Looking for Linux forum suggestions?
Looking for Linux forum suggestions?
Go directly to download the newest versions online. They're all free. Lubuntu is a lighter variant of Ubuntu. There are numerous lightweight Linux distributions available. Puppy Linux is another option. (It's not actually related to puppies.)
Also, it's worth noting that Linux offers various desktop environments such as KDE, GNOME, Cinnamon, and Mate. These define the visual appearance of your operating system. You might choose an interface that resembles macOS or Windows, and these environments fundamentally alter the graphical user interface. For instance, Ubuntu typically includes both GNOME and KDE, allowing you to select one or the other—or even run multiple interfaces simultaneously. (It seems ctrl+alt+F1-F7 gets you to different settings, or possibly ctrl+shift+F1-F7.)
I've been exploring various Linux distributions for a system similar to the Xeon E3-1225V5 and found Debian 9 Stretch with Gnome to be the most suitable so far. I've compared Ubuntu, Fedora Workstation, Antergos (based on Arch), ElementaryOS and pop_OS, each offering reasons to revisit Debian. Its strong stability is a big draw, plus you can find support on both Debian and Ubuntu forums. If you decide to install, using the net installer from a USB drive is recommended. Good luck!