Minimal Linux with a graphical interface for vintage computers
Minimal Linux with a graphical interface for vintage computers
You're not part of Google Chrome's development team, are you? From a more practical standpoint, the idea that "free RAM is useless RAM" doesn't hold up. All modern operating systems, whether Windows or Linux, rely on free RAM for disk caching. This helps keep frequently accessed files in memory, boosting overall system performance. If programs consume excessive memory, it means they're inefficient and could slow things down significantly. Even basic applications like a desktop environment can be surprisingly resource-heavy, as seen with older systems needing large amounts of RAM to run smoothly.
Your system isn't limited by low specifications for running a UI environment. You even have a dedicated GPU, which is more than sufficient for general use. I support window managers that minimize resource consumption, like IceWM—though openbox offers an even lighter footprint. That comes with its own trade-offs, such as a steeper learning curve and fewer built-in utilities you might need. Linux Mint Mate strikes a balance, using less memory while remaining very user-friendly for system management. A helpful recommendation was to try Truenas, which includes a Plexplugin. Everything is managed through a web-based interface. Its design is tailored for these tasks, and the ZFS filesystem provides powerful features like snapshots, all accessible via the GUI. You connect using a browser similar to Webmin. To set it up, you need at least 8GB of RAM and multiple drives, preferably in RAID-Z configuration for redundancy. Since it's based on BSD, compatibility with certain hardware may be limited compared to full Linux distributions.