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Widgets that use CPU or memory when dashboard is inactive
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Senior User
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Fremont, CA, USA
Status:
Offline
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Having noticed a significant lag in performance from my Mac I looked at what processes were taking up the CPU using the activity monitor. Imagine my surprise to find that the Mapquest widget I had open in my dashboard was using 20 % CPU even when dashboard was inactive. None of the other widgets were using any CPU time.
Has anyone seen this happen with any other widgets. Also are memory loads of 15-20 MB typical for widgets. iTunes when playing a song uses only 25 MB.
Neil
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If I had a signature, it would look something like this
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Forum Regular
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Delray Beach, FL
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Offline
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what version of 10.4 are you running?
I found 10.4.2 greatly reduced this. Sounds like the Widget is poorly programmed. before 10.4.2 this was very common.
I like the google maps widget
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Senior User
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Fremont, CA, USA
Status:
Offline
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I'm using 10.4.2 so it can't be that. Google maps and the widget are good. It could be that the Mapquest widget was an old version and the an updated version is available. It would be good if the widgets checked for newer versions on a regular basis.
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If I had a signature, it would look something like this
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Apr 2005
Status:
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Konfabulator's chewing up 9% of mine just so I can have desktop iTunes control.
There's a program that will run on your menu bar, right? Anyone know if that'll eat up less resources?
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2000
Status:
Offline
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I just check the memory size for my widgets are they were ~25 MB each. Calendar, Unit Converter and Calculator. Seems awfully high.
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Senior User
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Fremont, CA, USA
Status:
Offline
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It's interesting that these little apps are so greedy. I wonder if it is because they and the dashboard are first generation or is it because most use web access for functionality. After all IIRC aren't most of these little safari windows in disguise.
Then if you look at the virtual memory these little buggers use, the 15 I have running comprise almost 2 gigs of the 5 gigs VM used.
I understand that high VM usage is normal for OS X and obviously very effective - but I do wonder what impact this all has on system performance.
I, like most decent people like a good widget now and then, but does their overwrought consumption threaten their very existence? After all, what use is a good utility that is useful once in a while if it ends up overtaxing the very machine it was suppose to enhance.
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If I had a signature, it would look something like this
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: ~/
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Konfabulator and Dashboard are resource hogs. Even on Windows, Konfabulator uses up tons of memory.
The options at present are to either limit your use of them, or add more RAM. I chose the latter.
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Senior User
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Fremont, CA, USA
Status:
Offline
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I'm trying to see if disabling the widgets until I need them affect system performance. The Widget Manager makes that reasonably easy although you do need to have at least one widget open.
Can you say Snappy?
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