list of lightweight Linux distributions with a comparison table showing typical RAM and CPU requirements

list of lightweight Linux distributions with a comparison table showing typical RAM and CPU requirements


🪶 Lightweight Linux Distributions – Comparison Table

Distribution Base Desktop Environment Min RAM Min CPU ISO Size Notes
Lubuntu Ubuntu LXQt 512 MB Pentium 4 / AMD K8 ~1.5 GB Modern, full-featured but light
Xubuntu Ubuntu Xfce 512 MB Pentium III / Athlon ~1.5 GB Balance between speed and usability
Linux Lite Ubuntu LTS Xfce 768 MB 1 GHz+ ~1.6 GB Beginner-friendly, Windows-like
Puppy Linux Varies JWM / Openbox 256 MB Pentium III+ ~300 MB Runs entirely in RAM, very fast
antiX Debian IceWM / Fluxbox / Rox 256 MB Pentium II+ ~700 MB No systemd, extremely lightweight
Bodhi Linux Ubuntu Moksha (Enlightenment) 512 MB 1 GHz+ ~800 MB Elegant, minimal base install
Tiny Core Linux Independent FLWM (or none) 64 MB (CorePlus) i486 / Pentium II 16–100 MB Extremely minimal, advanced users
Slax Debian Fluxbox / Openbox 128 MB (CLI) i686 ~270 MB Portable, USB-friendly distro
Peppermint OS Debian/Ubuntu Xfce + LXDE hybrid 1 GB 1 GHz+ ~1.4 GB Cloud-centric, snappy interface
Q4OS Debian Trinity / Plasma (option) 512 MB Pentium III+ ~1 GB Windows-like UI, very stable
MX Linux (Fluxbox) Debian Fluxbox 256 MB Pentium III+ ~1.2 GB Low resource use with full Debian base
SliTaz Independent Openbox / custom 192 MB Pentium III+ ~50 MB Fast booting, ideal for really old PCs

📌 Notes:

  • Min RAM = minimum recommended RAM for a GUI install.

  • Min CPU = the least powerful CPU likely to run the distro with GUI.

  • ISO Size = approximate installer size; smaller often means fewer preinstalled apps.

  • Many of these distros can run even better with swap space on low-memory machines.


  

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