I'm looking to switch to Linux on my really old laptop that has an Intel HD 520 graphics card, 4GB of RAM, and no SSD. I've never tried Linux before, but I've heard it's faster than Windows, especially with the current issues Windows is facing. I want to know which Linux distribution would work best for my specs, as I plan to play some older or well-optimized games like Batman: Arkham, older Assassin's Creed titles, Minecraft (Bedrock Edition), and maybe RimWorld. I also intend to do regular daily tasks on it. By the way, I'm sorry if my English isn't great, and I'm not very familiar with posting on forums.
4 Answers
I'd recommend trying Lubuntu, especially version 24.04 or 25.10. It uses the LXQt desktop environment, which is light on resources and easy to navigate. Just keep in mind that while Lubuntu performs well on older machines, gaming performance might be limited, particularly with more demanding games, so you may need to adjust settings for best results.
AntiX is worth considering too. It's specifically designed for older hardware, so it should work well with your laptop.
Mint with XFCE is a great option too. It's user-friendly and lightweight, making it perfect for your laptop specs. You should be able to run most games, just maybe steer clear of the really demanding ones.
I've had good experiences with Mint XFCE. Just remember, you might need to lower the graphics settings on some games.
If your laptop was made around 2015 or later, it should be able to handle most Linux distros just fine. While 4GB of RAM is okay for Linux, keep multitasking light. You can try alternatives like MX Linux or even Debian-based options like LMDE for potentially snappier performance.
Yeah, Lubuntu is solid for lower-spec machines. Just make sure to check for compatibility with the games you want to play!