Limiting steamwebhelper to reclaim memory on PC

[Majestic Turtle]

There are a few topics about reducing the memory and CPU by the web browser process, and hacks should not be used. The correct way is to use the switch that is built into the process. Details found on this page: https://www.teamfortress.tv/47977/fps-boost-by-disabling-steamwebhelper

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steam.exe" -console -no-browser

I duplicated and renamed the shortcut found in "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Steam.lnk", so I now had "Steam No Browser.lnk"

Then I copied my new shortcut to my Startup folder (C:\Users\User\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup). I set the Steam setting for "Run Steam when my computer starts" to false since I created my own Startup icon.

I reduced my Steam RAM use by around 200-300MB using this trick. Steam Big Picture streamed to my NVidia Shield seems to actually launch much faster.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

I never had all the processes take up more than 300MB in the first place.

The nobrowser command disables the overlay.

[Majestic Turtle]

Depends on what webpage it loads or if you access anything web related, how much RAM it used. I'd rather just disable it all together unless I want it. Using this trick makes going back to default simple, and you are not modifying any files "owned" by Steam and its updater.

[Tharon]

cSg|mc-Hotsauce eredeti hozzászólása:

I never had all the processes take up more than 300MB in the first place.

The nobrowser command disables the overlay.

:qr:

Not true.
The -no-browser command don't disables the overlay, only the web browser in the overlay. All the other function of the overlay works.

Anyway, the command will probably (almost sure) scrapped when the new library update will go live, because Steam will be totally rendered with HTML.

[vlastovka]

Tharon eredeti hozzászólása:

cSg|mc-Hotsauce eredeti hozzászólása:

I never had all the processes take up more than 300MB in the first place.

The nobrowser command disables the overlay.

:qr:

Not true.
The -no-browser command don't disables the overlay, only the web browser in the overlay. All the other function of the overlay works.

Anyway, the command will probably (almost sure) scrapped when the new library update will go live, because Steam will be totally rendered with HTML.

Not true either. Unfortunately friends and chat does not work with -no-browser :( I tried to use it for a short while to reduce memory requirements.
These are sad times, 8 GB RAM is not enough to play games, when 5 GB or more is consumed by Windows, web browser and Steam. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Chrome/Chromium everywhere - in Steam, possibly web browser, Skype, Tidal...

[Jerry]

vlastovka eredeti hozzászólása:

These are sad times, 8 GB RAM is not enough to play games, when 5 GB or more is consumed by Windows, web browser and Steam. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Chrome/Chromium everywhere - in Steam, possibly web browser, Skype, Tidal...

Windows 10, huh? I've heard pretty often, that's a powerhungry beast. Maybe switch to a version with lower demands? I'm still doing fine with 4 GB Ram on 8.1.

[vlastovka]

No, I use Windows 7. It is the drivers, resident apps. Firefox itself uses from 2 - 3.5 GB RAM...
I suppose you have 32-bit Windows? 64-bit are much more memory hungry.

[Reaper]

vlastovka eredeti hozzászólása:

Tharon eredeti hozzászólása:

Not true.
The -no-browser command don't disables the overlay, only the web browser in the overlay. All the other function of the overlay works.

Anyway, the command will probably (almost sure) scrapped when the new library update will go live, because Steam will be totally rendered with HTML.

Not true either. Unfortunately friends and chat does not work with -no-browser :( I tried to use it for a short while to reduce memory requirements.
These are sad times, 8 GB RAM is not enough to play games, when 5 GB or more is consumed by Windows, web browser and Steam. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Chrome/Chromium everywhere - in Steam, possibly web browser, Skype, Tidal...

If you're using 5 GB just to run windows, steam, and chrome, you have a very poorly maintained PC. Steam open right now on my PC is using 300MB. Even windows, chrome, and every other running app on my PC right now only puts me at 4GB total.

vlastovka eredeti hozzászólása:

No, I use Windows 7. It is the drivers, resident apps. Firefox itself uses from 2 - 3.5 GB RAM...
I suppose you have 32-bit Windows? 64-bit are much more memory hungry.

There's no way in hell firefox is using that much RAM unless you're doing something super ridiculous with it. I just opened 30 tabs to check and I can't even push my browser past 1GB.

Jerry eredeti hozzászólása:

vlastovka eredeti hozzászólása:

These are sad times, 8 GB RAM is not enough to play games, when 5 GB or more is consumed by Windows, web browser and Steam. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Chrome/Chromium everywhere - in Steam, possibly web browser, Skype, Tidal...

Windows 10, huh? I've heard pretty often, that's a powerhungry beast. Maybe switch to a version with lower demands? I'm still doing fine with 4 GB Ram on 8.1.

A quick check of your library shows you play almost exclusively low demand indie games. 4GB isn't "fine" for pretty much anyone else if they play any sort of AAA or multiplayer game.

[vlastovka]

Jerry eredeti hozzászólása:

A quick check of your library shows you play almost exclusively low demand indie games.

Hahaha, that is a good one :D
A few weeks ago I played Borderlands 1 a lot, I play Dirt Rally regularly. Definitely an indie game...

[Reaper]

vlastovka eredeti hozzászólása:

Jerry eredeti hozzászólása:

A quick check of your library shows you play almost exclusively low demand indie games.

Hahaha, that is a good one :D
A few weeks ago I played Borderlands 1 a lot, I play Dirt Rally regularly. Definitely an indie game...

that part wasn't directed at you, it was to Jerry. The other part is still true though. There's no way you're using 3GB for a web browser unless you're doing something super aggressive with it and especially no way you're using 5GB to run windows and a few apps. I opened 30 chrome tabs, steam, discord, a couple anti virus programs, some OC tweakers, and yet I still only get 4GB usage. If you're getting 5GB from being idle, you've got other problems than steam

[Silicon Vampire]

Firefox using that much memory

Malware infested would be my first guess

[vlastovka]

FeaR_TH3_Reap3R eredeti hozzászólása:

that part wasn't directed at you, it was to Jerry.

My apologies then.

FeaR_TH3_Reap3R eredeti hozzászólása:

The other part is still true though. There's no way you're using 3GB for a web browser unless you're doing something super aggressive with it and especially no way you're using 5GB to run windows and a few apps. I opened 30 chrome tabs, steam, discord, a couple anti virus programs, some OC tweakers, and yet I still only get 4GB usage. If you're getting 5GB from being idle, you've got other problems than steam

Thanks for trying to advise but believe me nobody knows my computer better than me, as I am a senior software developer. And it would be pointless to argue with an ordinary user.

[Reaper]

vlastovka eredeti hozzászólása:

FeaR_TH3_Reap3R eredeti hozzászólása:

that part wasn't directed at you, it was to Jerry.

My apologies then.

FeaR_TH3_Reap3R eredeti hozzászólása:

The other part is still true though. There's no way you're using 3GB for a web browser unless you're doing something super aggressive with it and especially no way you're using 5GB to run windows and a few apps. I opened 30 chrome tabs, steam, discord, a couple anti virus programs, some OC tweakers, and yet I still only get 4GB usage. If you're getting 5GB from being idle, you've got other problems than steam

Thanks for trying to advise but believe me nobody knows my computer better than me, as I am a senior software developer. And it would be pointless to argue with an ordinary user.

I feel sorry for anyone using software you made if you think you know PC's so well despite somehow burning 5GB with steam and a web browser. As the mod posted earlier, if you're using that much memory at idle, you've got problems since even 30 chrome browsers running at once doesn't even break 1gb. You either don't know what your ram is actually at or you don't realize you've got a problem and both those options are pretty sad for a supposed "senior developer"

[JamesF0790]

vlastovka eredeti hozzászólása:

Thanks for trying to advise but believe me nobody knows my computer better than me, as I am a senior software developer. And it would be pointless to argue with an ordinary user.

As a new software developer I'm curious as to two things. What language do you develop in? Also, what are your page file settings?

[vlastovka]

JamesF0790 eredeti hozzászólása:

As a new software developer I'm curious as to two things. What language do you develop in? Also, what are your page file settings?

Currently I develop in PHP. In past I used assembler for several Intel processors, C, C++.
Regarding page file, I see I have 16 MB on C: (a requirement for taking minidumps IIRC) and 1500-4096 MB on D:
I don't want to wear down my SSD by placing a swap file on it.

[JamesF0790]

Depending on the age of your SSD it's likely to fail long before the limited writes become a problem but fair enough. The 1500 to 4096 seems a bit small to me though. How much memory is in the system?