Choosing a Linux distribution can be tricky. Which one suits your needs?
Choosing a Linux distribution can be tricky. Which one suits your needs?
Previously tried Lubuntu and was quite impressed, though I faced challenges installing drivers. What specific issues did you encounter? From the latter part of your message it looks like some functionality is working now. However, that doesn’t guarantee the default drivers run smoothly. What concerns you about performance? If the system behaves similarly to Windows, what’s the problem? Clearly, if Linux meets Windows’ speed expectations, something is amiss.
Noticing TinyCore isn’t familiar to me, but I’ve heard of Puppy Linux. If you’re comfortable with its limitations in FLWM, give it a shot.
My main reason for switching to Linux is my outdated and sluggish PC. One of the main reasons Windows lags is hardware optimizations that hinder performance. It’s tough to turn off these in Windows, but Linux makes it straightforward. You can add the GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX options to disable them (like update-grub if you’re using Lubuntu). Be aware this may affect security, especially if you run a VM or container.
Comparing distros like Arch, Debian, Fedora, and others: the key differences lie in update frequency, package maintenance, and Nvidia driver support. For a newer AMD GPU, Fedora or Arch would offer better drivers. Arch demands more effort to learn, while Fedora offers a user-friendly installer and GNOME-based experience. LXDE is more prominent in KDE environments. If you aim for Red Hat certification later, Fedora is a solid choice.
As a newcomer, Lubuntu works well and provides a decent LXDE setup. If you’re looking for a fast replacement, it’s suitable.
Please avoid long blocks of text; they’re hard to read and lose interest quickly.
Manjaro offers a wide range of resources. The desktop environment you prefer affects memory usage—XFCE typically stays under 800MB, while Fluxbox can reach around 400MB. For lighter options, AntiX with ICEWM uses less than 200MB even when idle. MXLinux with Fluxbox consumes about 400MB, and AntiX with ICEWM is even more efficient.
What hardware protection advice did you receive? Regarding the drivers, I wasn't able to locate Intel GPU drivers, possibly because the search wasn't thorough. Others have shared their experiences with installation.
You meant to clarify that you didn't locate them. They should have tested it on a live system. For Haswell, the 4000 series laptop requires the i915 driver. This feature is integrated into the kernel and Mesa, so it should function properly out of the box on a current distribution. Both AMD (AMDGPU) and Intel (i915 for most modern devices, except Xe, which will manage Intel Arc and 12th gen+) provide vendor provider drivers, similar to what Nvidia offers. Unlike Nvidia, Intel and AMD offer open-source alternatives, eliminating the need for additional steps. The built-in open-source drivers often perform better than vendor solutions. For more details, see: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/intel_g...s#top-page You can find further information on hardware fixes here: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Improvi...itigations. If you're curious, try installing a distro and take a screenshot of the problem—this might help. I'm unsure if these mitigations apply to TinyCore; you may need assistance from the community for that. It should work with Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and similar distros. Others might suggest Arch or Manjaro handle GRUB differently.
Have you thought about using BSD instead of Linux? Modern Linux distros are often big and slow.