I have an older desktop with an Intel i3-540, 4 GB of DDR3 RAM, and a Radeon HD 5450. I plan to use it mainly for web browsing, editing documents, and scanning and printing with an HP Deskjet 4645. I like KDE Plasma, but I suspect it may be too demanding for this hardware. What lightweight distribution and desktop environment would you recommend?
5 Answers
Linux Mint with Xfce would be a solid starting point. Bodhi Linux is another lightweight option that should run comfortably on those specifications.
MX Linux with Xfce is worth trying. It’s lightweight without being too bare-bones, and it should handle office work, browsing, and common printer or scanner setups. MX also offers KDE, but Xfce will be a better fit for this hardware. If you can upgrade to 8 GB of RAM cheaply, browsing with several tabs open will be more comfortable.
MX Linux with Xfce worked surprisingly well for me on an old Atom-based netbook, so it should be a good match here.
That sounds promising. I’m keeping this PC as a spare, so I’d rather use a lightweight free distribution than upgrade it.
Lubuntu, which uses LXQt, is another straightforward choice. Xfce and LXQt are both much lighter than KDE Plasma while still providing a normal desktop environment. You could also test several options from a live USB before installing.
Lubuntu is going on my shortlist. I’ll probably compare it with MX Linux first.
If you want something extremely light, antiX or Q4OS with the Trinity desktop are options. They use fewer resources than a full desktop environment, but MX Linux Xfce or Linux Mint Xfce would be easier recommendations for a first install and should still feel responsive.
You don’t necessarily have to give up KDE Plasma, since it can run on that hardware, but Xfce or LXQt will leave more memory available for the browser. Browsing is likely to be the most demanding task, especially with multiple tabs, so 4 GB will be usable but limiting. Most mainstream distributions should support the HP printer and scanner, though checking the device support before installing is sensible.
Thanks for the suggestions. Bodhi Linux is new to me, so I’ll look into it.