ML: why is VM so big?

[Racineur]

OK, a newbie question...Activity Monitor shows VM at 227 gig. It's a huge VM don't you think?
iMac 27 2013 - 8 g RAM - 1 To Fusion Drive - ML 10.8.4

 

[prisstratton]

OK, a newbie question...Activity Monitor shows VM at 227 gig. It's a huge VM don't you think?
iMac 27 2013 - 8 g RAM - 1 To Fusion Drive - ML 10.8.4

Here are a few threads that might help explain or at least put your fears to rest:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1618816/

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1615131/

https://discussions.apple.com/message/9998292#9998292

Essentially the answer is, do not worry about it. The way I understand it is that the system is allocating that much VM based on the apps. you are using and their RAM requirements, but it does not mean that the system is actively using this amount of VM, it is more like "if we need it this is what we require".

 

[benwiggy]

I've had VMs bigger than my system volume for many years. It's not a ... "real" value that you need to worry about.