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Linux Guides

General Points

In the Linux world, most distributions have dropped 32-bit support. If your old computer is not 64-bit, I recommend installing Windows 7 and following my Windows guide here.

So your old computer is 64-bit? Here are some things to keep in mind before diving in.

You may find that some drivers on Linux are not as good as the ones on Windows. For example, if your onboard GPU is ATI, Linux drivers may not work as well as the old Catalyst driver on Windows. In a nutshell, some GPU features might be missing.

Distros I recommend for your old computer

  • Devuan Linux: Devuan Linux is one of my favorite distributions, and I’m currently using it. Devuan GNU/Linux is a fork of Debian without systemd. It allows users to reclaim control over their system by avoiding unnecessary entanglements and ensuring init freedom.
    This is great for old hardware fewer background services mean less CPU stress and lower RAM usage. If you are new to Linux, I recommend using XFCE. It’s a midweight desktop environment that doesn’t use many resources. In my testing, it uses around 600–700MB of RAM.
    If you are more experienced with Linux, I recommend using Openbox with Compton as a compositor. This setup can use between 400MB and 500MB of RAM after full configuration.
    Keep in mind: the more services you start at boot, the more RAM will be used.

  • antiX Linux: antiX is a lightweight distribution based on Debian Stable, designed specifically for older hardware. It does not use systemd and instead relies on SysVinit or runit. The system is intentionally minimal, with very few background services running by default. This makes it extremely efficient on older CPUs and systems with limited RAM.
    antiX uses lightweight window managers such as IceWM or Fluxbox instead of a full desktop environment. At idle, RAM usage can be as low as 200–350MB depending on configuration.
    If your system struggles with heavier desktops, antiX is one of the best choices for keeping it responsive and usable for daily tasks such as browsing, writing, and media playback.
  • MX Linux: MX Linux is based on Debian Stable and, by default, uses SysVinit instead of systemd. It provides a good balance between performance and user-friendliness. Unlike ultra-minimal systems, MX includes helpful graphical tools while still remaining efficient on older hardware.
    The XFCE edition typically uses around 500–700MB of RAM at idle. It offers good hardware support and stability without forcing modern graphical stacks that may strain older GPUs.
    MX Linux is a strong choice if you want something stable and practical without heavy resource usage.
  • Salix OS: Salix is a Slackware-based distribution that follows a "one application per task" philosophy. It uses the traditional SysV-style init system and focuses on stability and simplicity. Because it is based on Slackware Stable, updates are conservative and predictable.
    Salix with XFCE typically uses around 400–600MB of RAM at idle. It avoids unnecessary background services and keeps the system clean and efficient.
    This distribution is well suited for users who prefer a classic Unix-like environment with minimal overhead.

Why I Chose These Distributions Instead of Others

⚠️ For 2009 era hardware, stability and efficiency matter more than cutting edge features. Many rolling distributions frequently update the kernel, Mesa, and desktop environments. While this is great for modern systems, it can cause issues on older onboard GPUs that only support OpenGL 2.x or 3.x and lack Vulkan support. In some cases, this can lead to a fallback to software rendering (llvmpipe), which increases CPU usage and reduces overall responsiveness. Stable, non-systemd distributions keep the system predictable, lightweight, and better suited for aging hardware allowing it to remain usable for everyday tasks without unnecessary graphical strain.