Few years back I purchased this from B.B.

HP p2-1334
AMD E1-1200 Accelerated processor
4GB DDR3
500GB HDD
AMD Radeon HD7310 Graphics ( integrated into the APU I assume, but maybe not? )
Super Multi DVD burner
Windows 8

It was less then $300.
I since have done a build but am looking to play with ( Linux virgin ) Ubuntu or Mint.
This will be an offline computer just to fool around with until Im comfortable then I will ditch Windows.


I tossed out the RAM ( stupid me ) and the HDD.

1. If I want to install Linux can it be done n this system ( whats left of it ).
2. I assume I just need to buy 4gb RAM. Any DDR3 4gb RAM will do correct?
3. Add a new HDD?
4. Since I tossed the old HDD there is no O.S on this right? So by adding a new HDD I can then install my own O.S ( Linux ) and I will be good to go correct?
5. There are 2 connections left. I assume the bigger one is for the HDD. But what does the extra SATA cable go to? Do both connections go to the HDD?
6. Or is the extra SATA connection just an extra in case I wanted to add something in the future?


Thank you everyone.
I'm looking forward to Linux

*My goal with this set-up is just buy the bare minimum that it needs then install Linux ( Ubuntu or a mint )

I assume the processor is amd64, which is the same as intel x86_64. That should run any modern Linux.
As far as I know. Other people here probably know more about RAM than I do.
Yes, obviously, unless you only want to run live distros off a pendrive.
Not quite. You'll first have to partition your disk using something like fdisk, cfdisk, parted or gparted. I suggest you burn (or copy to a pendrive) a SystemRescue disc image. It has all those useful tools on it and will be an invaluable resource for the future. We can advise you on your partitioning arrangements. Most people have a root partition (10-20 GB), a larger home partition for their documents and a swap partition.
Most old computers have two drive controllers and each can support a master and a slave. In the days when disks were fairly small, people often had more than one hard drive. Nowadays typically, you might have a single large hard drive on one controller and a couple of optical drives on the other, one for a cd/dvd writer

The specification shows you can use DDR3-1066 or DDR3L-1066 RAM. 4GB would be lavish for Linux.

That CPU was used in better-quality notebooks and small-form-factor desktops like yours, as it's low-power — only 18W — and soldered in.

For partitioning, just use the gparted program provided in the live DVD and create the three partitions Hazel recommended. When you run the installer, it asks you if you want "automatic partitioning" — don't choose that, or you'll loose your good work. Instead choose "do something else".

You should end up with partitions like
/dev/sda1 — 20GB, formated as ext4 for the installation
/dev/sda2 — as much as you've got, formated as ext4 for the /home directory
/dev/sda3 — 4GB+ if you want to hibernate, otherwise less, formated as swap for swap

I'd recommend Mint Mate edition: read all about it in this guide
https://linuxmint.com/documentation/...glish_17.3.pdf

Indeed ...

Whereto? Not to the RAM having none; not to the HDD having none...

YOu got it right.

Right. You did throw it.
Correct.


What HDD you just bought? Is it an IDE (flat long cable)? or is it small serial cable (almost round and small) which is usually SATA.

Yes if you do choose.

ADVICE: Read basic hardware and linux beginner tutorials choose from the many here.

Hope that helps. Good luck.

m.m.

.
By the way frldyz, welcome to this beautiful linux help community. The right place to learn; a good place to grow...
.

Enjoy,

m.m.

A 3.5 internal SATA drive requires two cables. The data cable is the 7 pin connector and the 15 pin cable is for power. The computer may have additional SATA controller for an extra drive.

While PATA (i.e IDE) drives are master/slave SATA is not.

2 members found this post helpful.

You don't need to partition the drive separately from the install. The installer has a partitioning program.

If you really want to spend the bare minimum, you can buy 1GB of RAM and install onto a USB thumbdrive that you probably already have lying around (I'd recommend at least 2GB in size, but preferably 4+GB). Note that a USB thumbdrive is generally very slow compared to a hard drive, so it will be pretty sluggish.

Alternatively, if you've got more than one computer you could do something a bit more challenging and do a diskless network boot install. I have detailed how-tos describing how to do this with Debian. It's definitely more involved than a simple install to hard drive or SSD or USB thumbdrive (which are all done the "normal" way). You still need to get some RAM.

If you're committed to buying a hard drive, I would recommend you buy an SSD instead. The smallest SSD you will find will still be plenty big enough for a Linux install (8GB is plenty, and you won't be able to find a standard SATA SSD that small).

The big thing that determines how much RAM you really need is the desktop environment. I have long preferred XFCE4 desktop because it's very lightweight but it also has user friendly GUI configuration. But even so, some web sites just plain require more RAM. In particular, Netflix will bomb after a few seconds of playback if you have only 1GB of RAM. I'd go with at least a single 2GB RAM stick if you want to use Netflix, and you may want to expand later.

fridyz,

Welcome to LQ.

HP p2-1334:
https://support.hp.com/gb-en/document/c03515750

RAM:

Amount: 4 GB
Speed: PC3-12800 MB/sec (runs at PC3-8500 in this system)
Type: DDR3-1600

If you buy a 2.5 inch SSD instead of a 3.5 inch HDD, you will also need a mounting frame (unless you use Blu Tack or similar. Not recommended!):
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Hard-Driv...H9JDE4BSXN933X

The above frame can hold two SSDs.

A 120GB SSD like this SanDisk one would probably be adequate:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/SanDisk-PLU...ords=ssd+120gb

There is no need to worry about being online with a Linux PC.

You are still thinking in Windows-mode about antivirus, malware etc. Use Google to compare the two systems regarding security.

Just connect up your ethernet cable and install a Linux OS.

Happy Linuxing!