Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

You are here: MacNN Forums > Software - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Mac OS X > What's a 'kernel_task' and is it important?

What's a 'kernel_task' and is it important?
Thread Tools
Steve SpotOn
Forum Regular
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Manchester, UK
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 17, 2008, 08:12 AM
 
Over the last month my laptop's fans have started running for no apparent reason (even with just Mail open). I've checked the Activity monitor and it shows 'kernel_task' using 1.53GB of virtual memory. What is this and is this activity normal?

Steve
MacBook dual 2g, 2GB RAM, OS10.4.11
Website
     
Chuckit
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Diego, CA, USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 17, 2008, 10:54 AM
 
It's exactly what it says on the tin — it's the kernel, the core of the system. Virtual memory usage varies a lot from case to case and doesn't really mean very much in practical terms.
Chuck
___
"Instead of either 'multi-talented' or 'multitalented' use 'bisexual'."
     
mduell
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Houston, TX
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 17, 2008, 12:21 PM
 
If you don't understand virtual memory, don't worry about it.
     
Simon
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: in front of my Mac
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 17, 2008, 12:48 PM
 
High fan RPMs are caused by CPU load, not VM.
•
     
   
Thread Tools
Forum Links
Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On
Top
Privacy Policy
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:46 AM.
All contents of these forums © 1995-2011 MacNN. All rights reserved.
Branding + Design: www.gesamtbild.com
vBulletin v.3.8.7 © 2000-2011, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd., Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.3.2