What OS on a Old PC?

[Niko]

So hi i got a old PC which was originally running Windows XP on it but i am planning to install a other OS. So far i was considering Alpine Linux or FreeBSD. Any recommendations for maybe a different OS? Here are the specs:

• CPU=Intel Pentium E2140

• GPU=Integrated Graphics

• RAM=4gb of DDR2 (I don't know the exact speed)

• Storage=A old slow 160 WD HDD[/list/

[TheFighterJetDude]

Maybe Win2000 with extended kernel (hopefully soon there will be better browsers to use on vanilla 2000)

[DoNotThrowOldPCsAway]

Give Void Linux a try. Since you are prepared to go with Alpine it shouldn't be too convoluted for you.

[luk3Z]

XP, Vista or MX Linux/AntiX. HDD change to SSD (use IDE to [m]SATA converter if needed).
Possibly W7 Starter or ThinPC could be also a good choice.

[Niko]

XP, Vista or MX Linux/AntiX. HDD change to SSD (use IDE to [m]SATA converter if needed).
Possibly W7 Starter or ThinPC could be also a good choice.

Well to be honest i don't think it's worth it to buy a SSD for that PC i never heard about MX or AntiX linux so i might chcek them out

[K4sum1]

All my puters get SSD

[Bird]

@Niko: An SSD makes a massive difference in speed on the old machines. Especially noticeable on (big) data access and startup.

Running Salix here on a much weaker Intel Atom 1,6 GHz with only 1 GB of RAM. 15.0 is too much for it, but the unsupported 14.2 is still useable.

Your computer could carry Salix.

[Niko]

All my puters get SSD

Even my main putter only got one cheap sata SSD lmfao

[Niko]

@Niko: An SSD makes a massive difference in speed on the old machines. Especially noticeable on (big) data access and startup.

Running Salix here on a much weaker Intel Atom 1,6 GHz with only 1 GB of RAM. 15.0 is too much for it, but the unsupported 14.2 is still useable.

Your computer could carry Salix.

Thanks for the recommendation gonna check it out later today!

[K4sum1]

Even my main putter only got one cheap sata SSD lmfao

Free Microcenter 256GB SSD deal and family members. I probably have like 10 of those drives by now.

[Niko]

Even my main putter only got one cheap sata SSD lmfao

Free Microcenter 256GB SSD deal and family members. I probably have like 10 of those drives by now.

smh i wish we had microcenter here in Poland

[madalin]

So far i was considering Alpine Linux or FreeBSD.

If you want freebsd, sure good option for an alternative os but check the hardware if it's freebsd compatible, some of the newer/older hardware might not be supported on freebsd.
Linux Mint XFCE does the job too. Ubuntu Server / Arch Linux and you manually install a tiling window manager like I3 or dwm.

[Niko]

So far i was considering Alpine Linux or FreeBSD.

If you want freebsd, sure good option for an alternative os but check the hardware if it's freebsd compatible, some of the newer/older hardware might not be supported on freebsd.

Yeah i checked for that and it's compatible for now. The newest version which will release will sadly drop 32bit support

[madalin]

So far i was considering Alpine Linux or FreeBSD.

If you want freebsd, sure good option for an alternative os but check the hardware if it's freebsd compatible, some of the newer/older hardware might not be supported on freebsd.

Yeah i checked for that and it's compatible for now. The newest version which will release will sadly drop 32bit support

i doubt they'll drop 32 bit support on freebsd.
If freebsd doesn't work out, you've got options like openbsd or netbsd
when it comes to linux though:
https://archlinux32.org/
https://voidlinux.org/download/
https://forum.puppylinux.com/puppy-linux-collection ( use the debian base or void one)
plain ol' debian lol
even slackware is enough for these old computers

[kloak]

Devuan is probably better than debian especially on 32bit only device, though i'd rather use openrc than sysvinit. systemd is a resource hog.

Freebsd is patchy for some things (wifi stack comes to mind) but if you're interested in 'true' UNIX-like then go for it, just be prepared to rtfm as they say. If you're into linux distros like slack or gentoo you'd probably like the bsd's maybe a bit more than them =)

[K4sum1]

Is there any real advantage or disadvantages between systemd and not? I figure one big thing would be better integrated and faster.

This guy says WiFi is better on BSD (if it works) but idk.

https://izder456.tumblr.com/post/750680515381706753/why-openbsd

[kloak]

Is there any real advantage or disadvantages between systemd and not? I figure one big thing would be better integrated and faster.

shitstemd does some REALLY stupid things, and its creator is also a massive cunt (same person behind pulseaudio, go figure):
https://nosystemd.org/

I haven't used OpenBSD but have heard good things about it on /g/ of all places. I've just messed with FreeBSD a tiny bit, can definitely agree with the points about documentation being vast in the manpages. Saved me while I was forced to use a vi-based text editor for a bit there ahah.