What OS should I run on my old computer?

I got given a computer with a 120gb hdd, an amd sempron 3000+ cpu (1.8ghz) sungle core, 500 mb ram. Ye you get the idea. Im running LM on it atm but it does go a bit slow sometimes when i have the software manager open. I need MS office so which OS you suggest? i was thinking xubuntu :)

computer old xubuntu

asked Sep 12 '10 at 17:10

zikalify
596●52●57●69

7 Answers:

oldest newest most voted

With 500 MB of RAM I would go with XP. The best OS for the specs you got IMO.

answered Sep 12 '10 at 17:12

Windows7
(suspended)

Are you a Windows centric guy, because I imagine you to be. XP would NOT run nicely on that computer at all and besides i cant be bothered to wait for hundreds of updates to do. Finally xp would cause more lag than ubuntu or lm

(Sep 12 '10 at 17:22) zikalify

wrong XP will run great on those specs as long you keep it sP2 or lower, and if your still not happy upgrade the ram it won't be to expensive to over a gig.

(Sep 12 '10 at 17:58) markd12

This disc i have install sp3 by default, still ok?

(Sep 13 '10 at 11:10) zikalify

Well, I run Windows XP SP3 on a 733Mhz Intel Pentium 3 w/512MB of RAM. You should be fine :D

(Sep 13 '10 at 11:20) NickMiller

I would install ubuntu on it. I think it would run pretty nicely on it

answered Sep 12 '10 at 17:12

FilipinoPower
13.0k●135●219●313

LM runs off of ubuntu and with a few programs open and doing things i can defo see lagging.

(Sep 12 '10 at 17:20) zikalify

Sorry I didnt see that

(Sep 12 '10 at 17:46) FilipinoPower

xubuntu is better for older computer like that, than ubuntu is. The file system is designed to run fast on old machines.

(Sep 12 '10 at 18:02) refrwfrwgrfd

0	Windows XP professional with SP3 Or home which ever you can get your hands on. answered Sep 12 '10 at 17:21 Database 4.2k●126●157●199

Depends what you want to do with it but i'd try out Puppy Linux or another lightweight linux because it's really light and you can run it from a flash drive and have the hdd just for storage if you want. Takes less than 5 min to install on a flash drive too or install it to the hdd. W/e.

I'm running it on an old dell laptop with about 2ghz and 512mb ram and it runs pretty nice, plus if you install wine you can run some windows apps like... ...dreamweaver, etc.

Downside is the interface is a bit windows 98 ish so it's not the prettiest kid on the block. 130 or so mb iso.

Stock icon setup are pretty naff but you can change them.

answered Sep 12 '10 at 17:34

SignOff
(suspended)

0	Maybe upgrade your ram to 1Gb (or 2Gb if u want) I think Linux will run fine then and you can use www.openoffice.org if Microsoft Office isn't compatible answered Sep 12 '10 at 17:35 Daxmau5 1.8k●22●34●59

0	i would go with xp if it was me but it is your computer answered Sep 12 '10 at 17:39 lordhead96 291●29●32●40

0	XP on 500MB RAM will run smoothly, I've been doing the same using a laptop with a Celeron M. answered Sep 12 '10 at 17:43 DazOwen 5.9k●77●104●159

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