Minimem for Windows

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Editors’ Review

Download.com staffSeptember 10, 2013

Tired of processes and applications that hog memory and bog down your system's response speed? This free utility is designed for managing those repeat offenders, but we found no dramatic improvements in our tests.

Minimem launches an attractive, easy-to-comprehend interface that lists the active processes that meet a user-defined threshold for memory use. From this list you may select those you want to optimize for more judicious memory use. In our tests, we found it very simple to configure the utility to optimize memory use within a range of time, i.e. from every 2 to every 1,200 seconds, and select the processes to optimize. We liked that we could choose the thresholds that trigger memory optimization.

However, we didn't discern any dramatic improvements in memory use or system performance after executing Minimem's tweaks. Checking Task Manager showed slight reductions in memory use, but differences were so small as to be negligible. Power users who need a robust memory-optimizing package will want to skip this free tool, which looks good and proved easy to use, but didn't deliver the goods.

What’s new in version 2.1.1

version 2.1.1 fixed in the Kerkia web site link.

Minimem for Windows

Used Minimem for Windows? Share your experience and help other users.

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: July 23, 2013

Latest update: September 10, 2013

Version: 2.1.1

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows 10
Windows 7
Windows Server
Windows Vista
Windows XP
Windows 2000
Windows 2003

Additional Requirements: None

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 103,486

Downloads Last Week: 1

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Last Updated

User Reviews

4.9/5

17 User Votes

I downloaded it and installed.
MSgt MackelJanuary 3, 2015
Pros
It's got a couple of graphics.
Cons
But I don't see any change in my memory.
Summary
If it is doing something I don't know what it is because I don't see any difference.
Good Initial Impression - I recommend Minimem
lineappmakerJune 11, 2013
Pros
* GoogleUpdate.exe improvement is a relief * OS response after startup seems a bit quicker * Many browser tabs don't cause system freezes - based on another review on CNET, this was one reason why I tried Minimem * I didn't have to configure any settings * Little or no jargon in the program
Cons
I've tried it for a few days - I've seen no negatives so far. If I see negatives in the future, I'll update this review / post another review.
Summary
I recommend Minimem. Thanks to Kerkia & CNET<br /><br /><span class='notifyMsg'> Updated </span>on Jun 27, 2013<p/>After my earlier review, my computer started freezing. Process Lasso couldn't help too. I'm trying CCleaner Registry Clean (at computer startup & at 2 hour intervals) instead.<br /><br /><span class='notifyMsg'> Updated </span>on Jun 28, 2013<p/>& CCleaners Default 'Cleaner' tab after Browser Session Saves with Session Buddy (Chome) & Session Manager (Firefox)<br /><br /><span class='notifyMsg'> Updated </span>on Jul 23, 2013<p/>Surprisingly, after it's done a few times, the use of only few browser windows & tabs becomes an easy practice. I uninstalled Safari for Windows & I turn on monitor hardware acceleration only when needed. Now my computer doesn't freeze / crash.
Very good. Well made. Helpful.
blancheirvingSeptember 3, 2012
Pros
Easy to use (once you opt for its right-hand panel to show all processes).
Cons
None of any note.
Summary
Does an fine job of what it says it will. I watched my Windows Task Manager display a downward jump in the memory drain of every process I selected for Minimem handling. In some cases, the reductions were dramatic. There's been no discernible "bad side effect," i.e., a delay or hesitation or anything negative, going on with any Minimem'd process.
Great Tool. I'm Impressed.
amoschinozAugust 14, 2012
Pros
Reduced my Firefox memory usage from 700MB down to 56MB. Very impressive that.
Cons
None i can think of at the moment.
Summary
Noticeably more memory
dwierdaMarch 7, 2012
Pros
I agree with the previous reviewers who say CNET's review is off the mark. I can tell there's more memory available and it was evident immediately after optimizing.
Cons
none evident so far
Summary
Great Software, it puts IE9 and Firefox in their place!
PlatonicianJuly 26, 2011
Pros
It works as advertised. You will recover Gigas of RAM in minutes. It stops IE and Firefox mad consumption of RAM.
Cons
None so far.
Summary
I agree with previous reviewer: CNET's review is not accurate. The program works pretty well. I've been trying to find a solution for the monstruous RAM comsuption problem of IE9 and FF4 on a Windows 7 machine for a long time. I've posted on Windows forums and when I told the incompetent guys over there that nine or ten IE9 tabs were taking up to 1.8 GB of Ram, they replied that it was normal, that I needed to buy more RAM... Even if the system has 4GB of RAM which is fair, opening Photoshop and listening to music caused the system to crash if IE or FF4 were open. So, thanks to this little program the ammount of RAM consumed by IE with the same number of tabs opened has been reduced to less than 300.
Works just as advertised
spinach_chinMarch 23, 2011
Pros
The only method I could find to reliably reduce my memory usage in Firefox 4.0.
Cons
None so far
Summary
Like a previous reviewer, I joined CNet for the purpose of leaving a review for this program, I am that impressed with it. I like using FF4, but my computer specs are a little light, and FF4 consumes memory even worse than its predecessors. I've searched to try to find reliable methods of reducing this memory usage. The only way I've found is to restart the browser, which can take several minutes on my slow computer - and it doesn't take long for the mem usage to get upwards of 500MB again. I installed Minimem 2.0, left the settings at default, added FF4 to the list of processes to optimize... and it just works. The default mem threshold is 300 MB, and it performs an optimize every 30 seconds. That's sufficient to keep my FF sessions running between 250 - 325 MB of memory usage. I have almost no pauses and slowdowns anymore! I highly recommend this, especially if you're having issues with Firefox
this works well. CNET's review is 'off the mark'.
tcdoeMarch 23, 2011
Pros
ran this program and 10 min later it freed up 1G of ram. i call that 'spectacular'. make sure and de-check the option "do not optimize if free ram is over xxx". does not appear to adversely effect performance.
Cons
none that i can find
Summary
my first ever review. had to sign up just to give this app the credit it is due. it works great. select the running services/apps that are hogging memory. give it some time, i'm guessing that several runs are needed to optimize. this app is saving my ass. i needed to free ram for matlab. it works!!! i don't know why CNET didn't see any differences. some apps just can't be memory reduced, but also maybe they just didn't use the app correctly. you have to uncheck that box "do not optimize..." otherwise nothing happens.
Works perfectly well; CNET's review should be updated!
yannlhJanuary 16, 2011
Pros
I love the ability to decide what process to optimize and the spectacular results. This small tool enables me to use my old laptop ... still!
Cons
None really.
Summary
Brilliant! Especially good with Firefox.
crisocoOctober 15, 2010
Pros
I have struggled for years to prevent Firefox from grinding to a halt with a rising virtual memory. Now, Minimem has Firefox CPU and Virtual Memory back in control.
Cons
Nothing whatsoever to dislike about this program..
Summary
My physical RAM usage before using Minimem was between 70% and 100%. Now with Minimem installed RAM usage has dropped to 55% to 75%. I have searched the internet for a solution to the problem of rising unrecovered Virtual Memory in Firefox or more commonly referred to as memory leak but apparently this is impossible to recover. The more Firefox is left with more and more tabs opened this memory can rise from 75kb to well over over 500kb. If you have limited spare memory like I have then Firefox's unrecovered memory loss can build up to such an extent that when another process (or several processes) like Norton's ccsvchst.exe kick in with the computer at near the maximum memory usage this is enough to freeze Firefox. Now with Minimem in control I can safely allow the memory usage of Firefox to creep upwards of 220mb without a hint of trouble and the computer still ticking away with 375mb of spare memory. Also the response of Firefox has greatly improved. I do not think that the CNET Editors' review is a fair review. I think this type of test needs to be carried out on systems already struggling with memory issues to give it a fair trial. Just look at the users review of Minimem! I previously tried RAMBooster with a RAM saving setting of only 200mb but that removed all my desktop and taskbar and that program had a good review by CNET, so it proves that Minimem can be highly effective where other programs fail. In my experience RAM used by opening Firefox tabs and windows cannot recovered except by restarting Firefox. My Windows XP computer has 1GB of memory installed and I have seen considerable memory regain and higher performance. I would without doubt highly recommend this little gem to anyone with memory issues, especially those suffering with poor performance when using processes like ccsvchst.exe from Norton Internet Security 2010 combined with memory leaks and unrecovered memory from Firefox 3.6.10. For your information I have 35 processes over 4mb monitored by Minimem every 10 seconds. I also monitor the foreground process. There is a slight delay when loading a minimised Firefox process back from the Page File but this is a small price to pay for the overall benefit.

Developer’s Description

Reduce the memory footprint of user-selected processes.

Initially developed for Firefox only, Minimem now can reduce the memory footprint of any application. It runs in the background and can be set up to optimize as many processes as you'd like, using a very intuitive graphical interface. Unlike other memory optimization tools, it gives you full control over what applications you want to optimize, when, and how often.