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JazzCatDRP · Mar 24, 2005, 11:39 AM

Hey all...please forgive me if this is a really stupid question, but does closing windows, while leaving the application running free up resources? I'm talking about things like closing the Mail windows, while leaving it running to check for new mail, and closing the iTunes window while leaving it playing music. I ask because I'm on a very limited powerbook (384 meg RAM), so every little bit helps!

TETENAL · Mar 24, 2005, 11:48 AM

Yes, it does free up resources.

Chuckit · Mar 24, 2005, 12:55 PM

To be precise, I think, it may free up resources. I believe some apps may keep a window in existence but just place it offsceen (generally for windows like the main iTunes window, of which there is only one instance).

CharlesS · Mar 24, 2005, 12:59 PM

Document-based applications generally will release the document object when you close its window, so yes, you will save resources (how much would depend on what kind of document it was).

TETENAL · Mar 24, 2005, 01:07 PM

Originally posted by Chuckit:
To be precise, I think, it may free up resources. I believe some apps may keep a window in existence but just place it offsceen (generally for windows like the main iTunes window, of which there is only one instance).

iTunes clearly uses less CPU time with the window closed as opposed to the window hidden. It appears that iTunes is still drawing to a hidden window, but not to a closed one.

Closing a window will usually free up memory in the application used for data associated to the window, and it will free up memory allocated by the window manager for the window buffer.

Millennium · Mar 24, 2005, 06:57 PM

This depends on what you mean by "resources", which can actually mean any of several parts of your system, including RAM, CPU time, disk and network I/O, and so forth.

Closing windows does free up RAM, and not an insignificant amount of it, either. Displaying windows takes up a lot of RAM in OSX, and although they've taken some steps to deal with this in recent versions (such as compressing windows in RAM when they're not active) this can only do so much. Closing windows doesn't free up any of the other types of resources in and of itself, but if something is happenning in that window when you close it, the action (usually) stops and that can free up more resources. For example, if you're running an iTunes visualizer and you close that window, you'll free up CPU time because the visualizer will stop.

Wevah · Mar 24, 2005, 07:12 PM

Originally posted by TETENAL:
iTunes clearly uses less CPU time with the window closed as opposed to the window hidden. It appears that iTunes is still drawing to a hidden window, but not to a closed one.

Closing a window will usually free up memory in the application used for data associated to the window, and it will free up memory allocated by the window manager for the window buffer.

"Offscreen" means the window is hidden, and therefore not drawn at all, but still residing in memory (not that its coords have just been changed).

So, yeah.

JazzCatDRP · Mar 24, 2005, 11:49 PM

Very cool stuff to hear. With my paltry 384 meg of RAM, RAM space is a priceless commodity for my machine! I have noticed a big difference. I usually have Mail open, iTunes open listening to music, and a few Safari tabs open, and Safari's usually dragging, but since I've started closing mail and iTunes windows, I've noticed a huge difference. Very cool.

SS3 GokouX · Mar 25, 2005, 12:29 AM

I find that quitting and re-launching Safari or emptying its cache is a quick way to reduce the amount of memory it uses. An extra 128 MB of RAM would probably help you a lot if just closing a few windows makes things speedier, plus 128 modules are very cheap (about $35 with shipping from OWC for 256 MB PC100 for my older G4).

JazzCatDRP · Mar 25, 2005, 12:51 AM

Thanks for the tips. I'll try the Safari one. Regarding the RAM, unless I'm misunderstood, I believe I'm maxed out. There's 256 on one side, and 128 on the other, and I had been told I can't put more than 128 on the other side for some reason. I'll have to look for that old thread. I'm running on an old G3 333 powerbook (Lombard). If I could throw in some extra RAM, that'd be great. At this risk of this needing to be moved to the powerbook forum, does anyone know how I can find out the maximum RAM I can upgrade to?

SS3 GokouX · Mar 25, 2005, 01:12 AM

If this is the correct model, Crucial claims that 384 is your max. For some reason it seems that your 128 has to be in one side and 256 in the other. That is really weird.

SSharon · Mar 25, 2005, 01:41 AM

I think hiding applications will also free up some RAM. I always have Mail open but I have it hidden. I know this lowers its priority or order when you command-tab so maybe it'll help you too.

Chuckit · Mar 25, 2005, 02:20 AM

Originally posted by SSharon:
I think hiding applications will also free up some RAM. I always have Mail open but I have it hidden. I know this lowers its priority or order when you command-tab so maybe it'll help you too.

I don't see how that would help anything. It just makes it less convenient to tab to.