gistfile1.js

var MB = 1024 * 1024;
console.log('Initial rss: %d MB', ~~(process.memoryUsage().rss / MB));

(function() {
  (function() {
    var buffers = [];
    (function() {
      for (var i = 0; i < 5000; ++i) {
        var buf = new Buffer(65536);
        buffers.push(buf);
        for (var x = 0; x < 65536; ++x) buf[x] = 123;
      }
    })();
    buffers = null;
  })();

  console.log('After closure has completed, buffer array is unreachable, rss: %d MB', ~~(process.memoryUsage().rss / MB));
  gc();

  setTimeout(function() {
    gc();
    console.log('After two gc calls and 5 second delay, rss: %d MB', ~~(process.memoryUsage().rss / MB));
  }, 5000);
})();

/* output on node v0.6.14

Initial rss: 9 MB
After closure has completed, buffer array is unreachable, rss: 325 MB
After two gc calls and 5 second delay, rss: 135 MB

*/