14-04-2012, 04:58 PM
ubuntu itself isn't the hog.. it's the monster gnome/kde desktops.. proof?.. this is a compaq armada e500 circa 1999.. has a windows98se product key sticker on the bottom..with 256 ram (800 cpu) running 10.4 like a good one with xfce4.. gnome bogged it down completely.. fast and effective.
Take it from me.. XP will not work on that hardware.. No L2 cache is a deal breaker.. plus xp needs 512 ram to be any use at all (it takes 200mb just to put up the desktop.. aston is lighter managing in about 90mb!!).. any less results in a crawl along crash every 2 minutes system..
The secret with linux (whatever flavour) on limited old hardware is KISS.. Install the core system then add ONLY the bits you need.. don't "default" install the whole hog.. so for ubuntu you need the "alternative" install disk version.. for servers and the like.. which allows a "component" install.
Im currently investigating http://hld.c64.org/poldi/lunix/lunix.html because my interest is in very limited and basic systems.. I started off on a pdp8 !!
Take it from me.. XP will not work on that hardware.. No L2 cache is a deal breaker.. plus xp needs 512 ram to be any use at all (it takes 200mb just to put up the desktop.. aston is lighter managing in about 90mb!!).. any less results in a crawl along crash every 2 minutes system..
The secret with linux (whatever flavour) on limited old hardware is KISS.. Install the core system then add ONLY the bits you need.. don't "default" install the whole hog.. so for ubuntu you need the "alternative" install disk version.. for servers and the like.. which allows a "component" install.
Im currently investigating http://hld.c64.org/poldi/lunix/lunix.html because my interest is in very limited and basic systems.. I started off on a pdp8 !!
