I'm new to Linux and have been experimenting with different distributions like Mint and Zorin on various hardware, from an old Chromebook to a gaming laptop with an 11th gen i7 and RTX 4060. I've noticed that while there are many "light" distributions out there, they mainly focus on RAM and storage usage. My real issue is with CPU load, as my Chromebook has a Celeron processor that often gets maxed out. I understand that CPU load depends on the application, but is there a resource that ranks distros and applications based on their CPU usage? For instance, if Chrome uses more CPU than Firefox, it would be great to have a source to check which apps are less demanding. I'm mainly using this Chromebook to stream YouTube music and browse for service manuals, but I'm really pushing the limits of this 10-year-old device. Any advice would be appreciated!
5 Answers
You might want to give XFCE a shot; it's pretty user-friendly and perfect for older machines.
Most CPU load comes from the applications you're using. If you're looking for lightweight distros, consider trying some ultralight options like AntiX, Bodhi, or Q4OS, but don't expect miracles. Also, modern browsers can be heavy on resources, so stick to light-weight alternatives whenever you can. For example, keep your browser tabs to a minimum—around 3 or 4 should be manageable even on older hardware.
Check out Linux Lite if you're struggling with resource-intensive applications. It's really optimized for older computers and performs quite well!
For users with limited CPU power, Puppy Linux and AntiX are great options too! As for browsers, try lighter ones like Pale Moon or Dillo. You could also look into the [MrChromebox](https://docs.mrchromebox.tech/) documentation for more tips on lightweight distributions.
If you're focusing on keeping things lightweight, MX Linux, Xubuntu, or Bodhi Linux should serve you well. Also, using a lightweight browser like Falkon can really help.
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