Best Linux OS for Old Computer?
 

I have tried using many different Linux Distributions but all of them are unstable on my computer. I am assuming that my hardware is too dated so I'm wondering what kind of distribution I should use based on my hardware. I have already tried LinuxMint, Ubuntu, and Mandriva but the computer goes into a partial freeze after one minute or so. I would really love some help.

Processor: Athlon 64 3400+ 2.4 GHz
-1600 MT/s (Mega Transfers/second)
-Socket 754
Chipset: SiS 760/964
Motherboard:
-Manufacturer: Asus
-Motherboard Name: K8S-LA
-HP motherboard name: Salmon-GL6E
Memory:
-Memory Installed: 512 MB (1 x 512)
-Maximum allowed: 2.0 GB (2 X 1 GB)
-Speed supported: PC3200 MB/sec
-Type: 184 pin, DDR SDRAM
-DIMM slots: Two
-Open DIMM slots: One
Hard drive: 200 GB; 7200 rpm

Your specs seem fine to me to run Ubuntu and Fedora. Though you need some more memory for performance. But you can try Xubuntu or Dream Linux. Both finally come from Debian and run XFCE. Dream Linux looks very pretty while performing on slower machines. Another distribution that looked good and performed for me was Puppy. All these are small and light weight.

Arch is by far the fastest distro I ever tried (because it's extremely simplified and stripped-down), but it's anything but newbie-friendly to get running (but it can be made almost just as easy-to-use as Ubuntu by installing the right packages, if you like).

See if you can handle this: http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Beginners'_Guide

I have a HP a810n amd athlon64 3300+ 2.4ghz also with dreaded SIS crappy graphics and guess what?
all distro's used to freeze for me too(:

My problems all concerned the SIS integrated graphics
I haven't gotten a nvidia,etc card for it yet but have found out how to stop the "freezing"
on mine even ctrl-alt-f1, etc wouldnt work
just frozen
does the screen ever "crackle" and look like a cracked glass?

anyway, you have a couple options

a) get a graphics card

b) use a VESA xorg.conf or use the vesa boot option when using cd/usb distros

c) if using arch/slackware and some others the Slax script "xconf" will correctly make the xorg.conf

in ubuntu enter "xforcevesa" on the grub/syslinux/isolinux boot line.

for reference heres the xorg.conf the script "xconf" created for my arch install
even weirder is that the same script created this xorg.conf on my slackware current install

anyway the summation is

get a card
use a vesa xorg.conf
use xconf script

if you want details on the xconf script post back

Damn Small Linux
Lubuntu

have a look at distrowatch.com

• Even back in the day, when those SiS chipsets were common, they were widely felt to be buggy (how much of that is true bugginess and how much misconfiguration is, perhaps, questionable, but the fact is that they were trickier than more mainstream systems).
  
• You may find that a memory upgrade makes it easier to use the 'heavyweight' GUIs - Gnome, KDE. If that is inappropriate, you should consider using a lighterweight GUI (LXDE, XFCE, windowmaker, etc, etc

There might be some relief from the first issue by manipulationg boot-time options eg noapic, apm=off, nodma, but I think you are consigned to an amount of trial and error with different distros.

You should have more memory, with a 64-bit processor. Otherwise, this is a reasonable setup.

The trouble with SiS chipsets was, I believe, largely due to testing. Developers spent so much time making sure that things worked with fancy videocards that they skimped on testing with on-board graphics. I use SiS graphics and I've only encountered 2 distros that gave trouble (out of 16 tried) and the problem was obvious: no X.

What exactly is a "partial freeze"? If you describe the symptoms, some-one may be able to spot the problem, but the fact that all distros give the same problem sounds like a hardware fault.

"easy way" answer to OP/darkblue0:

try install http://lubuntu.net/, but hit TAB on the boot menu and enter xforcevesa in the end of line (like said to other problem here: http://ubuntu-tutorials.com/2010/05/...up-workaround/)

Thanks for all the advice. I'll try what you guys suggested and look into more memory and a new graphics card.

What I mean by partial freeze is that an action like moving a file or opening a program will freeze but I will still be able to move the mouse cursor around for some reason. I can't perform any more actions but the pointer still moves.

darkblue0, you call this an old computer?? It's perfectly fine to run all the distros out there. I am not sure but I think KDE 4 will lag a little, but if you use Gnome/Xfce/LXDE - it's fine. This computer is not old for GNU.