DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

Ubuntu for P-3 PCs

39 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/ubuntu-for-p-3-pcs.79714/

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suniltr77 Original post #1
Feb 5, 2008 at 2:37 PM
Can anybody suggest which of the last version of UBUNTU can be installed smoothly on a P-3 PC having 128 MB of RAM. Please give the details of downloading the file also.
praka123
Feb 5, 2008 at 3:26 PM
install Xubuntu.
*www.xubuntu.org/
MetalheadGautham
Feb 5, 2008 at 3:40 PM
But I personally recomend Gentoo if you are an experienced user, for old systems.
And there is also Knoppix for experienced linux users.
For normal users, there is Vector Linux. Its fast and looks great.
Damn Small Linux when expanded is another good option(its a debian, like ubuntu)
M
Feb 5, 2008 at 3:49 PM
Rather slackware is better for older systems. Gentoo is good but you need another powerful machine to cross compile the packages.
I'd rather recommend slackware based distro which uses a lightweight WM instead of a DE as the RAM is a bit low for any DE. Like MetalheadGautham recommended, Vector Linux is one good choice. Or you may try out Arch, but that will require you to do a bit more manual work.
MetalheadGautham
Feb 5, 2008 at 3:58 PM
Rather slackware is better for older systems. Gentoo is good but you need another powerful machine to cross compile the packages.
I'd rather recommend slackware based distro which uses a lightweight WM instead of a DE as the RAM is a bit low for any DE. Like MetalheadGautham recommended, Vector Linux is one good choice. Or you may try out Arch, but that will require you to do a bit more manual work.
I think Vector will be purrrrfect in that case. It looks good too, and by looking good, I mean much better than Ubuntu. So you won't be offended by ugly environments in Vector Linux.

Its fairly simple to use, and there are countless Slackware .tgz packages of software available on the net. There is a site dedicated for it, but I forgot the name. Go to wikipedia and look for vector linux for more info.

Don't try Arch Linux or Knoppix if you are a linux n00b. They will startle you the first week you use them. Go easy on yourself.

Xubuntu is a good OS, as its veeeery simple to use. But its default theme also sucks, like ubuntu's. But atleast its a fairly simple two minute job to make it look like(or better) than windows XP, Vector Linux, etc through the default resorces.

PS: I am waiting still for the final release of 5.9 live cd to come out. Is it out yet ? The last time I saw, only the installer CD of 5.9 was out for download. I am looking for the live CD as it can be used for both installation and live system running.
M
Feb 5, 2008 at 4:02 PM
Its fairly simple to use, and there are countless Slackware .tgz packages of software available on the net. There is a site dedicated for it, but I forgot the name.
*linuxpackages.net/ ?
M
Feb 5, 2008 at 4:12 PM
Proves that you aren't hardcore slackware fan :p
gary4gar
Feb 5, 2008 at 4:45 PM
Vector Linux runs kde?
so how it can be for older pcs?
nileshgr
nileshgr #10
Feb 5, 2008 at 5:27 PM
KDE works on P3s. I myself have tried it on Fedora 7 on my box with 384 Mb RAM. It consumes about 150~250 Mb RAM and a lot of Disk Space :)evil:). Though it works well but I like GNOME.
infra_red_dude
Feb 5, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Can anybody suggest which of the last version of UBUNTU can be installed smoothly on a P-3 PC having 128 MB of RAM. Please give the details of downloading the file also.
Since you are specifically asking for ubuntu based distros you can try gebuntu: *geubuntu.wikispaces.com/Live+CD

This is ubuntu based on enlightenment (a very light window manager) and well integrated. However enlightenment may be a big buggy. You can try the live cd first :)
O
Feb 7, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Can you suggest a Linux distro for the following System :
Pentium III Processor
450 MHz
64.0 MB Ram
nileshgr
nileshgr #14
Feb 7, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Can you suggest a Linux distro for the following System :
Pentium III Processor
450 MHz
64.0 MB Ram
lol 64 MB RAM ?

try Damn Small Linux (DSL)
ray|raven
ray|raven #15
Feb 7, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Try Zenwalk.
Its based on slackware and runs great on older systems.
It boots in less than 15seconds on my 256meg system.
M
mehulved #16
Feb 7, 2008 at 2:43 PM
And for one, I am running Mandriva 2006 with KDE on Celeron with 128MB of RAM. I know it's a bit outdated and not really suggested but maybe you can try a newer version and see if it works. Mandriva is a quite easy to use distro.
nileshgr
nileshgr #17
Feb 7, 2008 at 2:59 PM
And for one, I am running Mandriva 2006 with KDE on Celeron with 128MB of RAM. I know it's a bit outdated and not really suggested but maybe you can try a newer version and see if it works. Mandriva is a quite easy to use distro.
hey u were a slackware guy ? :confused:
infra_red_dude
Feb 7, 2008 at 3:57 PM
And for one, I am running Mandriva 2006 with KDE on Celeron with 128MB of RAM. I know it's a bit outdated and not really suggested but maybe you can try a newer version and see if it works. Mandriva is a quite easy to use distro.
Yes, that sounds good. Upgrade the kernel. Mostly thats all the upgrade you need to do!
MetalheadGautham
Feb 7, 2008 at 4:12 PM
Can you suggest a Linux distro for the following System :
Pentium III Processor
450 MHz
64.0 MB Ram
Its recomended that you upgrade your ram and make it 128 mb or 256 mb.
If you do that, the distros will run much better.
Your system is not too bad at running some distros.

I suggest you look at Vector Linux, Damn Small Linux, Knoppix and Xubuntu(only if you up the ram to 128 mb. Else its very slow.)

@mehulved: Nice. I guess as long as your kernel is light enough and up to date, you needn't upgrade your distro. But you know how linux is. Using older distros is discouraged here, unless there is a huge difference between the newer and the older distro in places like GUI, WM, etc.

@ The Unknown: Don't go about asking if some one is a Linux guy, windows guy, macintosh guy, slackware guy, etc. It just doesn't make sence. People are not required by law to swear alliance with an OS and become its fanboy.
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mehulved #20
Feb 7, 2008 at 5:25 PM
hey u were a slackware guy ? :confused:
I don't use slackware cos I don't use linux now.
And anyways it's one of the college PC's. They run various kinds of linux like debian, ubuntu, gentoo, arch, mandriva, CentOS and there's also one running PC-BSD but ubuntu is the default on all the PC's.
MetalheadGautham
Feb 7, 2008 at 5:32 PM
I don't use slackware cos I don't use linux now.
And anyways it's one of the college PC's. They run various kinds of linux like debian, ubuntu, gentoo, arch, mandriva, CentOS and there's also one running PC-BSD but ubuntu is the default on all the PC's.
which collage do you study in that has these many distros ? :shock:
MetalheadGautham
Feb 7, 2008 at 6:48 PM
I work at NRC-FOSS Mumbai Node at VJTI College. And I have to manage that Lab ;)
You work there ? Meaning you have qualified as a CERTIFIED LINUX ADMINISTRATOR ?:shock:
mehulved uncle, you really are a big pick here at this forums :lol:
M
mehulved #25
Feb 8, 2008 at 3:17 AM
You work there ? Meaning you have qualified as a CERTIFIED LINUX ADMINISTRATOR ?:shock:
mehulved uncle, you really are a big pick here at this forums :lol:
I am not certified at all.
And I have some big BOFH's and b1gsh0ts to help me in case of problems :) one of them on this forum.
praka123
praka123 #26
Feb 8, 2008 at 6:50 AM
bofh's :lol: .i think @gnurag will be helping u?
praka123
praka123 #28
Feb 8, 2008 at 4:22 PM
^no way!I used to help him when he was new to Linux with username techurfuture.now he is such a g33k at this tender age ! :D
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FilledVoid #29
Feb 9, 2008 at 4:37 PM
Actually you can run any version of Ubuntu on that machine. However what you run will basically determine the amount of tweaks you need to setup for the it to work.

Read this *kmandla.wordpress.com/2007/10/20/howto-set-up-gutsy-for-speed/

An extract from the guide.

To that end, Ubuntu is a great solution, with the only downside being that it's not very light by default. From my experience, a stock, Gnome-based Ubuntu system (regardless of the release) works best on machines faster than about 1Ghz -- a number that will depend on your tolerance for sluggishness. On computers slower than that, I find Gnome Ubuntu to be unbearable.

Kubuntu is about the same for me. And while Xubuntu has a reputation for being lighter than its Gnome or KDE cousins, it has matured into a rather hefty distribution. Xubuntu once promised a GTK2-based environment whenever possible, but now much of the Xubuntu framework is being replaced with Gnome counterparts, to ease development work and to satisfy the demands of its user base. Your experiences may differ, but from what I've seen, the threshold for Xubuntu is not much lower than straight Ubuntu.

So more often than not, the best solution for all these problems -- aged hardware, increased workload and bulky software -- is to start with the lowest possible level of function, and add to it. That means starting from the purest form of Ubuntu, and tweaking it to improve speed. Then you pick the core level programs you want, the fundamental software you want, and ultimately design a system how you want. In all, you could end up with a machine that performs faster than you ever expected.

Most of the tweaks in this guide are intended for machines that predate the Pentium 4 generation, but post-date the Pentium Pro. That means you'll see the best results on a machine between roughly 1Ghz and 150Mhz. If you're on a newer machine, you'll find that the innate speed of your hardware makes the tweaks pointless. In the same way, a machine slower than 150Mhz won't see much improvement -- the hardware is so slow that the tweak has no appreciable effect. But regardless of your hardware, give them all a try.
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suniltr77 #30
May 21, 2008 at 12:27 AM
I found the ISO file of UBUNTU 5.10 on DIGIT April 2006 DVD which is a perfect match for what I was searching for. I want to see some kids grow with LINUX. And for this UBUNTU is the best in my view.
CadCrazy
CadCrazy #31
May 21, 2008 at 1:08 AM
bumping old thread
MetalheadGautham
May 21, 2008 at 1:21 AM
I thought this threas was dead loooong ago
praka123
praka123 #33
May 21, 2008 at 1:24 AM
latest Ubuntu try- Hardy Heron :)
infra_red_dude
May 21, 2008 at 7:49 AM
Since you've bumped the thread, lemme suggest PUD Linux. Its based on Ubuntu 8.04 and a completely stripped down version. The installer is 256MB in size!!!
nileshgr
nileshgr #35
May 21, 2008 at 9:49 AM
Fedora 9!! I am using it on a P3 500 Mhz box!!
MetalheadGautham
May 21, 2008 at 10:59 PM
Fedora 9!! I am using it on a P3 500 Mhz box!!
WTF ? I booted into the Gnome Live CD. Including CD checking(3min) it took 15 mins and still didn't show the gnome bars. Restarted.

I think Knoppix is the best. It works like a charm on my machine.
nileshgr
nileshgr #37
May 22, 2008 at 6:53 AM
WTF ? I booted into the Gnome Live CD. Including CD checking(3min) it took 15 mins and still didn't show the gnome bars. Restarted.

I think Knoppix is the best. It works like a charm on my machine.
darn! I am using INSTALLED.. it works nice for me :)
MetalheadGautham
May 22, 2008 at 3:00 PM
darn! I am using INSTALLED.. it works nice for me :)
but how can the performance be that different ?
I know knoppix is made to be live but still...
knoppix + kde + kdm + compiz fusion
it ran very very fast
but fedora took 15 mins and pannel still not loaded.
nileshgr
nileshgr #39
May 22, 2008 at 5:33 PM
but how can the performance be that different ?
I know knoppix is made to be live but still...
knoppix + kde + kdm + compiz fusion
it ran very very fast
but fedora took 15 mins and pannel still not loaded.
live cds sometimes suck.... or you might be having a corrupt cd. ;)