moved from windows 64bit, can only use around 2.3GB of memory out of 8GB

English Hardware
1

I decided I would switch from Windows 10 to OpenSUSE Tumblewood and after installing my system started crashing.

Started checking ram usage with htop, it only reads 6.7GB and the bar for memory is 70% full at 1.7GB.

Output of free -m


               total        used        free      shared  buff/cache   available
Mem:            6869        2335        2648          66        2216        4533
Swap:           2048           0        2048

How can I make it be able to use all of my ram instead of only half of it?

2

Hi and welcome to the Forum :slight_smile:
The 6.8GB of Total physical ram sounds about right, I suspect integrated graphics in use which is consuming the difference…

Perhaps you can post a screenshot of htop output as to what your seeing?

3

When apps need more than what’s in “available”, they’ll get it from cache before there’s any serious touch to swap. I have 32G RAM on my 24/7 Haswell. Usually cache is 2.5-3 times that used by apps. It’s unusual here to see as much as 30% used by apps, even though I’m sure my various always open RAM hungry web browsers must have at least 500 open tabs among them, and get sluggish when not restarted at least once a week.

# free -m
              total        used        free      shared  buff/cache   available
Mem:          31017        7117        8345         998       17001       23899
Swap:             0           0           0
# inxi -SCGz
System:
  Kernel: 5.14.21-150400.24.21-default arch: x86_64 bits: 64
    Console: pty pts/1 Distro: openSUSE Leap 15.4
CPU:
  Info: dual core model: Intel Core i3-4150T bits: 64 type: MT MCP cache:
    L2: 512 KiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 2974 min/max: 800/3000 cores: 1: 2925 2: 3000 3: 3000
    4: 2971
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel 4th Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics
    driver: i915 v: kernel
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.20.3 driver: X: loaded: modesetting
    unloaded: fbdev,vesa dri: crocus gpu: i915 resolution: 1920x1200~60Hz
  OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics 4400 (HSW GT2) v: 4.6 Mesa
    21.2.4

Good chance this is exactly right, with newer than ancient computers that have onboard graphics, and a BIOS that enables explicit specification of RAM dedicated to graphics. For each codeset below from a test PC, it was freshly booted into a Plasma session with Konsole running as the only foreground app.

## 8G installed RAM on Core2Duo with Q45 graphics and no BIOS graphics shared RAM configurability
# free -m
               total        used        free      shared  buff/cache   available
Mem:            7786         860        6582         153         739        6925
Swap:           4145           0        4145
# inxi -CGSz
System:
  Kernel: 5.19.13-1-default arch: x86_64 bits: 64 Desktop: **KDE Plasma
    v: 5.26.1** Distro: openSUSE **Tumbleweed 20221020**
CPU:
  Info: dual core model: Intel Core2 Duo E8400 bits: 64 type: MCP cache:
    L2: 6 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 2000 min/max: 2000/3000 cores: 1: 2000 2: 2000
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel 4 Series Integrated Graphics driver: i915 v: kernel
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.4 driver: X: loaded: modesetting
    unloaded: fbdev,vesa dri: crocus gpu: i915 resolution: 1: 1920x1200~60Hz
    2: 1680x1050~60Hz
  OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel Q45/Q43 (ELK) v: 2.1 Mesa 22.2.1

## 16G installed RAM on a Haswell with BIOS configured to use 1024M shared RAM for graphics
# free -m
               total        used        free      shared  buff/cache   available
Mem:           14879         620       13411         331         847       13655
Swap:           9668           0        9668
# inxi -SGCz
System:
  Kernel: 5.18.19-200.fc36.x86_64 arch: x86_64 bits: 64 Desktop: **KDE Plasma
    v: 5.25.5 Distro: Fedora release 36** (Thirty Six)
CPU:
  Info: dual core model: Intel Pentium G3220 bits: 64 type: MCP cache:
    L2: 512 KiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 798 min/max: 800/3000 cores: 1: 798 2: 798
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics
    driver: i915 v: kernel
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.20.14 with: Xwayland v: 22.1.3 driver: X:
    loaded: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa gpu: i915 resolution:
    1: 2560x1440~60Hz 2: 1920x1200~60Hz 3: 1680x1050~60Hz
  OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics (HSW GT1) v: 4.6 Mesa 22.1.7

Another possibility with some Core2/LGA775 class PCs is a BIOS peculiarity, which if not set correctly, makes RAM above ~6.7G unavailable on Linux. I have an ASUS without integrated graphics like that with a Core2Duo that needs the BIOS “Memory Remap Feature” enabled to access above 6.7G.

## Core2 Duo with 8G RAM and discrete graphics
# free
               total        used        free      shared  buff/cache   available
Mem:         8143912      977656     6822124       10708      605336     7166256
Swap:        1534172           0     1534172
# inxi -CGMSz
System:
  Kernel: 5.19.13-1-default arch: x86_64 bits: 64
    Desktop: **KDE Plasma v: 5.26.1** Distro: openSUSE **Tumbleweed 20221020**
Machine:
  Type: Desktop Mobo: ASUSTeK model: P5B-Deluxe v: Rev 1.xx
    serial: MB-1234567890 BIOS: American Megatrends v: 1238 date: 09/30/2008
CPU:
  Info: dual core model: Intel Core2 6700 bits: 64 type: MCP cache: L2: 4 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 1596 min/max: 1596/2660 cores: 1: 1596 2: 1596
Graphics:
  Device-1: AMD Oland [Radeon HD 8570 / R5 430 OEM R7 240/340 Radeon 520 OEM]
    driver: amdgpu v: kernel
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.4 driver: X: loaded: amdgpu
    unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,vesa dri: radeonsi gpu: amdgpu resolution:
    1: 1920x1200~60Hz 2: 2560x1440~60Hz
  OpenGL: renderer: AMD Radeon HD 8500 Series (oland LLVM 15.0.2 DRM 3.47
    5.19.13-1-default) v: 4.6 Mesa 22.2.1
4 
Host erlangen has a graphics card. Thus all memory is available:
**erlangen:~ #** free -m 
               total        used        free      shared  buff/cache   available 
Mem:           32014       12392        3001         467       17542       19622 
Swap:              0           0           0 
**erlangen:~ #**

You may show details of your machine:

**erlangen:~ #** inxi -SMCGm 
**System:**
  **Host:** erlangen **Kernel:** 5.18.11-1-default **arch:** x86_64 **bits:** 64 
    **Console:** pty pts/1 **Distro:** openSUSE Tumbleweed 20221020 
**Machine:**
  **Type:** Desktop **System:** Micro-Star **product:** MS-7C56 **v:** 2.0 **serial:** N/A 
  **Mobo:** Micro-Star **model:** B550-A PRO (MS-7C56) **v:** 2.0 
    **serial:** 07C5622_L41E321872 **UEFI:** American Megatrends LLC. **v:** A.90 
    **date:** 03/17/2022 
**Memory:**
  **RAM:****total:** 31.26 GiB **used:** 12.1 GiB (38.7%) 
  **Array-1:****capacity:** 128 GiB **slots:** 4 **EC:** None 
  **Device-1:** DIMM 0 **type:** no module installed 
  **Device-2:** DIMM 1 **type:** DDR4 **size:** 16 GiB **speed:** 3200 MT/s 
  **Device-3:** DIMM 0 **type:** no module installed 
  **Device-4:** DIMM 1 **type:** DDR4 **size:** 16 GiB **speed:** 3200 MT/s 
**CPU:**
  **Info:** 6-core **model:** AMD Ryzen 5 5600X **bits:** 64 **type:** MT MCP **cache:**
    **L2:** 3 MiB 
  **Speed (MHz):****avg:** 2200 **min/max:** 2200/3700 **cores:****1:** 2200 **2:** 2200 **3:** 2200 
    **4:** 2200 **5:** 2200 **6:** 2200 **7:** 2200 **8:** 2200 **9:** 2200 **10:** 2200 **11:** 2200 **12:** 2200 
**Graphics:**
  **Device-1:** AMD Lexa PRO [Radeon 540/540X/550/550X / RX 540X/550/550X] 
    **driver:** amdgpu **v:** kernel 
  **Display:** x11 **server:** X.Org **v:** 21.1.4 **with:** Xwayland **v:** 22.1.3 **driver:****X:**
    **loaded:** amdgpu **unloaded:** fbdev,modesetting,vesa **gpu:** amdgpu 
    **resolution:** 3840x2160~60Hz 
  **OpenGL:****renderer:** AMD Radeon RX 550 / 550 Series (polaris12 LLVM 15.0.2 
    DRM 3.46 5.18.11-1-default) **v:** 4.6 Mesa 22.2.1 
**erlangen:~ #**
5

(couldn’t get exactly 1.7GB ram to be used but it is close)
Output of htop:

Output of inxi -SMCGm

System:
  Host: localhost.localdomain Kernel: 6.0.2-1-default arch: x86_64 bits: 64 Console: pty pts/0
    Distro: openSUSE Tumbleweed 20221020
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: HUAWEI product: BOHK-WAX9X v: M1060 serial: HMTPM20806000377
  Mobo: HUAWEI model: BOHK-WAX9X-PCB v: M1060 serial: PM09402087000573 UEFI: HUAWEI v: 1.18
    date: 03/30/2022
Memory:
  RAM: total: 6.71 GiB used: 1.43 GiB (21.3%)
  Array-1: capacity: 64 GiB note: check slots: 2 EC: None
  Device-1: DIMM 0 type: DDR4 size: 4 GiB speed: spec: 2667 MT/s actual: 2400 MT/s
  Device-2: DIMM 0 type: DDR4 size: 4 GiB speed: spec: 2667 MT/s actual: 2400 MT/s
CPU:
  Info: quad core model: AMD Ryzen 7 3700U with Radeon Vega Mobile Gfx bits: 64 type: MT MCP
    cache: L2: 2 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 1512 min/max: 1400/2300 cores: 1: 1400 2: 1400 3: 2300 4: 1400 5: 1400
    6: 1400 7: 1400 8: 1400
Graphics:
  Device-1: AMD Picasso/Raven 2 [Radeon Vega Series / Radeon Mobile Series] driver: amdgpu
    v: kernel
  Device-2: Quanta ov9734_techfront_camera type: USB driver: uvcvideo
  Display: server: X.org v: 1.21.1.4 with: Xwayland v: 22.1.3 driver: gpu: amdgpu note:  X
    driver n/a tty: 238x55 resolution: 1920x1080
  Message: GL data unavailable in console for root.
6

Hi
Here are my systems, the last is a AMD powered laptop, similar to the OP’s output…


free -m
               total        used        free      shared  buff/cache   available
Mem:           64219        3011       60046          55        1851       61208
Swap:           3706           0        3706

inxi -SGCz

System:
  Kernel: 6.0.2-1-default arch: x86_64 bits: 64 Desktop: GNOME v: 43.0
    Distro: openSUSE Tumbleweed 20221021
CPU:
  Info: 12-core model: Intel Xeon E5-2690 v3 bits: 64 type: MT MCP cache:
    L2: 3 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 1258 min/max: 1200/2600 cores: 1: 1200 2: 1200 3: 1200
    4: 1200 5: 1208 6: 2600 7: 1200 8: 1200 9: 1200 10: 1200 11: 1200 12: 1197
    13: 1200 14: 1200 15: 1200 16: 1200 17: 1198 18: 1200 19: 1200 20: 1200
    21: 1200 22: 1198 23: 1200 24: 1200
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA TU117GLM [Quadro T400 Mobile] driver: nvidia v: 520.56.06
  Device-2: NVIDIA GP108 [GeForce GT 1030] driver: nvidia v: 520.56.06
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.4 with: Xwayland v: 22.1.3 driver: X:
    loaded: nvidia gpu: nvidia,nvidia-nvswitch resolution: 1: 1920x1080~60Hz
    2: 1920x1080~60Hz 3: 1920x1080~60Hz
  OpenGL: renderer: NVIDIA T400/PCIe/SSE2 v: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 520.56.06

free -m
               total        used        free      shared  buff/cache   available
Mem:            7725        1131        5992         116         960        6594
Swap:              0           0           0

inxi -SGCz

System:
  Kernel: 6.0.2-1-default arch: x86_64 bits: 64 Desktop: GNOME v: 43.0
    Distro: openSUSE MicroOS
CPU:
  Info: quad core model: Intel Celeron N5095 bits: 64 type: MCP cache:
    L2: 1.5 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 1698 min/max: 800/2900 cores: 1: 2000 2: 2000 3: 2000
    4: 795
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel JasperLake [UHD Graphics] driver: i915 v: kernel
  Display: wayland server: X.org v: 1.21.1.4 with: Xwayland v: 22.1.3
    compositor: gnome-shell driver: X: loaded: modesetting gpu: i915
    resolution: no compositor data resolution: 1680x1050
  OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel UHD Graphics (JSL) v: 4.6 Mesa 22.2.1

free -m

             total        used        free      shared  buff/cache   available
Mem:           6902        1137        5241          24         784        5764
Swap:          1535           0        1535

inxi -SGCz

System:
  Kernel: 5.14.21-150400.24.21-default arch: x86_64 bits: 64 Desktop: GNOME
    v: 41.4 Distro: openSUSE Leap 15.4
CPU:
  Info: quad core model: AMD E2-7110 APU with AMD Radeon R2 Graphics bits: 64
    type: MCP cache: L2: 2 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 998 min/max: 1000/1800 cores: 1: 998 2: 998 3: 998
    4: 998
Graphics:
  Device-1: AMD Mullins [Radeon R3 Graphics] driver: amdgpu v: kernel
  Device-2: Chicony HP TrueVision HD type: USB driver: uvcvideo
  Display: wayland server: X.org v: 1.20.3 with: Xwayland v: 21.1.4
    compositor: gnome-shell driver: X: loaded: amdgpu
    unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,vesa dri: radeonsi gpu: amdgpu
    resolution: 1920x1080~60Hz
  OpenGL: renderer: AMD KABINI (DRM 3.42.0 5.14.21-150400.24.21-default
    LLVM 11.0.1) v: 4.6 Mesa 21.2.4
7

Freshly booted, with only Konsole open:

# free -m
              total        used        free      shared  buff/cache   available
Mem:           6871         839        5914           1         352        6031
Swap:          1751           0        1751
# inxi -CGSz
System:
  Kernel: 5.14.21-150400.24.21-default arch: x86_64 bits: 64 Desktop: Trinity
    v: R14.0.12 Distro: openSUSE Leap 15.4
CPU:
  Info: quad core model: AMD A10-7850K Radeon R7 12 Compute Cores 4C+8G
    bits: 64 type: MT MCP cache: L2: 4 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 1700 min/max: 1700/3700 cores: 1: 1700 2: 1700 3: 1700
    4: 1700
Graphics:
  Device-1: AMD Kaveri [Radeon R7 Graphics] driver: amdgpu v: kernel
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.20.3 driver: X: loaded: modesetting
    unloaded: fbdev,vesa dri: radeonsi gpu: amdgpu resolution:
    1: 2560x1440~60Hz 2: 1920x1200~60Hz 3: 1680x1050~60Hz
  OpenGL: renderer: AMD KAVERI (DRM 3.42.0 5.14.21-150400.24.21-default
    LLVM 11.0.1) v: 4.6 Mesa 21.2.4
8

Linux is in my opinion quite bad in handling low-memory situations, I did run multiple times into hangs because I was running out of memory and even starting a console using Ctrl-F1 took ages so I always just did reset the machine.

That said, I think you better upgrade to 16 GB. You can get second hand DDR4 kits for € 40 or less and I would suggest to do such an upgrade.

9

Hi
My laptop runs fine on 8GB, likewise the MiniPC running MicroOS/GNOME/Flatpaks has no issues.

Better to identify why crashing, maybe a memory test, check sensors and smart output?

10

I know the reasons fro crashing, it is running multiple programs in parallel that require quite some memory (browser with many tabs open, email, large pdf, josm, etc). I did also run into memory leaks for a python script I wrote but for memory leaks no amount of memory will help if you keep the computer running long enough.

So therefore my advise to consider extending memory, it is relatively cheap and pretty easy to do.

11

Yes but it just puts off the inevitable which you at some point must resolve.

Stuart

12

Sure. However I run lots of applications on iost erlangen with overcommit_memory = 0 and I never experienced issues:

erlangen:~ # inxi -zSMCm
System:
  Kernel: 5.18.11-1-default arch: x86_64 bits: 64 Console: pty pts/1
    Distro: openSUSE Tumbleweed 20221021
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: Micro-Star product: MS-7C56 v: 2.0 serial: N/A
  Mobo: Micro-Star model: B550-A PRO (MS-7C56) v: 2.0 serial: <filter>
    UEFI: American Megatrends LLC. v: A.90 date: 03/17/2022
Memory:
  RAM: total: 31.26 GiB used: 12.58 GiB (40.2%)
  Array-1: capacity: 128 GiB slots: 4 EC: None
  Device-1: DIMM 0 type: no module installed
  Device-2: DIMM 1 type: DDR4 size: 16 GiB speed: 3200 MT/s
  Device-3: DIMM 0 type: no module installed
  Device-4: DIMM 1 type: DDR4 size: 16 GiB speed: 3200 MT/s
CPU:
  Info: 6-core model: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X bits: 64 type: MT MCP cache:
    L2: 3 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 2250 min/max: 2200/3700 cores: 1: 2800 2: 2200 3: 2200
    4: 2200 5: 2200 6: 2200 7: 2200 8: 2200 9: 2200 10: 2200 11: 2200 12: 2200
erlangen:~ # 

erlangen:~ # cat /proc/sys/vm/overcommit_memory
0
erlangen:~ # 

erlangen:~ # journalctl -q -g 'out of memory'
erlangen:~ #