WindowServer Discussion

[Tigeregit]

I've just bought a M4 Mac mini and considering 4k or 5k monitor should buy. But now I am confused with the WindowServer's theory.

In theory higher resolution will cause more RAM usage in WindowServer, So I went to Apple Store and checked how much RAM WindowServer would take on StudioDisplay(5k) and iMAC(~4k). But I found that it's so weird that No WindowServer task could found in iMac and Mac mini with StudioDisplay. So if I spend more money to buy an Apple StudioDisplay, I can get more usable RAM?

But it's just not make sense, no matter what display I connect, macOS still need to process with the windows and pixels. Why I can't find WindowServer when macOS work with all that 'Apple made Displays'? Is that RAM used by WindowServer can really be saved out if I used Apple's Displays? Anyone knows about it~

 

[Bigwaff]

You probably didn't select menu View > All Processes when reviewing Activity Monitor when at the Apple Store. The Window Server process is owned by "_windowserver", not the User, so it won't show up with Activity Monitor's default settings. I have 5K Studio Display and 2K Thunderbolt display connected and Window Server is using 3.66GB Memory w/ 1.12GB shared.

 

[Tigeregit]

You probably didn't select menu View > All Processes when reviewing Activity Monitor when at the Apple Store. The Window Server process is owned by "_windowserver", not the User, so it won't show up with Activity Monitor's default settings. I have 5K Studio Display and 2K Thunderbolt display connected and Window Server is using 3.66GB Memory w/ 1.12GB shared.

Thanks for replying. I will check it out when I go Apple Store next time.

 

[Tigeregit]

A reply for the RAM usage of different resolution Display. I've check it again at the Apple Store, the RAM usage of iMac(24'' M4) and Mac mini(M4) with StudioDisplay are as blow. No other applications are opening on both Macs, so this may can't react the actual use case, just for reference~