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Root CONSTANTLY low memory (RAM, not internal storage)

A

Arlo012

Lurker
Hey all,
I've been a lurker on these forums awhile just reading and learning, but I've run into a new problem I just can't solve! Having just come off of the latest UD ROM due to problems with text messages not being sent / received, I decided to switch to CM7 rc 2. In both of these Gingerbread ROMs, my phone is constantly low on memory. I am really into homescreen modding, so perhaps I over-use widgets (at one point I had 3 homescreens full of desktop visualizer widgets).

Having cut back to 5 widgets, I am still constantly running out of memory! I disabled tasker to save memory, tried removing ALL widgets and going icons only, but to no avail.

I am running Widgetlocker lockscreen (with two additional widgets on it) with Launcher Pro, and both run out of memory frequently enough that Widgetlocker frantically pops up with the message "Widgetlocker has been granted superuser permission" as it restarts over and over. This low memory state causes bizzaro things to happen with SMS (5+ duplicate receives / sends, no send, no receive, etc).

I realize the droid is limited with 256 mb of RAM compared to other phones, but even with a swap file my phone is failing on me!

All on a fresh install, wipe system / data / cache CM 7 rc2.
15mb of free memory on fresh boot.

Any ideas how to improve free memory?
 
Are they? I was under the impression that the RAM was a discrete unit within the phone entirely separate from the application and ROM memory. Correct me if I'm wrong though!
 
I am not sure, but I know that every time I flash a new ROM I get the low on memory issue. I have to open up TiBu and move my apps to the SD card then finish restoring or downloading the missing apps. I have to do that a few times a during the process
 
I am going to put this out there but I am by no means an expert on this but after playing with all the different Roms that have come out since right before FROYO I have noticed the decrease in Ram that has come along as we have progressed through the different versions. That is the downside of the OG Droid the lack of RAM there is a reason that there is so much discussion on if the Droid would even be getting Gingerbread. The basic operations of Gingerbread take a big toll on the original Droid which is one of the main reasons that it has taken as long as it has for true Stable Roms to come out for it.
 
So that's the way it works, huh? Everyone running Gingerbread ROMs deal with much less working memory? Bummer, I may go back to Froyo if that's the case!
 
Gingerbread is more aggressive about killing apps as memory gets low. This is why people with Droids have issues, at least that's what I've gathered from reading these forums.
 
I would download Elixir and keep track of RAM and internal storage. I have found that if I can keep my RAM at around 35mb or more, I will run smooth. But if you are actually "running out" of RAM, you may mean that you are getting notices of "Low on Space", which is an internal storage issue. That can best be solved by moving more apps over to SD (using Apps2SD). If it is not storage, but actual RAM, just start with as few running processes as possible (no widgets, etc), and see where you are, then add stuff back until you see the RAM get below 35 mb or so, then stop.
 
GPA14 has a memory modification fix that frees up more memory and reduces the aggresiveness of Gingerbreads memory management and task killing.

If you have run alot of widgets on the past GB ROMs you have probably had issues with this. CM7 RC3 is also supposed to have this fix when released. I would give GPA14 a try and see if it helps with your issues.
 
Lots of credit over to the guys at the CyanogenMod forums / the droidforums for the following solutions (to free up memory in Gingerbread ROMs on the Droid 1):

Originally Posted by peteralfonso in Droidforums.net
1) Install "AutoKiller Memory Optimizer" from Market.
2) Open AutoKiller > Menu > Settings > Enable advanced mode
3) Set the following values:
Foreground app: 6
Visible app: 10
Secondary server: 20
Hidden app: 24
Content provider: 28
Empty app: 28
4) Apply new values
5) Reboot device

EDIT: Then the following fix is for those with redraw issues! Though many have reported an increase in free memory with this fix as well, so it may be worth a shot anyway (I thought it was and have experienced positive results).

nessie from CyanogenMod Forums:

open Terminal Emulator, and type, hitting <enter> after each line:

su
echo "ro.HOME_APP_ADJ=1" >> /data/local.prop
exit


the "echo" command will write whatever is in quotes to the file you specify after the >>. if the file doesn't already exist, it will be created.

the exit just backs you out of SuperUser, so you don't make any more trouble.

Then reboot, and you're done.
Click to expand...

Hope this helps anyone out there with the same problems! I am averaging in the high 40mb range for free memory on a fresh boot.
 
On a fresh boot, after killing 2 services, I average 40-50 MB free.

It's just that after a while of using, for example, Google Services starts creeping higher and higher. At boot it may be only using 5 MB but after a good day's of use or idle, it will be sitting at 20+, with 3 different services listed inside, including Google Messaging.

Only thing I can find to help is to reboot.

I noticed that you said you're at 40 after a reboot - how are you after a full day's worth of use? How are you after charging the phone after a full day's of use?

Are you still having to reboot?
 
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