While the idea that unused memory is wasted memory remains firm, we are convinced that the latest generation of browsers consumes more than it actually needs, and Google Chrome appears at the top of the list. In an attempt to fix this situation, Chrome version 45 will include specific optimizations whose RAM consumption improvements range between 10 and 25 percent.
Despite the fact that computers come equipped with an ever-increasing amount of RAM, I think it is very healthy to talk about consumption by operating systems, browsers, and other general applications. The fact that a resource is available does not mean it is valid to waste it with poor programming, and to this detail we must add the always-present bugs that cause leaks. In the case of web browsers, I said it a few days ago, and I have no problem repeating it. We are facing one of the worst generations, and the problems are not limited to performance, but also extend to security and privacy.
Returning to RAM consumption, what Google Chrome does is so evident that memes have even been created. Fortunately, Google decided to pick up the gauntlet, and changes are expected in Google Chrome 45. The official blog explains that the first modification will be in the method Chrome uses to restore tabs. When continuing sessions, the browser will prioritize the most viewed tabs, leaving the least viewed for later, and if available resources are too low, Chrome will completely stop the restoration process. This should help those users who keep dozens of tabs open per session, but that's not all we will see in the new build. Google Chrome will be able to detect the moment a web page is not busy, and will activate a much more aggressive "garbage collection". It is estimated that the consumption improvements will range between 10 and 25 percent, depending on each site.
Finally, it is necessary to remember that Google Chrome will suspend the execution of non-essential Flash content. The minds at Mountain View indicated that this mechanism can save up to 15 percent of battery on certain systems. Now, lower memory consumption in Chrome 45 does not necessarily come by magic. If you study the video content closely, you will see that the browser places a little more pressure on the CPU, something reasonable given the new aggressive GC. Still, any test performed with a single tab in Incognito Mode doesn't help us much. It will be the opinion of users, with their real work environments and their preferred extensions, that determines whether the improvements work or not. Thinking about how to get Google Chrome 45? Don't worry: You should already be receiving it through an update.
