I just installed Linux Mint XFCE on my old family desktop, which has an Intel Pentium 4 processor and about 2GB of RAM. I think I went with the dual boot option since I'm still not ready to ditch Windows 7 completely (my sibling would freak out!). However, I'm a bit frustrated with how slow it's running and I'd love to dive deeper into using the terminal instead of relying entirely on GUI. I want to get more hands-on with the OS. Can anyone give me advice on speeding up my PC with hardware changes? Also, I'd like suggestions for lighter Linux distros and some terminal tips to help me grow my skills. Thanks a lot!
5 Answers
You're definitely on the right track wanting to dive into the terminal! For your system's speed, I recommend upgrading your RAM if you can. More memory will help your system handle tasks better. Also, consider disabling any unnecessary startup applications and services. Those can really bog down older machines.
Honestly, your Pentium 4 is quite old! An SSD can be a game changer for speed, even if you keep the old hardware. As for Mint, don't let it hold you back! Dive into the terminal for tasks you usually do in the GUI. Learning to use TUI browsers like w3m or Lynx can help you with that too!
If you're looking for a lighter distro, give Debian with LXQt or Openbox a shot. They really cut down on resource use. Plus, once you're comfortable, you could even try compiling your own kernel—it's a great learning experience!
Try to replace your HDD with an SSD if possible! It'll give you a significant boost in speed, especially for boot times and loading applications. Definitely a great upgrade for an older system!
You might want to consider options like Bodhi Linux. It's designed for low-resource machines and requires only 512MB of RAM for basic use. That could provide a smoother experience on your setup!
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