Microsoft New Chromium-Based Edge Browser Multi-Process Architecture Helps Reduce RAM and CPU Usage?

Microsoft Edge, the new web browser from the Windows 10 OS maker, is claimed to be much better than Google Chrome, particularly in terms of RAM and CPU usage. Microsoft has now revealed how its own web browser, despite being based on Google’s Chromium base, is able to work more efficiently.

Microsoft appears to be trying hard to improve the new Edge web browser. Moreover, the company is clearly trying to ensure its own browser is better than the Google Chrome web browser, which is currently the most used and preferred around the world. Microsoft has now revealed that the secret to better memory and CPU resource management lies in using a multi-process architecture.

Microsoft Edge Web Browser Relies On Multi-Process Architecture To Lower RAM And CPU Usage And Offer Better Security And Higher Reliability?

Google Chrome has long been reported to be a resource-hungry web browser. Incidentally, Google has made several improvements and tweaks not just to the Chrome web browser, but also to the underlying Chromium Base to ensure the browser works efficiently. However, Google Chrome is still considered one of the biggest memory hogs, especially on Windows 10 PCs.

Microsoft Edge web browser is based on the same Google Chromium base. However, Microsoft clearly wants to avoid its browser going in the same direction as that of Google Chrome and end up being labeled as a resource-hungry browser. In a rather long blog post, Microsoft has explained in detail, Microsoft Edge’s multi-process architecture. The company attempted to explain how Microsoft Edge optimizes the usage of system resources and described some major benefits of adopting multi-process architecture.

[Image Credit: Microsoft]
Essentially, the Microsoft Edge browser is split into different processes, but all the processes work together to give users a customized browsing experience. The primary processes that power the new Microsoft Edge web browser are the browser process, renderer processes, GPU process, utility processes, crashpad handler process, as well as plug-in processes and extension processes.

How Does Multi-Process Architecture Lower RAM, CPU Usage And Boost Security, Reliability Of Edge Browser?

It is not immediately clear how splitting the browser into multiple processes reduces RAM and CPU usage. However, the immediate difference will certainly be visible inside Task Manager in Windows 10. As there will be several processes, the Task Manager will surely report that Microsoft Edge Browser is not consuming a noticeably high amount of CPU and RAM resources. However, it is important that the browser should actually consume lower resources or have a smaller impact on the overall Windows 10 machine.

https://twitter.com/bowdowntocatto/status/1310869858779709443

Although the exact way in which relying on multi-process architecture can increase efficiency is a little hard to explain in simplified terms, the method certainly improves security and reliability. This is because the entire browser is never operating as a single platform. Instead, the browser is essentially split into several processes, and it becomes very difficult to compromise or attack all the processes at once. Moreover, if one process isn’t working correctly, it will not bring down the entire browser before it is rectified.

Apart from using the multi-process architecture, Microsoft is also reportedly working on reducing the amount of memory and CPU power the browser needs in other ways, noted Microsoft, “These solutions include providing websites and extensions developers with information to help them use fewer resources and helping users understand how their browsing habits can affect Microsoft Edge’s resource usage.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alap Naik Desai


A B.Tech Plastics (UDCT) and a Windows enthusiast. Optimizing the OS, exploring software, searching and deploying solutions to strange and weird issues is Alap's main interest.
Back to top button