Is 1.2GB RAM Usage Normal for Q4OS on an Old Laptop?

We should start with your laptop specs. Given that you’re on a 2GB system running Q4OS, it’s worth considering a 32-bit version, if you aren't already. If that's the case and you're still experiencing high RAM usage, there might be other issues at play. Just remember to check out BIOS settings, clean up your laptop, and maybe consider upgrading your RAM to 4GB if you want to switch to a 64-bit system.

You should also check how much of that 1.2GB is actually being used for caching. Sometimes, it seems like a lot is in use, but cache can be reclaimed quickly for other applications.

If you're looking to upgrade, DDR2 or DDR3 RAM is pretty affordable. You can typically find it for about 8 bucks without VAT.

It might be worth running a couple of applications to see how RAM usage changes. Keep in mind that Linux does some disk caching, which can make it look like RAM is being used up, but that memory is actually available for other tasks and can make your system quicker overall. If you're looking for something lighter, you could also consider trying a distro like Linux Lite.