27/08
No, he doesn't mean that.  bmerc | 10/27/08
{deleted}  logicearth@... | 10/27/08
re:isulzer and "bm"  USTechHead | 10/27/08
Do people read anymore?  T1Oracle | 10/27/08
@T1Oracle  logicearth@... | 10/27/08
I shouldn't have to turn off auto-update for it to work right  T1Oracle | 10/28/08
Both XP and Vista do the same thing...nt  USTechHead | 10/27/08
Rubbish!  de-void | 10/28/08
RE: OS X versus Vista, RAM division  drizztshawn@... | 10/26/08
RE: OS X versus Vista, RAM division  notlehs | 10/27/08
People do not understand RAM usage.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 10/27/08
Re:  chaiguy1337 | 10/27/08
Sorry  rtk | 10/27/08
Agreed...4 gig never a memory problem...  USTechHead | 10/27/08
The problem is not that people don't understand RAM usage  bmerc | 10/27/08
"Don't waste time doing stupid crap"...  USTechHead | 10/27/08
Are you kidding??  chaiguy1337 | 10/27/08
easy answer  rtk | 10/27/08
You Disabled DWM? Are you Stupid?  logicearth@... | 10/27/08
RE: OS X versus Vista, RAM division  chaiguy1337 | 10/27/08
Hmm true except in Vista all memory is still usable, so you are wrong (NT)  logicearth@... | 10/27/08
Free memory is a bad thing...  Narg | 10/27/08
yes ... but wait.... no!.  magallanes | 10/27/08
If the OS has more memory used up, then it will be faster...  bmerc | 10/27/08
RE: OS X versus Vista, RAM division  worldscolide | 10/27/08
yawn, inconclusive test  gmureddu@... | 10/27/08
Why don't you try this test ...  MisterMiester | 10/27/08
RE: OS X versus Vista, RAM division  Kelvekar | 10/27/08
RE: OS X versus Vista, RAM division  shadfurman | 10/27/08
RE: OS X versus Vista, RAM division  shadfurman | 10/27/08
RE: OS X versus Vista, RAM division  shadfurman | 10/27/08
btw Ed Bott  shadfurman | 10/27/08
RE: OS X versus Vista  fetes | 10/27/08
I did the same when I upgraded to Vista, intresting... (NT)  logicearth@... | 10/27/08
I did the same when I upgraded to Vista, intresting...  fetes | 10/27/08
But how can you run Vista without an antivirus?  bolscher@... | 10/27/08
Why would you need anti virus with all the popup warnings vista has  fetes | 10/27/08
I'm curious...  logicearth@... | 10/27/08
Good luck with that...nt  USTechHead | 10/27/08
RE: OS X versus Vista, RAM division  leigh@... | 10/27/08
The OS does matter.  gypkap@... | 10/27/08
"...usual M$ vs nix nonsense..." amen brother - nt  USTechHead | 10/27/08
Unscientific and Useless  BanjoPaterson | 10/27/08
Seems rather a simplistic analysis  mdsock@... | 10/27/08
Go to stores like Worst Purchase* or Silicon Town**...  HypnoToad | 10/27/08
Again, clueless . . .  brian ansorge | 10/27/08
its about usability  ricstorms@... | 10/27/08
Dear Mr. Ed Bott, 1 simple question  jshewsbury@... | 10/27/08
I know I'm not Ed  whitekw | 10/27/08
Gah...does a Mac not have an enter key? (NT_  logicearth@... | 10/27/08
Yup...  awasson@... | 10/28/08
Thanks whitekw  jshewsbury@... | 10/28/08
Nope - I told you they were innovative!!  whitekw | 10/27/08
RE: OS X versus Vista, RAM division  alxnsc@... | 10/28/08
Some Facts  logicearth@... | 10/28/08
Ed Bott specially optimized Vista vs OSX?  BillDem | 10/28/08
Dang... Wrong spot (NT)  awasson@... | 10/28/08
RE: OS X versus Vista  Arist?teles Ben?cio | 10/29/08
FREE RAM?  Ryan Rediske | 10/29/08
Answered it already, but in case you missed it...  logicearth@... | 10/30/08
RE: OS X versus Vista, RAM division  duhovnik | 10/30/08
How much did MS pay to develop Vista?  technology@... | 10/30/08
Wrong numbers.  soopahman | 10/31/08
Wrong  Ed BottZDNet Moderator | 10/31/08

What do you think?

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

Click Here
advertisement

Recent Entries

advertisement

Archives

ZDNet Blogs

White Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

Meet Doc