Troubleshooting Firefox always running multiple instances

[camo7782]

Describe the problem

memory peaks while Firefox is open

What have you tried?

disabling plug-ins

I have found that Firefox is draining a lot ofmemory running multiple instances. Even when I only have one single window/tab open there are multiple Firefox instances active:

Tried to figure it out if some were to be considered from plug-in but was unfortunate, is this a normal situation?

 

[Zartarra]

It is normal behavior: Firefox uses multiple processes.

You can open Firefox and type about : (without the spaces)performance in the address bar to get some more information about the running plug-ins.

 

[harlan4096]

Also in FireFox General settings -> Performance, You may change the number of FF instances...

 

[blackice]

Also in FireFox General settings -> Performance, You may change the number of FF instances...

How does that affect performance?

 

[harlan4096]

I'm not totally, sure it would be better to search info at Mozilla forums about this setting I never changed the recommended... but probably will affect to RAM consumption for sure...

 

[SeriousHoax]

Every browser uses multiple processes. Firefox actually uses less in that regard. All chromium based browsers uses separate processe for each tab and extension. This is for security purpose, sanboxing. Firefox will eventually do this too in the future.

 

[camo7782]

Also in FireFox General settings -> Performance, You may change the number of FF instances...

here is my situation, also I just finished removing ComodoFirewall and running BlachBit and seems it helped:

 

[Local Host]

Every browser uses multiple processes. Firefox actually uses less in that regard. All chromium based browsers uses separate processe for each tab and extension. This is for security purpose, sanboxing. Firefox will eventually do this too in the future.

He only has 1 tab open and 6 instances, while consuming 600MB of RAM. While I have 4 tabs open in Chrome, with 7 instances, while consuming 200MB of RAM.

The argument of Firefox consuming less RAM than Chrome instantly dies (considering one of the tabs is running a youtube video).

As the others state this is normal behaviour, nothing to troubleshoot here.

 

[SeriousHoax]

He only has 1 tab open and 6 instances, while consuming 600MB of RAM. While I have 4 tabs open in Chrome, with 7 instances, while consuming 200MB of RAM.

The argument of Firefox consuming less RAM than Chrome instantly dies (considering one of the tabs is running a youtube video).

As the others state this is normal behaviour, nothing to troubleshoot here.

I know about that. I wasn't talking about ram usage, I was talking about multiprocess and how Chrome and Firefox's technique is different from each other. I have 27 extensions enabled on my Firefox Beta and there's 20 more which are disabled. Even with no tabs at startup it's using 466mb of ram. Firefox's claim about less ram usage than Chrome is misleading. Firefox uses less ram when more than 20 tabs are open but I think rarely average people open 20 tabs at a time. So, Chrome uses less ram on average most of the time.
But I don't mind the ram usage. I have 8gb ram and that's more than enough for me. Ram are meant to be used. I don't do heavy multitasking so I'm not bothered by it.