10 Lightweight Linux Distributions to Give Your Old PC New Life (2024)

Old PCs can't cope with the demands of modern operating systems and software. While upgrading hardware such as memory can help, the better solution is a lightweight operating system.

Many Linux distros are designed to be lightweight, with versions of Linux under 500MB and even under 100MB available.

If you're looking for a resource-light operating system for your PC, try these compact, lightweight Linux distros.

Linux Distros for 1GB RAM

Most PCs currently ship with 4GB of RAM or higher. If you need an operating system for an older machine, these Linux distros run on computers with less than 1GB.

1. Xubuntu

Xubuntu is an Ubuntu derivative which uses the Xfce desktop environment. While Xubuntu may not boast the eye candy of GNOME, it does offer a snappy experience.

While Xubuntu can run on 1GB of memory, for the best experience you will need 2GB. A 1.5Ghz dual-core processor is also recommended, along with 20GB HDD space.

As a branch of Ubuntu, Xubuntu has access to the entirety of the Canonical repositories. This is a fantastic distro that offers great features and applications with low system resource consumption.

2. Zorin OS Lite

Zorin OS aims to make PCs faster while improving security and performance. Zorin OS Lite takes this a step further, reducing the already slimline system requirements of the main operating system.

You can install Zorin OS Lite on a system running a modest 1GHz single core processor, 32-bit, or 64-bit. The computer will need 1GB of RAM and 10GB of storage too. Zorin OS Lite can be run satisfactorily on a display with just 800x600 pixel resolution.

If you're looking for something that performs well and has a Windows-like feel for your old PC, Zorin OS Lite is ideal. Further lite editions, Zorin OS Education Lite and Zorin OS Pro Lite, are also available, but have slightly higher minimum system requirements.

3. Arch Linux

Arch Linux abides by the KISS mantra: keep it simple, stupid. Available in i686 and x86-64 varieties, Arch Linux is lightweight and easy to use. You'll need a PC with at least 512MB of RAM, and around 2GB of disk space. A Pentium 4 or later is recommended, although some older CPUs can run Arch Linux.

Notable Arch Linux derivatives include BBQLinux and Arch Linux ARM which can be installed on the Raspberry Pi.

While your PC hardware may be old, Arch Linux operates on a rolling-release system for current, continuous updates.

4. BunsenLabs Linux Lithium

Released as a community-driven continuation of the famously low-spec CrunchBang Linux distro, BunsenLabs Linux Lithium is a light OS based on Debian 10.

Employing the Openbox window manager and conky system monitor, Lithium features an assortment of GTK2.3 themes and conky configurations. This lets you customize how the desktop looks, creating a unique environment.

Lithium is available for 32-bit and 64-bit architectures. Your PC should have at least 1GB of RAM, and a 20GB hard disk drive. Note that different installation options result in slightly differing disk usage---installation from the live ISO uses 2.1GB, for example. Similarly, adding different applications at installation will result in a different storage footprint.

5. Bodhi Linux

Dubbed the Enlightened Linux Distribution, Bodhi Linux is derived from Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (64-bit version) and Ubuntu 18.04 (32-bit version). Its main design principles revolve around minimalism and the Moksha desktop. The default application array requires a measly 10MB of space.

The minimum system requirements are 512MB of RAM, 5GB of hard drive space, and a 500MHz processor. Even the recommended specs (1GB RAM, 10GB of drive space, a 1GHz processor) are rather forgiving.

6. Linux Lite

Named to match its purpose, Linux Lite is described by its developers as a "gateway operating system," perfect as an alternative to Windows. It is based on Ubuntu, and comes with various tools that you would find on Windows already preinstalled.

Linux Lite 6 has low system requirements: 768MB of RAM, a 1GHz CPU, and just 8GB of disk storage. It also needs at least 256MB of video RAM with 3D accelerator support, but you shouldn't need to worry about that in most cases. Importantly, the OS does not require TPM, and can be installed without an internet connection.

All of this makes Linux Lite ideal for anyone with an older PC that is unsuited to upgrading to Windows 11.

Linux Operating Systems Under 500MB

If you're running a PC from the 2000s, it likely has inadequate RAM installed for a modern OS. Try one of these operating systems for a machine with less than 500MB of RAM.

7. Porteus

Porteus is a Linux distro optimized for use as a live CD, to boot from a flash drive or CD. You can also install Porteus on a hard drive.

With 32-bit and 64-bit options, Porteus is one of the best Linux distros for aging PC hardware. Capable of booting up in just 15 seconds, Porteus takes up just 300MB of storage space.

Porteus can even be loaded into RAM and run purely from the system memory. Because Porteus is Portable and modular, it can be used on a variety of computer types.

8. A Popular Lightweight Linux Distro: Puppy Linux

Looking for a fast, easy to use distro? Puppy Linux is a perfect lightweight OS for an old laptop or PC. Boasting a minuscule footprint, Puppy Linux may be booted straight from a flash drive or CD. Further, Puppy Linux can even live in-memory.

Boot up typically takes less than a minute, even on older hardware. The default ISO is about 100MB, and with OpenOffice installed Puppy Linux is still under 300MB (around 256MB).

Puppy Linux is great as a full install, or simply as a live CD to use on guest PCs.

Linux Distros Under 100MB

Need to use an old, modest computer, perhaps from the last century? These are the lightest operating systems for PC, intended for machines with less than 100MB of RAM.

9. Another Lightweight OS: SliTaz

If you're seeking a light OS for that old PC, SLiTaz is lightweight and also high performance, suited as much for running from a live CD as from a disk drive.

Install SliTaz on aging PCs, servers, and even tiny ARM devices like the Raspberry Pi. You can even roll your own version.

The root file system is a mere 100MB, and the ISO image is less than 40MB. Neat features include an FTP/web server powered by Busybox, Dropbear SSH client, SQLite, and the Openbox desktop running on Xvesa/Xorg.

10. The Lightest Operating System: Tiny Core Linux

The Core Project is a Linux project offering a bare-bones experience to which you can add your own elements.

Ideal for desktop users, the TinyCore distribution features the basic Core system, X/GUI extensions for a desktop environment, and network support.

The lightest Linux distro around, TinyCore is just 16MB and can be stored on, installed from, or simply run on, a USB stick. It is also suitable for embedded devices. Additionally, it can run with under 100MB of RAM. From this modest starting point, you can add the software you need to get your old PC up and running.

While smaller versions of Core are available, TinyCore is ideal for desktop and laptop computers.

Amazing Lightweight Linux Operating Systems!

While these may be the top Linux distros to breathe new life into your old PC, there's no shortage of alternatives.

To recap, the best lightweight Linux distros for an old PC are:

• Linux Distros Under 1GB
  • Xubuntu
  • Zorin OS Lite
  • Arch Linux
  • BunsenLabs Linux Lithium
  • Bodhi Linux
  • Linux Lite
• Linux OS Under 500MB
  • Porteus
  • Puppy Linux
• Linux Distros Under 100MB
  • SliTaz
  • Tiny Core Linux

Of course, you will enjoy different levels of performance from each, depending on the hardware in your old PC. The best performance can be gained from the distros under 500MB and 100MB, but if your system is up to it, a more modern computing experience will be enjoyed with the distros requiring 1GB.