Recently I've gave up Windows for Linux and installed Ubuntu with KDE Plasma desktop on my pc and laptop from 2007. It's an i7 Intel processor with 8gb ddr ram so I thought it would be fine, but it seems quite sluggish. What distro could I use that would be faster and still fully functional? Thanks for your help in advance.

  • Moobythegoldensock@lemm.ee
    ·
    1 year ago

    I’d try Xubuntu or Lubuntu, but honestly KDE should run fine on those specs.

    I suspect it has an HDD: you’ll get a much more noticeable boost from upgrading to a $35 SSD than any distro choice will give you.

    • u/lukmly013 💾 (lemmy.sdf.org)@lemmy.sdf.org
      ·
      1 year ago

      Can confirm. I had a 2007 laptop (Compal FL90) with far worse specs. Core 2 Duo T7100 (I upgraded it to T7500, small difference), Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT, 4GB DDR2 RAM (previously 3GB). Then I replaced the original 80GB Fujitsu HDD made in September 2006 for a cheap SSD. Damn. I started using that laptop most of the time. It felt way faster than my main laptop (with SMR HDD).

      I got extra 2 years out of it before it died. I really miss that laptop.

      Edit: I ran Linux Mint Cinnamon and Windows 11 on it. Yes, 11.

        • u/lukmly013 💾 (lemmy.sdf.org)@lemmy.sdf.org
          ·
          1 year ago
          1. I was taking it to school. I didn't really have to worry much about this laptop. I got it for free, it wasn't worth too much, and it was an indestructible brick.
          2. Storage size. I needed more storage in my main laptop while 128GB was enough for this one.
          3. Reliability. This was SSD from AliExpress (XrayDisk). Not reliable enough for a main machine. And indeed, 2 years later and it has corrupted sectors.
          4. Ease of replacement. This old laptop only required unscrewing 1 screw to replace the HDD. Originally it would be 4, but they were missing along with HDD caddy. Meanwhile checking video on how to open my main laptop... I'd probably tear some wires, break the plastic and also destroy the rubber feet which are somehow quite expensive.