1.1 ghz PC

RacecarBMW · 05-17-2010, 06:55 PM

So I found my old HP computer and I am planning on putting linux on it.
I already tried Xubuntu but it is really slow on this old computer.

Here are the specs

1.1 GHZ AMD athlon Processor

256 mb RAM

60 gb hard drive

It has a CD drive and a DVD drive

My monitors maximum resolution is 1280 x 1024

It has USB ports

and it is a 32 bit computer

I would like a fast distribution and Like I said I have tried xubuntu and it is very slow

I really like how all the programs can be downloaded from one simple place on ubuntu / xubuntu so if there is something like that or something that is compatible with a lot of programs.

Also the specs on my computer exceed the minimum requirments for xubuntu why is it so slow

IS my computer actually slow or is it still capable

Thankyou for your time

brucehinrichs · 05-17-2010, 07:07 PM

The minimum specs are for it just to run. Period. The closer you approach the minimum, the slower the system will be. But there's hope. There are lots of light distros available. Lubuntu (LXDE Desktop environment) is another light *buntu variant. There's also puppy, Damn Small Linux (DSL), Damn Small Linux Not, Arch (more advanced), AntiX (Mepis 'lite', based on debian as well), and tons of others, as I'm sure others will chime in

. Basically, stay away from gnome, KDE desktops, and steer toward minimalist environments. There are a lot that will run well on your old HP!

RacecarBMW · 05-17-2010, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brucehinrichs

The minimum specs are for it just to run. Period. The closer you approach the minimum, the slower the system will be. But there's hope. There are lots of light distros available. Lubuntu (LXDE Desktop environment) is another light *buntu variant. There's also puppy, Damn Small Linux (DSL), Damn Small Linux Not, Arch (more advanced), AntiX (Mepis 'lite', based on debian as well), and tons of others, as I'm sure others will chime in

. Basically, stay away from gnome, KDE desktops, and steer toward minimalist environments. There are a lot that will run well on your old HP!

hmm thanks I will try some of those what about programs how will those work are most programs compatible with different distros?

brucehinrichs · 05-17-2010, 07:52 PM

Yeah, pretty much any linux software will run on any distro.

RacecarBMW · 05-17-2010, 09:50 PM

Thanks brucehinrichs I am installing Lubuntu

damgar · 05-17-2010, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RacecarBMW

Thanks brucehinrichs I am installing Lubuntu

You are still probably going to find it slow. If you can add more memory you are likely to be happier. I've used a variant of puppy and found it to be fast for basic browsing.

rokytnji · 05-17-2010, 10:00 PM

Quote:

AntiX (Mepis 'lite', based on debian as well), and tons of others, as I'm sure others will chime i

I run AntiX 8.5 on a IBM A22 Laptop with about the same specs (ram and cpu) as that compaq.
I stay away from Ubuntu Distros with 256mb of ram. Puppy Dingo 4 dual boots on that IBM Laptop.
Wireless is supplied by a Belkin F5D 7010 ver.6 PCMCIA Cardbus. Runs fast. Has Skype. latest Browsers, Java, and Gimp.

Code:

~$ inxi -F
System:    Host biker Kernel 2.6.32-1-mepis-smp i686 (32 bit) Distro antiX-M8.5 Marek Edelman 11 April 2010
CPU:       Single core Pentium III (Coppermine) (UP) cache 256 KB flags (sse) bmips 1992.06 clocked at 1000.00 MHz 
Graphics:  Card ATI Rage Mobility P/M AGP 2x X.Org 1.7.7 Res: 1024x768@85.0hz 
           GLX Renderer Software Rasterizer GLX Version 2.1 Mesa 7.7.1 Direct Rendering Yes
Audio:     Card Cirrus Logic CS 4614/22/24/30 [CrystalClear SoundFusion Audio Accelerator] driver Sound Fusion CS46xx BusID: 00:05.0
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Version 1.0.21
Network:   Card-1 3Com 3c556B CardBus [Tornado] driver 3c59x at port 1800 BusID: 00:03.0
           Card-2 RaLink RT2561/RT61 802.11g PCI driver rt61pci v: 2.3.0 BusID: 02:00.0
Disks:     HDD Total Size: 20.0GB (13.2% used) 1: /dev/hda IC25N020ATCS04-0 20.0GB 
Partition: ID:/ size: 5.0G used: 2.2G (47%) fs: ext3 ID:/home size: 7.7G used: 284M (4%) fs: ext3 
           ID:swap-1 size: 0.76GB used: 0.02GB (2%) fs: swap 
Info:      Processes 98 Uptime 2:29 Memory 137.7/247.8MB Runlevel 5 Client Shell inxi 1.4.9

craigevil · 05-17-2010, 10:54 PM

Debian with Enlightenment, LXDE or one of the window managers will run just fine on that. Just don't use KDE, Gnome or XFCE.

http://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/...+lxde-CD-1.iso Choose LXDE when you install and you will be good to go.

chrism01 · 05-18-2010, 04:49 AM

If you can up the RAM, I would. The rest of the specs look ok.

RacecarBMW · 05-18-2010, 02:58 PM

then I guess Ill probably get more ram

I tried lubuntu and so far so good it is much faster than xubuntu and it seems pretty good so far

I mght try DSL or puppy linux