Windows 7 feels like the most comfortable choice on my computer, but I'm worried about its security and the possibility of malware if I run into someone hostile while playing Team Fortress 2. I'd also like to get the best performance possible from my hardware. Would Q4OS be a good option, or should I consider another lightweight Linux distribution? My system has an Intel i7-2700K, a Quadro K620, and 8 GB of RAM.
3 Answers
Moving away from Windows 7 is a good idea because it no longer receives security updates. Linux won’t make you completely immune to malware, but using a supported distribution and installing software from trusted sources is much safer than relying on an obsolete Windows installation. Q4OS should work well on your system.
An i7-2700K, Quadro K620, and 8 GB of RAM are more than enough for Q4OS, so you aren’t limited to the absolute lightest distributions. You could also test antiX or MX Linux with Fluxbox, but Debian XFCE is probably the simplest balance of performance and usability.
Your hardware should run Q4OS easily. The Trinity desktop is especially lightweight, so it may feel responsive on an older system. Debian with XFCE would also be a solid choice if you want something lightweight but more conventional.
It’s an i7-2700K, so I should be fine with a modern 64-bit version. I’ll compare Q4OS and Debian XFCE first.