I've seen my swap file grow a couple hundred megabytes while dl'ing. Every hour or so 'garbage collection' comes around and the memory usage drops back down to a very reasonable size. I realize that this is most likely because of the automated memory allocation features of the java language, but memory demands that high should be avoided in the first place, and large blocks of allocated memory should be explicitly released, not simply allowed to eventually go out of scope.

Yeah me, too! I registered here just to see what was up with that.
I am running Limewire Pro 4.8.1 on Windows XP version 5.1.2600 with 497 mhz of ram, not that that matters too much, because it's not really my point.

My point is that Limewire PRO, keeps running at 48,000 k Memory Usage and up! Right now it's at 49,000 k and I have to close out every program but my antivirus (which takes up only 8000 k) to download without my computer freezing and irritating the helllllll outta me.

So WHAT'S UP WITH LIMEWIRE?
you'd think a Pro version wouldn't eat at my Memory

[edit] I also forgot to say, that's when the program is idle, too, when it's actually moving it stays around the same, sometimes worse [/edit]

LimeWire uses Java to operate. Java isn't known for being memory efficient.

You can use the forum search function, upper right between f.a.q. and home. You can search this topic, and find a lot of informative indormation.