Exhausted from trying out different operating systems on your old rig to make it work like its glory days and enjoy it for a few more years? Well, don’t throw your old computer yet. To help you out and reincarnate your aging silicone-based friend, I’ve cherry-picked the best Linux for the old laptop to revive that decades-old machine with low system resources!
These lightweight Linux distros provide a lag-free computing experience with an appealing graphical interface that not only does run blazing fast but is also small, secure, and enriched with features.
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Here are the tonics of revival for your old mate!
Contents
Bodhi Linux
With Moksha desktop and the support for low-end hardware, Bodhi Linux is a decent choice for your old PCs or laptops, providing a good user experience. Also, as it doesn’t come with pre-installed software, its ISO file size will be less than 1 GB, which makes it the best Linux for old laptop.
Supports 32 bits system: Yes (older versions)
Minimum hardware requirements for Bodhi Linux
- RAM: 256 MB of RAM
- CPU: 1.0 GHz
- Disk space: 5 GB of drive space
Linux Lite
Linux Lite is one of the most lightweight Linux distros that doesn’t need high-end hardware to run; it is based on Ubuntu LTS releases, making it a stable OS to use. It also comes with various pre-installed software like Firebox for browsing, Thunderbird for emails, LibreOffice for office applications, and Lite tweaks to tweak your desktop. (This can change depending upon the version.)
Supports 32 bits system: Yes (older versions)
Minimum hardware requirements for Linux Lite
- RAM: 768 MB RAM (recommended 1 GB)
- CPU: 1 GHz processor
- Display: VGA screen 1024×768 resolution
- Disk space: M<inimum 8 GB free disk space
Lubuntu
One of the flavors of Ubuntu, Lubuntu, even supports old computers that have been buried (Just kidding!). It utilizes either LXDE/ LXQT desktop environment.
It might not be the best Linux for old laptop. Software and repositories are the same as Ubuntu, but I’d recommend you not to use any application that consumes many system resources.
Supports 32 bits system: Yes (older versions)
Minimum hardware requirements for Linux Lite
- RAM: 1 GB of RAM
- CPU: Pentium 4 or Pentium M or AMD K8 or even higher
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Linux Mint Xfce
Because of its Xfce desktop, while being an Ubuntu-based distro that makes it good enough for some old computers, it is a great option for best Linux for old laptop, if you have a decent hardware configuration.
Supports 32 bits system: Yes
Minimum hardware requirements for Linux Lite-
- RAM: 1 GB of RAM (2 GB recommended)
- Disk space: 15 GB of drive space (20 GB recommended)
- Screen resolution: 1024×768 resolution
Q4OS
It may not have the best-looking user interface out there, but it is simple and blazing fast on older hardware. Moreover, it comes with the Trinity Desktop for 32-bit edition and the KDE Plasma desktop on the 64-bit image, making it one of the best Linux for old laptop.
Q4OS is a Debian-based distribution.
Supports 32 bits system: Yes
Minimum hardware requirements for Q4OS
- CPU: 300 MHz (Trinity Desktop) / 1 GHz (Plasma Desktop)
- RAM: 128 MB (Trinity Desktop) / 1 GB (Plasma Desktop)
- Storage Space: 5 GB (Trinity Desktop) / 3 GB (Plasma Desktop)
Manjaro Linux Xfce Edition
Well, Manjaro Linux may not be as lightweight as the other operating systems in this list. But, due to its Xfce desktop environment paired with the power of an Arch base, you’ll have a great experience for sure.
It is needed to mention that Manjaro has dropped support for 32-bit architecture. However, you can think of trying the new manjaro32 project.
Minimum hardware requirements for Manjaro Xfce
- RAM: 1 GB of RAM
- CPU: 1 GHz
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Xubuntu
Xubuntu might not be the best Linux for old laptop, if you have a very ancient laptop/ PC which is more than ten years old. But Xubuntu can be your way to go if you have a comparatively modern PC.
Supports 32 bits system: Yes (older versions)
Minimum hardware requirements for Xubuntu
- RAM: 512 MB (1 GB recommended)
- Processor: Pentium Pro or AMD Athlon
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Peppermint
Peppermint is a cloud-focused Linux distribution based on Ubuntu and uses an LXDE desktop environment that doesn’t demand high-end hardware. And hence makes it the best Linux for old laptop.
Supports 32 bits system: Yes (older versions)
Minimum hardware requirements for Peppermint
- CPU: Processor based on Intel x86 architecture
- RAM: 1 GB of RAM (recommended 2 GB)
- Disk space: Minimum 4 GB of available disk
Puppy Linux
Yet another lightweight Linux OS that is focused on being fast without the requirement of high hardware specifications. Puppy Linux uses JWM and Openbox windows manager by default, making it very easy on system resources.
It can be booted live with either a CD/ DVD/ USB.
Supports 32 bits system: Yes (older versions)
Minimum hardware requirements for Puppy Linux
- RAM: 256 MB
- CPU: 600 Hz Processor
Arch Linux
Arch Linux is the no-nonsense Linux distro, and it doesn’t come with a bunch of pre-installed software. For an experienced Linux user, this is the OS I’d recommended! With the options like Xfce and LXQt, you can expect your computer to be really fast.
Although Arch developers have stopped offering 32-bit images, you have the option to get the forked archinux32.
Minimum hardware requirements for Arch Linux
- RAM: 530 MB of RAM
- Architecture: 64-bit
- Disk space: 2 GB of available space
Conclusion
There’s an old saying that is: Linux isn’t for everyone. And I hardly doubt the truth of this phrase because it is for every system out there! However, the qualities of Linux make it one of the most desired OS among computer enthusiasts. Well, for you too, Linux has so many options that you can think about. So, on the way to say hello to your old mate again?
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Sourabh Kulesh is a Chief Sub Editor at TechiePlus. He has worked in a national daily newspaper, a news agency, a magazine and now writing technology news online. He has knowledge on a wide gamut of topics related to cybersecurity, enterprise and consumer technology.
