Please suggest me an OS, too

[GreenGoulash]

I've recently acquired an old laptop (Compaq 6720s) that was destined for scrap, and now I need to choose an OS.
I'd prefer to stick with Linux Mint (which is what I use for my desktop). However I'm tempted to go for something more lightweight - I've had a quick look at Lubuntu 18.04, and having read this, will try Peppermint as well.

The laptop has 2 gb of RAM, and I don't really want to spend money on upgrading that to 4 gb. I have just ordered an SSD.

I will probably only use this computer for internet browsing, word processing, viewing photos, and listening to music. Nothing too demanding.

Should I stick with Linux Mint, or go for a lightweight distro?

[Moem]

Mod note:
This topic was split off from viewtopic.php?f=61&t=268419 to avoid confusion.

[DAMIEN1307]

hi GreenGoulash...whenever i need to install a really lightweight linux for someone with your specs, i do install peppermint 8 for them...its a dual xfce/lxde system that works nicely for those specs, and yes i still say this even though they gave me a lifetime ban from their forum...lol...DAMIEN

[michael louwe]

@ GreenGoulash, .......

.

.
You should stick with LM 17.3 Cinnamon 32bit(EOL in April 2019), if 64bit is too laggy. Try also LM 18.1 Cinnamon(EOL in April 2021) or the lighter-weight Mate or Xfce edition.

Compatible LTS Linux kernel for your old laptop should be 3.13 or 4.4. You can install and give kernel 4.15 LTS a try.

[Moem]

I'd take Mint 18.3 XFCE for a spin and see how it performs. The SSD should help a lot and 2GB should be enough. Still, if you're interested in trying Lubuntu and Peppermint, I can't see a good reason why you shouldn't. In the end it comes down to personal preference.

[Pepi]

I have found that Peppermint runs really well on some of my older (doggier) computers. 18.3 XFCE would run OK but Peppermint is faster

[Hoser Rob]

I'm not sure a lighter distro would make much difference with 2G RAM. Try the Mint Xfce edition.

For old hardware the gpu may be more of an issue, and using a light distro probably wouldn't make any difference there. Post the text output from the terminal of inxi -Fxz.

[151tom]

.

[KBD47]

I'd take Mint 18.3 XFCE for a spin and see how it performs. The SSD should help a lot and 2GB should be enough. Still, if you're interested in trying Lubuntu and Peppermint, I can't see a good reason why you shouldn't. In the end it comes down to personal preference.

This! I have a laptop with only 2gb of ram and it runs great on Mint Xfce 18.3 as Moem said, the SSD will speed it up. I don't think there is a big difference between Xfce and LXDE desktop regarding ram. The biggest difference is your browser. Use a good popup blocker to keep your browser from slowing down and you will be good to go. I suggest Ublock Origin.

[JerryF]

As I write this, I'm running 18.3 Xfce in a virtualbox.

1 GB RAM
2 CPU cores
64 MB video memory
LibreOffice Writer and Calc running
Firefox running
File Manager running

Code: Select all

inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: jerry-VirtualBox Kernel: 4.13.0-43-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
           Desktop: Xfce 4.12.3 (Gtk 2.24.28) Distro: Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia
Machine:   System: innotek product: VirtualBox v: 1.2
           Mobo: Oracle model: VirtualBox v: 1.2
           Bios: innotek v: VirtualBox date: 12/01/2006
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core i5-3470 (-MCP-) cache: 6144 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3) bmips: 12771
           clock speeds: max: 3192 MHz 1: 3192 MHz 2: 3192 MHz
Graphics:  Card: InnoTek Systemberatung VirtualBox Graphics Adapter
           bus-ID: 00:02.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1920x975@59.96hz
           GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on llvmpipe (LLVM 4.0, 256 bits)
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 17.0.7 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card Intel 82801AA AC'97 Audio Controller
           driver: snd_intel8x0 ports: d100 d200 bus-ID: 00:05.0
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.13.0-43-generic
Network:   Card: Intel 82540EM Gigabit Ethernet Controller
           driver: e1000 v: 7.3.21-k8-NAPI port: d010 bus-ID: 00:03.0
           IF: enp0s3 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 16.1GB (47.1% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: VBOX_HARDDISK size: 16.1GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 14G used: 6.2G (48%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2
           ID-2: swap-1 size: 1.02GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda1
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   None detected - is lm-sensors installed and configured?
Info:      Processes: 152 Uptime: 2 min Memory: 583.9/985.5MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481) inxi: 2.2.35

[majpooper]

I'd go for Lubuntu 18.04 uses very few resources and it's plain simple design gets the job done.

+1 lubuntu has always run well on some of the really ancient (10+ years) PCs and laptops I have installed it on.

[kukamuumuka]

LMDE Mate
https://www.linuxmint.com/download_lmde.php

[sleeper12]

I have found that Peppermint runs really well on some of my older (doggier) computers. 18.3 XFCE would run OK but Peppermint is faster

Problem with Peppermint 8 is it's PAE, some older pc's are non-PAE. Just a heads up.