Which Mint version will run best?

[PriMax77]

I have Intel Pentium 4 2,6ghz, 1GB RAM and ATI Radeon 9600 graphic card.

Which Mint version will run best (smooth and fast)? I have Mint 13 installed, but there is 1 sec lag on starting apps (especially web browsers), otherwise its running great.

[frsu]

You could try the new Mint 13 KDE as Live CD/USB to see if it is better/faster.

[Adelante]

The LM13 xfce RC runs very fast for me. Very stable, too.

[Monsta]

I have Mint 13 installed

Please specify your desktop environment too (Cinnamon/MATE/XFCE/KDE/other), we can't guess it

[animaguy]

I run LM13 Xfce

I listened to MintCast a podcast for Linux Mint and they complained about Xfce. The guy said he had an 8gb ram desktop.

Well I installed it on a 32-bit 1gb laptop Dell and my 64-bit 4gb laptop HP. I tried 32-git Cinnamon but it wouldn't install on the 1gb laptop. Could have been the iso but the md5um integrity checked out. I tried 64-bit Cinnamon in the 4gb laptop but it was klunky, slow and it overheated my HD. And when it did run I have to admit that I didn't like the application menu and didn't really care. It is fancy but whatever my HD ran hot. So I went back to Xfce. My observations? IT BOOTS AND RUNS SUPER FAST! I haven't the slightest clue what people are complaining about. I even loaded Cinerella a video program that I couldn't get to work on Xubuntu 12.04. I have had previous success with LM12 Xfce. LM13 w/Xfce takes about 120 seconds to boot up and that includes typing in the login password. I get wifi with it, I have an easy time installing stuff, the internet downloads fast. My HD doesn't overheat. Did I forget to mention, IT BOOTS AND RUNS SUPER FAST! Like I said, I haven't the slightest clue what people are complaining about.

I have the 32-bit & 64-bti LM13 w/Xfce isos saved on an external storage HD.

So for me, LM13 Xfce is the standard until at least April 2017.

[abnvolk]

I think Xfce will run best, because it is lightweight. You can try MATE too, it is the same as Gnome 2. You can also try Mint 12 LXDE, but it won't be supported for 5 years like Mint 13.

[PriMax77]

Im running Mint KDE, I tested Mint MATE. KDE is running faster. I will try xfce also.

[Monsta]

Im running Mint KDE, I tested Mint MATE. KDE is running faster. I will try xfce also.

KDE guys have done a nice job then
XFCE will probably be somewhat faster.

Actually, I remembered something regarding this:

there is 1 sec lag on starting apps (especially web browsers), otherwise its running great.

I'm using preload, an adaptive readahead daemon. It mostly helps when you run the same set of apps every day.
Try installing it (the package is also named preload) and see if the startup times change. This might take a few hours and a few reboots though - the daemon needs to get accustomed to your apps.

[PriMax77]

I tried KDE, GNOME and XFCE. Im staying on KDE

When I tried to install preload in terminal, I got these error message, after typing: ./configure

./configure
checking for a BSD-compatible install... /usr/bin/install -c
checking whether build environment is sane... yes
checking for a thread-safe mkdir -p... /bin/mkdir -p
checking for gawk... gawk
checking whether make sets $(MAKE)... yes
checking for style of include used by make... GNU
checking for gcc... gcc
checking for C compiler default output file name...
configure: error: in `/home/markux/Dokumenti/Preload':
configure: error: C compiler cannot create executables
See `config.log' for more details.

[abnvolk]

You build it from source?
It is in the repository

[nomko]

You could try the new Mint 13 KDE as Live CD/USB to see if it is better/faster.

The KDE desktop environment is a high-end desktop environment which includes a lot of eye-candy. For older computer such as owned by the topic starter it could be too heavy to run since all these eye-candy as well KDE uses system resources.

@PriMax77
The Intel pentium 4 cpu is a 32-bit cpu. So, at first place there's no alternative than using a 32-bit version of Mint. 1 GB RAM is, for normal use, the minimum. Not only does Mint uses system resources such as RAM, but also every program and application uses system resources. If possible, upgrading your RAM would increase your overall performances but then again, is it worth the investment.... (this is up to you).

Best is trying out a desktop environment such as LXDE or Xfce as others here suggested. If you keep using KDE, than you have to accept the lags due to lower system resources/RAM. KDE is a highend DE with a lot of eye-candy.

My opinion, LXDE is missing some options to become a grown up DE like Xfce. Mate is a good DE, easy and simple but it's a Gnome2 fork. Cinnamon is a nice DE, sort of Mate look-a-like based on Gnome3. But not my cup of tea due to some limitations and that weird hot corner stuff.... drag a window and let is loose...it will automatically expand over the whole screen which i really dislike. I dont want that, so no Cinnamon for me.

But than again, it's your own choice using KDE. The lag you will have to accpet and deal with it i think.

[PriMax77]

Nomko: thanks. I tried MATE, KDE and XFCE. I ended up at KDE, because it suits me more. I just have to live with some lag But there wasnt big difference between DE regarding app lag. I think it is because of my old ATI Radeon 9600 graphic card.

Thanks everyone for hints

[nomko]

I think it is because of my old ATI Radeon 9600 graphic card.

You mean this card:???
WOW......didn't know it was still in use. Had a great time using that card. In those days this card was way ahead on Nvidia.

Okay, now i understand the lag. simply a shortcomming of the videocard.

[PriMax77]

I think it is because of my old ATI Radeon 9600 graphic card.

You mean this card:???
WOW......didn't know it was still in use. Had a great time using that card. In those days this card was way ahead on Nvidia.

Okay, now i understand the lag. simply a shortcomming of the videocard.

YEEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHHH

[RytronII]

I think Xfce will run best, because it is lightweight. You can try MATE too, it is the same as Gnome 2. You can also try Mint 12 LXDE, but it won't be supported for 5 years like Mint 13.

+1 Xfce.