Hey everyone! Lately, I've been trying to run some software on my laptop, but it's struggling a bit. I want to set up two operating systems dedicated to running apps that need more processing power. I've heard that a single-tasking setup is the most efficient way to run an application without wasting resources on background processes. Am I understanding this right? Are there any Linux distros designed to run just one app (single-tasking, if I understand the term correctly) so I can maximize my laptop's processing power?
A little about my hardware: I've got a notebook with an Intel Celeron N4000, 4 GB of DDR4 RAM, and Intel UHD Graphics 600. The main app I'm focusing on is Blender, but I'm also interested in Source Filmmaker and Team Fortress 2. Also, if there are any distros like this, do they require extensive Linux knowledge? If yes, are there any friendlier alternatives?
1 Answer
It sounds like there’s a bit of confusion around the term ‘single-tasking’. Your dual-core processor with 4 threads is actually quite capable, and traditional multi-threading Linux distros like Mint with XFCE can help maximize your performance. Single-tasking OSes like DOS were common ages ago, but modern systems, including your setup, will perform better with a multi-threading setup, especially for applications like Blender that thrive on multiple cores. If you're looking for lightweight distros, go for something like Mint XFCE; they'll give you a break on resource usage while still allowing you to run multiple applications effectively. Plus, turning down the graphics settings in games like TF2 can help a lot!
Do you know which of these lightweight distros might be more user-friendly?