Suggestions for a Linux distro

[Deleted_171835]

I need some suggestions for a lightweight Linux distro to use on a spare computer.
Specs:

CPU: Intel Celeron 420 Processor
Chipset: Intel 945GC
RAM: 512MB 667MHz DDR2 dual-channel capable memory
HDD: 80GB SATA II (7200rpm, 8MB cache)
GFX: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950[/p]

 

[giantpune]

ive recently made the switch to kubuntu. its running great on my dinosaur laptop. if that one isnt lightweight enough, theres always xubuntu. and the best part is, you can run them from a liveCD first and see how they run before you install them.

 

[Quietlyawesome94]

If you just want to use it for lightweight web browsing and such. Puppy Linux might be a good choice for you. Heres is a web site where you can learn a bit more about it. http://puppylinux.org/main/Overview%20and%...g%20Started.htm

 

[JonthanD]

If you just want to use it for lightweight web browsing and such. Puppy Linux might be a good choice for you. Heres is a web site where you can learn a bit more about it. http://puppylinux.org/main/Overview%20and%...g%20Started.htm

This would be my vote too, I used to swear by Slitaz Linux and it is the most lightest fastest GUI Linux I know of but I think the development has been stalled for a long time. It's still great but I like the program manager and stuff in Puppy, worth the extra RAM and speed given up Puppy Linux is just a lot easier to use.

Edit: I spoke too soon out of curiosity I looked up Slitaz, they seemed to have picked up developing it again.

http://www.slitaz.org/en/

 

[Rydian]

I'd recommend Xubuntu, though even that would be a bit clunky on half a gig of RAM.

Puppy's too limiting as far as I'm concerned, even for standard web browsing.

Perhaps some form of Arch?

 

[Minox]

I'm going to recommend Arch. It may not be the easiest distro to start off with, but it's light, fast and very customisable to fit your different kinds of needs. I've always been more of a Windows person myself, but I've really grown to like Arch in situations where I have no need for Windows.

 

[Coto]

I'd say debian. Because of *.deb packages, which are always lifesaver in situations like apt-get update without internet. (yeah apt-cdrom ..)

You could start using any distro + XFCE4 graphic environment. Try doing small things like connecting to internet, upgrading packages, editing stuff, etc.

 

[Sausage Head]

ubuntu has deb support too iirc

 

[melkor42x]

zenix
connochaetos
Connocheatos distrowatch page

 

[Minox]

ubuntu has deb support too iirc

Ubuntu is based off Debian, that's why.

 

[JonthanD]

Puppy Linux is currently based off of Ubuntu but it is a lot lighter and honestly I like it a bit better then Ubuntu. If fact if you go into the option in the package manager you can set it to download right off the Ubuntu repositories.

I kind of miss the old Linux Mandrake has not been quite the same since they switched over to Mandriva.

 

[ferdi-t]

Xubuntu is indeed best known for being able to run off of low-end system.

That said: by looking at your specs I would say that you could easily run Ubuntu too: I have used that one on systems older than the one you're describing. Graphical effects are set to 'low' out of the box, and as long as you leave them there, it should be okay.

Oh, and feel free to experiment. The difference between the many versions of 'buntu is that they stack a number of features on top of a foundation which is the same across all versions. In practice this means that you can install multiple versions of them. You could start with Ubuntu, then install Xubuntu on top of that. You'll be given the choice between the two when you sign in, so you can experiment to find the one that suits your needs.

 

[kamins]

I would also suggest Arch and some light DE like Xfce or LXDE. I'm currently using Arch + Xfce4 on my 7 year old laptop and it just flies and has some eye candy too. If you're not afraid of some command line when first setting up your install an alternative is Lubuntu or Xubuntu.

 

[Frederica Bernkastel]

Depends on what you wanna do with linux.
If you want to learn how the system works, which I'm assuming you do, use Arch.

If you want a pretty little front end, for easy comprehension go with Ubuntu or something equally oversimplified.

 

[flo]

How about a very light distro for PS3 ? ( cELL - Power PC CPU )

 

[pistone]

well it all depend on your needs
i have just to say you should try
1.for its awesome features and software centre !!!
2.mint,a spin off ubuntu but with the look of windows
you can easy try ubuntu as a demo from a cd .but i dont know about

if you want awesome boot speed and internet try google chorme os they say its awesome but has low compatibility with the hardware

and for some light weight ubuntus spin off try
lubuntu , kubuntu

but you should also try puppy linux as its small not > than 150mb and can run from a usb

 

[Deleted_171835]

I guess I'll try out Arch.

Thanks everyone!

 

[The Catboy]

I use Linux Fedora myself. I have tried Arch, Ubuntu, and several others, but I find Fedora sticks out the most out of all of them.

 

[CrimzonEyed]

The lightest Linux distro of them all is Puppy Linux

http://www.brighthub.com/computing/linux/articles/43541.aspx

An article about 3 different light linux distro with pros and cons.

 

[Mazor]

The lightest Linux distro of them all is Puppy Linux

lolno, it's not even close to being the lightest. Pretty much any distro that doesn't come prepackaged with lots of unneeded packages is lighter. Arch is an example of one, and OP already seems to have opted for it. Don't try to convince him that something you happened to read in some random article is more true than what the users here have said without doing at least 3 seconds of research first.