also @ TechSpot: First Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 benchmarks hit the web

Weekend Open Forum: How many processes are running right now?

By

On August 12, 2011, 8:34 PM

Not long ago, it was fairly common for power users to reference Windows' process list as if it were a barometer for the machine's speed. I can recall forum debates between members bragging about how few processes their system ran at startup, and I remember being adamant about ensuring that only essential items were running on my system. In that same vein, it was also common for folks to seek and destroy non-critical Windows services for speed gains.

In an age of hexa-core CPUs, dirt cheap RAM and flash storage, it seems those concerns have faded from enthusiasts' consideration. My relatively modest PC runs north of 100 processes daily (many of which are Chrome tabs) without breaking a sweat and I can increase or decrease that figure by 50 without noticing a difference in usable performance. How many processes are you currently running and do you pay attention to them anymore? Did you ever?

,

User Comments: 144

Got something to say? Post a comment
  1. 56 but could do with a lot less

  2. 121 right now. I remember spending a lot of time optimizing windows (98 and XP, that is) and google terms like "how to reduce memory usage" or "tweak windows". Those days are probably gone. I guess I would use a lot more time tweaking than I'd actually save.

  3. 3.5 )

    cmon ...

  4. 58

  5. Actually to the poster aboe since this is chrome 218 Tabs equal 218 processes

  6. 67 processes. task manager says physical memory 44%.

  7. At the moment have 63 processes running. Did a reload of Windows last night and am still installing other software, will probably go a little higher when all done.

  8. 36 right now on my opera and avast is.

  9. Windows 8 will have more services & threads than Windows 7...

  10. now i'm on 107

  11. Hilariously mundane topic, ha ha. (59 here.)

  12. 7 64bit

    44 when idle, using 1.3 of 4gb

  13. 52 in OS X 10.6.8

  14. With most of the stuff I use, have 64 proces and 933 sub-proces

  15. Chrome creates a new process for each tab.

    Wow, and people argue that Google isn't invasive!

    That's the best reason ever not to use Chrome.

  16. 53 without chrome open. I really don't like how chrome takes up so much space in the processes window. If I ever have to find another running process, I have to scroll through 20-some chrome processes to find it. I understand how chrome works but it'd be nice if all the same processes were listed together under a nested tree.

  17. I have 437 processes running, not sure why so much.

    !

    No doubt about it, "you win"!

    Of this, there can be no doubt. His prize:

    Four different botnets are fighting for control of your computer.

    Wholly s**t that is funny to imagine. Congratulations on your victory, Quinneypoo.

  18. 11 process running but one is the task manager

    so ten really

  19. That's the best reason ever not to use Chrome.

    I think other browsers are heading in the same direction as well. Reason for this is, if a site hangs up or crashes a tab, the whole browser session will not crash.

    I think we should stick to not liking chrome in-line with our previous observations

  20. 11 process running but one is the task manager

    so ten really

    well thats mighty efficient.

    [link]

  21. 41....but only just reinstalled windows and not much on there....

  22. oh and yeah...as mentioned before 5-6 are for chrome....

  23. oh and yeah...as mentioned before 5-6 are for chrome....

    I figured.

  24. 68. 11 of them are Chrome processes.

    I have a fairly old PC so whenever I notice lag while doing things, I usually open task manager and look for dodgy/unnecessary processes.

  25. I have 45 processes running at the moment, and half of them are svchost lol (ok not really, but I have like 8 svchost processes running).

    Windows XP SP3 here btw.

Recently commented stories

Add New Comment

TechSpot Members
Login or sign up for free,
it takes about 30 seconds.
You may also...
Get complete access to the TechSpot community. Join thousands of technology enthusiasts that contribute and share knowledge in our forum. Get a private inbox, upload your own photo gallery and more.
TechSpot on:

Subscribe to TechSpot

Get free exclusive content, learn about new features and breaking tech news.