I have a Dell Inspiron 15 3511 running Windows 11 with 8GB of RAM. Even shortly after turning it on, memory usage is already around 60–70%. I notice several Dell and Intel background processes, and although each appears small, I'm wondering whether they add up. Is this normal, and what can I do to reduce memory usage? I'm open to simple settings changes or a more permanent solution.
4 Answers
8GB is fairly limiting for Windows 11, especially with a browser, email, and other apps open. If the laptop supports it, adding another 8GB stick is probably the most effective long-term improvement. Increasing the page file may help avoid crashes, but it will be much slower than having more physical RAM.
That level of usage can be normal for Windows 11. The system uses available RAM for caching and background services, then releases it when applications need more. The important thing is whether memory stays near 100% and causes slowdowns, freezing, or heavy paging.
If the laptop came with a lot of manufacturer utilities, a clean Windows 11 installation can remove unnecessary Dell software. That may reduce background activity, but it won’t change the fact that 8GB is a modest amount of RAM. A lightweight Linux distribution is another option if you’re comfortable changing operating systems.
Check Task Manager and sort the Processes list by Memory to see what is actually using the most. You can also open the Startup apps section and disable programs you don’t need launching automatically. Avoid disabling essential Windows, Intel graphics, touchpad, security, or hardware services just because they appear in the list.
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