What distros can I use with my machine? Legacy Build

I have just revamped an old box I found in my closet, I think its from around 2004 and I have cleaned the case out and reset the CMOS. I have an 80GB HDD, Intel Sempron CPU and 768MB of RAM (512 stick and 256 stick).
This system was a custom build back when it was being used. It used to run WinXP. I kind of want to use it as a media server or something. Kinda like VortexBox, but I'm not sure, maybe even a web server or a proxy server. If there is a distro out there or another way you guys think I could use this box, I would be happy to know!!
Thanks!

Mythubuntu looks like a possibility if you want a media server, or it would be plenty powerful enough to run a Debian-based web server.

Thank you! I will look into that!

Originally Posted by FlexBuffChest92 I have an 80GB HDD, Intel Sempron CPU and 768MB of RAM (512 stick and 256 stick).

AMD Sempron. Intel never made Sempron branded CPUs.

Depending on what other hardware you have, mainly video card, you might be able to use it to play video. If you have a nVidia 8XXX GPU, or a free PCIe slot, it should play up to 1080p with VDPAU. If its something smaller, like a nVidia 7XXX or earlier, or intel video, you might be limited to XvID AVIs and other small screensize formats.

If you want to use it to serve files, the hardware wont matter much. You just need a network and some seting up (not that it would be worth it for 80GB)

I actually found an old box I had and took the drive out so now I have 120GB still not much but it's something I was thinking of just making it a gentoo box or something to screw around with. I honestly have no idea. I don't think this thing could handle 1080p it seems like it would explode or have the computer equivalent to an aneurism. Since I put that other drive in I have had some issues like one is IDE and one is SATA. So when I go to try and install an OS I can't use both drives because one is /dev/sda and the other is /dev/sdb. Is there a way to use one for just the main install files and put my /home, /var, /usr, etc... on the other drive?

I would load linux mint 11 onto your machine, download it at "old-releases.linuxmint.com"
73
wayne387

Originally Posted by FlexBuffChest92 I don't think this thing could handle 1080p it seems like it would explode or have the computer equivalent to an aneurism.

If its got hardware video decoding, or you can install a video card with hardware video decoding, it should do 1080p no problem.

I can play 1080p on a AMD Athlon 64 3000+/1GB/nVidia 8400GS system easy.

Originally Posted by FlexBuffChest92 So when I go to try and install an OS I can't use both drives because one is /dev/sda and the other is /dev/sdb. Is there a way to use one for just the main install files and put my /home, /var, /usr, etc... on the other drive?

Ummm..you can use 2 drives.

I dont know why you would want /home /var /usr on a differerent drive if your hunting for space. I'd just install to the 80GB IDE, and use the 120GB SATA fro data storage.

Originally Posted by wayne387 I would load linux mint 11 onto your machine, download it at "old-releases.linuxmint.com"

Mint 11 is end of life, out of support.

I dont know why you would suggest it, if FlexBuffChest92 just wants somewhere to store/serve files from, a GUI/desktop isnt needed, and for a command line 768MB + sempron is more than enough. Its more than enough for many current supported releases with a full desktop as well.

Slackware is always good for the purpose.

This computer has a Sempron, a 40GB HD, and 1152MB of RAM — no video card. It can't run Ubuntu and struggles a bit with KDE and Gnome, but otherwise it's fine. I'd suggest Mint (with Mate).

Ignore Wayne: do not use old, unsupported operating systems, whether Linux or Windows.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...-in-all-35750/

Originally Posted by jamison20000e http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...-in-all-35750/

In which way is this related to the OP's question?

@FlexBuffChest92: Any of the mainstream distributions will go, if you keep away the heavy DEs Gnome/KDE/Unity. But since you want to make it a server anyways just don't install a WM/DE and go CLI only. If you are curious and want to learn go for Arch, it has excellent documentation for any purpose, otherwise just use a distro you are familiar with.

Originally Posted by TobiSGD ...Any of the mainstream distributions will go...

You did not even have to read between the lines, only the links and parentheses.

I can run only Linux mint 11 because my computer is about 12 years old and will break mint 12
and all above, during shut down it will write to screen "broken pipe, unable to write to disk". Thats for linuxmint 12, 13, 14 inclusive. I know that 11 is past it's life span /not supported but I still run it.
73
wayne387

Trust me you can run more but run diagnostics like TobiSGD suggested.

Oops wrong thread: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...1/#post5046459