Hi everyone! I'm switching to Linux for the first time and I've decided on Linux Mint, but I'm a bit confused about which version to choose. I saw there are multiple editions available, and I want to make sure I pick the right one for my laptop. Here are my specs:
- Windows 11 (64 bits)
- Intel Celeron N4020 @ 1.10GHz
- 4 GB RAM
- 110 GB storage
I'd like to play some games like Terraria, watch YouTube without constant lag, and maybe use Spotify while gaming (though that's not a dealbreaker). Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Let me know if you need more info. Thanks!
5 Answers
Honestly, XFCE is the best choice here. You want to save as much RAM and CPU power as possible, especially with only 4GB of RAM. Cinnamon might be too heavy for your system, but XFCE should run just fine for everything you want to do, even gaming.
I’d say stick with XFCE too. I have similar specs on my laptop and Mint with XFCE runs really smoothly. I've been able to play some lightweight games with no hassle! You should get good performance for YouTube and Spotify as well.
I agree with the XFCE crowd! It’s designed to be lightweight and efficient. If you were considering the differences between the main Mint version and LMDE, go for the main edition unless you specifically want the Debian base. Just make sure your laptop can handle the games you want to play — but XFCE should keep things running well!
For your setup, it makes total sense to go with the XFCE version. It’s less demanding on your system resources and should help you avoid lag. If you’re also considering different Mint editions, I’d suggest sticking to the main Mint edition for compatibility, unless you want to explore the Debian-based version, which could give you a more modern feel with the Cinnamon desktop.
If you’re looking for performance on those specs, I’d recommend the XFCE version. It’s much lighter on resources compared to Cinnamon and should help with your gameplay and streaming needs. The KDE version isn’t available in Mint, but even if it were, it might not run well on your hardware given the Celeron processor.
Exactly, XFCE is the way to go! You really want to avoid putting too much strain on your laptop.
Yeah, given your hardware, XFCE will definitely give you a smoother experience.
Awesome to hear! That gives me hope that it can handle some games.