c2d q6600,gf9800,4gb ram,hdd

Main parameters for Linux distro - performance, responsive, fast boot.

I am try many distros, for best for me now its Fedora and OpenSUSE.

I want try more distros what you suggest?

PCLinuxOS Mate or Xfce desktop, LinuxMint Mate desktop, AntiX, SparkyLinux to name a few.

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MX Linux , Zorin , Linux Lite

With 4 GB RAM, just about any Linux distro should work okay.

I think that Mint is a nice piece of work. Currently I'm using day-to-day Mageia, Ubuntu MATE, and Debian Sid, all of them with the Fluxbox window manager because I really like Fluxbox.

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What defines most distros is its flagship DE or WM. Most DEs and WMs are available in openSUSE and Fedora, so can be added to what you already have, most likely Gnome and/or KDE. Spend more time on evaluating the environment and installed software, and less on installing operating systems or burning live media .isos to tryout.

Once you have your favorite DE selected is soon enough to think about shopping for some other distro that makes your selection its flagship. Package management is the Gnu/Linux term for software installation, removal and updating. Most software you need or want is controlled by the package manager, instead of downloading random software from various websites for installation. openSUSE and Fedora are among the relatively fewer distros that have rpm-based package management systems. Debian is the other major alternative, using dpkg/apt/aptitude/synaptic-based package management. Most derivative distros are based on Ubuntu, which itself is based on Debian, e.g. Mint, or directly on Debian. There are other package management systems, just not as widely used, such as those by ArchLinux, Slackware and Gentoo. Package managers have different capabilities and personalities, so it's good to keep this in mind when distro shopping. These kinds of details are mostly available on https://distrowatch.com.

Most PCs using your CPU support 8GB RAM. I suggest regardless of your OS choice, that you add another 4GB. You'll be happier with 8GB whatever you choose, but particularly if you choose any of the most popular DEs: Gnome, KDE, Mate, Cinnamon, XFCE and several others.

If those really are the main parameters, I would upgrade hardware first...

Since you did not specify what have you tried already we cannot suggest more distros. Probably Lubuntu was not yet mentioned.

MX Linux - Devuan (Live) - just 2 that I would suggest.

If you want a really fast alternative operating system, take a look at Haiku, put it on a pendrive & give it a spin, running 'live' - you might like to keep it around.

https://www.haiku-os.org/

If a fast boot is important, small systems such as Tiny Core or Slitaz will work although it is not likely either will have all the software you want. The distros mentioned above would all be good but better hardware is likely the most important thing. When I started using an SSD rather than a standard SATA hard drive, the identical systems on both computers booted 4 times faster with the SSD so I would agree that if fast boot and response are important, improve your hardware.

is your computer 32 bit or 64 bit
If your computer is 32 bit, then I recommend Linux Mint Debian Edition LMDE Cinnamon iso
If your running 64 bit I would still recommend LMDE but use the 64 bit iso

C2D in OP means Core2Duo, always 64bit.

C2D in OP means Core2Duo/Quad, always 64bit, like his Q6600.

With just 4 GB ram, the window manager matters more than the distro. Forget about the DEs and go for i3wm or another minimalistic window manager. I have a couple of 5GB ram laptops and am happy with i3; I did not bother even trying lxde, which is probably the most lightweight DE.

LXDE might be ok if you plan to run only one or two applications at a time, but your system will quickly freeze up with very little load.

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I've been looking into that too. Windows 7 is dated, in my situation, I only consider the linux road simply because the system is dated hardware wise, and there is no disk drive. I am not sure on old game play ability, I guess it probably could play a few old twenty year old games. I have a windows 7 system which runs them okay. The system I bought back several years ago was simply as a back up hardware, but it never really has been needed with some exceptions. I notice the current windows 7 system which had multiple shutdowns doesn't do that anymore, could be because, windows 7 updates are over, I haven't a clue. The thing doesn't even have a licence key. But it works fine.

Frankly, nonsense. This desktop has 4GB and runs Xfce. Currently, it's running Pale Moon and OpenOffice — 2GB used, 2 GB free.

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