The 10 Best Linux Distros for Older Computers | Linux China

Takeaway: We highlight 10 lightweight Linux distros that are the best for older PCs in 2022. We’ll tell you what they’re all about and why they’re perfect for resurrecting old hardware.

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Translations: 95.0 articles | Contributions: 1234 days

2018-12-03 -> 2022-04-19

We highlight 10 lightweight Linux distros that are the best for older PCs in 2022. We’ll tell you what they’re all about and why they’re perfect for resurrecting old hardware.

We don’t think you should throw away any hardware, especially the PC and its accessories. In an ideal world, well-designed software will always run on arbitrary hardware. There are plenty of Linux distributions designed specifically for older hardware and PCs 🔗 www.debugpoint.com . And you can quickly revive them with the help of these Linux operating systems. In this article, we highlight 10 such Linux distros that are lightweight, older hardware-friendly Linux distros for 2022.

10 Lightweight Linux Distros for 2022

1、Linux Lite

Our first lightweight Linux distribution on this 2022 list is Linux Lite. Linux Lite is a continuously developing and improving Linux distribution based on Ubuntu and Debian. This ten-year-old Linux distribution is perfect for your old hardware that needs a well-designed distribution that works. The development team uses this release as an ideal starting point for users whose hardware is no longer supported by Windows. The main advantage of this distro is the good customization and the great looking Xfce desktop, based on Ubuntu, with the latest kernel, and of course it comes with a 32-bit ISO image.

Linux Lite

Features:

◈ Based on Ubuntu

◈ Customized Xfce desktop environment

◈ Native Apps

◈ Support 32-bit

◈ Active development

◈ Minimum system requirement 1 GB RAM

> > Download Linux Lite 🔗 www.linuxliteos.com > > >

Download Linux Lite 🔗 www.linuxliteos.com

2、Puppy Linux

The second important distribution on this list is Puppy Linux. Puppy Linux is slightly different from traditional distributions. It is designed to run in memory and does not need to be installed on a physical machine system. If configured properly, you can save sessions, plus it will continue to work just fine even if you remove the bootable media.

Puppy Linux – one of the best lightweight Linux Distribution in 2022

This Linux distribution is binary compatible with the LTS release of Ubuntu; its latest release is based on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. Because Ubuntu dropped 32-bit support, its latest version dropped 32-bit support too.

Puppy Linux is great for older computers, netbooks, and machines with less than 1GB of RAM. At its core, runs the super-fast JWM (Jow’s Window Manager). The Puppy package manager supports .deb , .rpm and their native PET packages.

Overall, it’s a flawless, well-designed Linux distribution that’s unquestionably suitable for older hardware.

Features:

◈ Based on Ubuntu LTS version

◈ Can run on low-end netbooks

◈ Runs directly in memory even after removing the bootable media

◈ Unique Package Manager – Puppy Package Manager

◈ JWM Window Manager

> > Download Puppy Linux 🔗 puppylinux.com > > >

Download Puppy Linux 🔗 puppylinux.com

3、BunsenLabs Linux

The third lightweight Linux distribution on this list is BunsenLabs Linux, the successor to the Crunchbang project. Based on the Debian stable branch, BunsenLabs Linux brings modern applications to your low-end systems. This distribution provides a 32-bit version of the image for low-end hardware, and a standard 64-bit version of the image for your regular hardware. At its core, BunsenLabds is powered by a preconfigured OpenBox window manager with a stunning tint2 panel, preconfigured Conky and jgmenu.

BunsenLabs Linux

It’s a well-designed, super fast, stable, and good-looking distro for older hardware.

Features:

◈ Based on Debian stable branch

◈ Openbox window manager with tint2 panel, Conky and jgmenu

◈ Provides 32-bit installer

◈ Help and support can be obtained through the official forum

> > Download BunsenLabs Linux 🔗 www.bunsenlabs.org > > >

Download BunsenLabs Linux 🔗 www.bunsenlabs.org

4、Lubuntu

Lubuntu is a well-known lightweight Linux distribution. It is an official Ubuntu Linux derivative that features the lightweight LxQt desktop environment. While Lubuntu gives you modern Ubuntu Linux packages and technologies, it also provides the LxQt desktop environment for your low-end hardware. Although it may require some more system resources than the other distributions on this list, it is still a suitable Linux distribution for older hardware.

Lubuntu

If you need a moderate Linux distribution that is stable and works out of the box, go for Lubuntu.

> > Download Lubuntu 🔗 lubuntu.me > > >

Download Lubuntu 🔗 lubuntu.me

5、Absolute Linux

The fifth lightweight Linux distribution is Absolute Linux, which is based on Slackware Linux. This distribution packs all the daily needed applications in its installer image so that you can get a distribution that works out of the box. Absolute Linux features the IceWM and ROX desktop environments, which give you extreme speed when using them on older hardware. It doesn’t use systemd, which gives it more advantages than other distributions.

Absolute Linux

Features:

◈ Based on Slackware

◈ Not using systemd

◈ Packaged the necessary packages

◈ IceWM desktop environment, Slapt-get package manager

> > Download Absolute Linux 🔗 www.absolutelinux.org > > >

Download Absolute Linux 🔗 www.absolutelinux.org

6、antiX Linux

Another lightweight Linux distribution that we would like to highlight is antiX Linux. antiX Linux is based on the Debian stable branch and brings some attractive features. At its core, it uses IceWM, Fluxbox and ROX desktop environments to give you an excellent and fast desktop experience. It doesn’t use systemd at all, but instead uses the sysVinit and runit systems. antiX Linux also provides you with a 32-bit installer and four variants – full, core, basic, and web to suit different practical use cases.

antiX Linux

Features:

◈ Based on Debian stable branch

◈ 32-bit installer

◈ Not using systemd

◈ Featured versions of IceWM and other window manager derivatives

> > Download antiX Linux 🔗 antixlinux.com > > >

Download antiX Linux 🔗 antixlinux.com

7、LXLE

LXLE Linux is a variant of Lubuntu LTS that uses the LXDE desktop environment instead of the LXQt desktop environment. Its selection of applications, installers, and other features make it a perfect distribution for older hardware. Based on the stable Ubuntu LTS release, it is ideal for revitalizing your legacy system with the fast LXDE desktop environment.

LXLE Linux

However, in my personal opinion, I feel that LXQt is slightly faster than LXDE. Well, this feedback can vary from person to person, and it might be different for you. Today, not many Linux distributions offer you a derivative of the LXDE desktop environment. So for everyday use, it could be a unique lightweight Linux distribution.

> > Download LXLE 🔗 www.lxle.net > > >

Download LXLE 🔗 www.lxle.net

8、Porter Linux

Porteus Linux is a remake of Slackware Linux, featuring the old KDE 4.0+ desktop environment (pre-KDE Plasma series). This blazing fast Linux distro is perfect for your vintage hardware as it’s based on state-of-the-art Slackware and offers you a 32-bit version. This distro can be run from a live USB/CD or any bootable media, and the installer is only 300 MB in size.

If you like old KDE (like me!) and the simplicity of Slackware, this will be the perfect distro for you, even for your new hardware.

Porteus Linux

> > Download Porteus Linux 🔗 www.porteus.org > > >

Download Porteus Linux 🔗 www.porteus.org

9、Q4OS

Q4OS is a unique Linux distribution on this list. It targets older Windows systems that are now outdated. There were many older PCs that used to run Windows XP and Windows 7, and they no longer run Windows and some modern Linux distributions well because modern operating systems require more computing power and resources.

For these real-world use cases, Q4OS gives you a well-designed Linux distribution that comes with a 32-bit installer, Windows installer, Trinity desktop environment, and pre-made Windows themes.

Q4OS

> > Download Q4OS 🔗 q4os.org > > >

Download Q4OS 🔗 q4os.org

10、MX Linux

The last Linux distribution on this list is the well-known MX Linux, which has made a name for itself in this day and age with its features and uniqueness. However, I doubt whether MX Linux should be listed as lightweight. Because in my opinion, if you consider its KDE Plasma derivative, it should be a moderately heavy Linux distribution.

MX Linux

Anyway, it has some features that make it a perfect candidate for a lightweight Linux distribution. MX Linux is based on the Debian stable branch and was created with antiX components. It features its own MX Linux native application for more workflows. You can use KDE Plasma, Xfce and Fluxbox as desktop environments.

> > Download MX Linux 🔗 mxlinux.org > > >

Download MX Linux 🔗 mxlinux.org

Summarize

If you look closely, most of the lightweight Linux distributions we’ve listed here are based on Debian Linux. It’s a true “universal operating system”. Modern Linux desktop environments, like GNOME 40+, KDE Plasma, and the Systemd init system, are no longer compatible with older hardware. Additionally, as technology advances, more software complexity is introduced, requiring higher-end hardware.

Nonetheless, I hope you can find some inspiration from this list for choosing a lightweight Linux distribution for your old laptop or PC. Each distro offers a different experience, but all share the same goal: to bring your old hardware back to life. So, let you pick and choose.

Thanks for reading, please leave your comments. Even saying “thank you” is fine if this helps you.

Copyright of some image files: respective Linux distributions

via: https://www.debugpoint.com/2022/03/lightweight-linux-distributions-2022/

Author: Arindam Topic: lujun9972 Translator: robsean Proofreading: wxy

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