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Best Linux Distributions for Older Computers

  If you have an old PC lying around or if you didn’t really need to upgrade your system – you can still try some of the best Linux distros ...

 

If you have an old PC lying around or if you didn’t really need to upgrade your system – you can still try some of the best Linux distros available.

We’ve already talked about some of the best lightweight Linux distributions in detail and top Linux distributions to support 32-bit computers. Here, we shall only mention what really stands out from that list (and some new additions).

Puppy Linux






Puppy Linux is literally one of the smallest distributions there is. When I started to explore Linux, my friend recommended me to experiment with Puppy Linux because it can run on older hardware configurations with ease.

It’s worth checking it out if you want a snappy experience on your good old PC. Over the years, the user experience has improved along with the addition of several new useful features.

Puppy Linux

Solus Budgie

Solus offers the best of both worlds with its Budgie desktop edition. It is an impressive lightweight desktop OS. You can opt for desktop environments like GNOME or MATE as well.

The Budgie desktop is its key offering with interesting GUI tweaks while offering a unique desktop experience.

Solus

Bodhi


Bodhi Linux is built on top of Ubuntu. However, unlike Ubuntu – it does run well on older configurations.

The main highlight of this distro is its Moksha Desktop (which is a continuation of Enlightenment 17 desktop). The user experience is intuitive and screaming fast. Even though it’s not something for my personal use—you should give it a try on your older systems.

Bodhi Linux

antiX



antiX – which is also partially responsible for MX Linux, is a lightweight Linux distribution tailored for old and new computers. The UI isn’t impressive—but it works as expected.

It is based on Debian and can be utilized as a live CD distribution without needing to install it. antiX also provides live bootloaders. In contrast to some other distros, you get to save the settings so that you don’t lose them with every reboot. Not just that, you can also save changes to the root directory with its “Live persistence” feature.

So, if you are looking for a live-USB distro to provide a snappy user experience on old hardware – antiX is the way to go.

antiX

Sparky Linux



Sparky Linux is based on Debian which turns out to be a perfect Linux distro for low-end systems. Along with a screaming fast experience, Sparky Linux offers several special editions (or varieties) for different users.

For example, it provides a stable release (with varieties) and rolling releases specific to a group of users. Sparky Linux GameOver edition is quite popular for gamers because it includes a number of pre-installed games. You can check out our list of best Linux Gaming distributions—if you also want to play games on your system.

Sparky Linux

Other Options

You can also try Linux LiteLubuntu, and Peppermint as some of the lightweight Linux distributions.



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