I recently installed Linux Mint with the XFCE desktop environment on my old family computer. The specs are a bit outdated: it's got an Intel Pentium 4 CPU running at 3.20GHz, around 2GB of RAM, and a 298GB hard drive. I chose to dual boot with Windows 7 because I don't want to deal with my sibling's complaints. I've had Mint on here for about a month, but I'm feeling a bit unsatisfied. It runs somewhat slow, and I'm not sure how to troubleshoot it myself. While Linux Mint is very user-friendly, I find myself wanting to dive more into using the terminal instead of the GUI, but I lack the necessary commands and knowledge. I'm eager to learn and would appreciate any advice on how to speed up my PC, potential better distros to try, and tips for using the terminal!
3 Answers
Your Pentium 4 setup is quite dated, so keep in mind that it may not run as fast as you'd like. Consider installing an SSD instead of your HDD for a noticeable speed boost. Also, if you haven't done so in a while, replacing the thermal paste can improve performance by cooling your CPU better, potentially preventing it from throttling.
Have you thought about switching to Debian with the LXQt or Openbox desktop? They’re lightweight and would be easier on your system's resources. Plus, you could even compile your own kernel if you want to learn more about Linux. It can be a really rewarding experience!
Considering your system's specs, I really recommend looking into upgrading your RAM if possible. More RAM can significantly help with performance. Additionally, try disabling any services you don't use and limit startup applications to optimize the system further. It might help performance-wise!
Yeah, an SSD upgrade would be one of the best upgrades you could do! You'd notice a big difference in boot time and overall system speed.