Any sub 200MiB (RAM used) Distros with a Desktop out there..?

Andy-1 · 01-05-2023, 01:36 PM

As the title says – With a listed Desktop ie LXDE, LXQT, KDE, XFCE etc rather than those WM+FM+Panel distros? Mostly interested in those distros with a good selection of software – Browser, Gimp, Libre Office, Sound and video with the usual tools or utilities.

Would be great to see a screenshot of your desktop running Htop with mem column clicked - or even just free -h with date command. For those who make screencasts you could upload to imgur and grab a link.

Probably been done before but an update of such posts would be good for 2023 as a reference for all interested in efficient setups rather than blinged up bloat.

Before joining recently I used to skim this forum and others for such – I suspect I was not alone in doing this...?

Happy New Year

Jan K. · 01-05-2023, 06:34 PM

Desktop bloat??

Do any browser gobble up less than 200 Mb on their own?

mrmazda · 01-06-2023, 04:12 AM

Code:

Booted to graphical.target, logged into KDE3 session, running Konsole:
# free
               total        used        free      shared  buff/cache   available
Mem:         1004088      319532      449292       35108      419680      684556
Swap:        1052220           0     1052220
# inxi -S
System:
  Host: gx260 Kernel: 6.0.12-1-default arch: i686 bits: 32 Desktop: KDE
    v: 3.5.10 Distro: openSUSE Tumbleweed 20230103

Booted to multi-user.target:
# free
               total        used        free      shared  buff/cache   available
Mem:         1004108      200272      791996        1628      154812      803836
Swap:        1052220           0     1052220

Used by KDE session:      119260

Forgot to mention I did nothing to reduce RAM consumption for this. It has Samba and NFS services enabled, and who knows what else running in background in a basically default installation.

syg00 · 01-06-2023, 04:21 AM

What are you planning on using the extra (supposedly unused) RAM for, if not running software on your system ?.

This all seems so last century.

fatmac · 01-06-2023, 08:45 AM

Tiny Core Linux may fit the bill, (maybe SliTaz), but why so restrictive of ram use; if you only have 256MB ram, there are a few distros that will work OK, but they certainly won't be running KDE/Gnome!

(AntiX might work too, but it uses WMs.)

Hannes Worst · 01-06-2023, 12:23 PM

Void Linux x86_64 with lxde uses a mere 185 MB on idle. It's not de desktop environment that uses the most of RAM.

Andy-1 · 01-08-2023, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatmac

Tiny Core Linux may fit the bill, (maybe SliTaz), but why so restrictive of ram use; if you only have 256MB ram, there are a few distros that will work OK, but they certainly won't be running KDE/Gnome!

(AntiX might work too, but it uses WMs.)

Thanks FatMac "but why so restrictive of ram use" - Just so folk like Lubuntu users who think they are Lightwight cause web site says so - have no need to post here. It will be interesting to see if any Distro+Xfce or LXQT makes the grade?

It should help keep the list of nominees short to include only Distros+DEs that are efficient with resources - hopefully...
Hopefully those that can be installed effectively on recent or older laptops or towers.
Hopefully those that consume less electrical power, providing a little help to save our planet.

You can very, very easily set up LXDE desktop on Antix or just install Loc-OS

To do nothing when catastrophic weather around every part of our shared planet should ring alarm bells for you personally is...
So last Year - Er?
So last decade - Er?
So last century - Er?
So last millennium

Andy-1 · 01-10-2023, 10:54 AM

Thanks Hannes Worst of Tilburg - (I was in Tilburg visiting friends way back in 70's whilst working at GM in Antwerp.)

Void Linux x86_64 with lxde uses a mere 185 MB on idle. - That's very efficient with resources.
Do not know Void Linux so must take a look... Thank you

It's not de desktop environment that uses the most of RAM. Yes - taken for granted.
Still find it strange that the supposed lightweight Lubuntu uses more resources than say Antix-LXDE for every app..
Anyone can validate this or visit...

https://www.chippiko.com/lubuntu-vs-antix-ram

The comparison table says it all -

rokytnji · 01-10-2023, 02:33 PM

Code:

shop1:~
$ free -h
               total        used        free      shared  buff/cache   available
Mem:           2.7Gi       136Mi       1.3Gi       0.0Ki       1.2Gi       2.4Gi
Swap:          3.9Gi       0.0Ki       3.9Gi

https://imgur.com/a/HnIz9yO

mrmazda · 01-10-2023, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rokytnji

Code:

shop1:~
$ free -h
               total        used        free      shared  buff/cache   available
Mem:           2.7Gi       136Mi       1.3Gi       0.0Ki       1.2Gi       2.4Gi
Swap:          3.9Gi       0.0Ki       3.9Gi

Booting what OS to what boot state, and if to desktop (aka runlevel 5 or graphical.target), using what DE?

Quote:

https://imgur.com/a/HnIz9yO

Requires scripting, so not available here.

Andy-1 · 01-10-2023, 03:20 PM

Suspect that there is no DE as imgur seems to show Antix 21-22 hybrid IceWM with a panel.

If you look at the imgur image https://imgur.com/a/HnIz9yO
You will see that Conky is displaying 262MiB RAM used with the usual heavy - "antiX linux 22 with icewm and FT-10 Tweaks" pushing the resource into the Swap Zone.

I could post any figures I choose to edit but would they be reproducible by other LQ members or stand up to the slightest scrutiny?

jefro · 01-10-2023, 09:10 PM

QNX demo floppy.

rokytnji · 01-11-2023, 08:12 AM

Grinning. Bye.

fatmac · 01-11-2023, 09:06 AM

My Devuan/XFCE on startup with wifi, not quite as small as you want, but decent size for old computers.

Code:

$ free -m
               total        used        free      shared  buff/cache   available
Mem:            3730         338        3035          35         356        3141
Swap:            255           0         255

Andy-1 · 01-11-2023, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jefro

QMX demo floppy.

I think you are referring to QNX rather than QMX…?

As in QNX 7.1 July 23, 2020

The BlackBerry PlayBook tablet computer designed by BlackBerry uses a version of QNX as the primary operating system. The BlackBerry 10 operating system is also based on QNX. It all ended in complete failure with little market penetration.
QNX is also used in car infotainment systems. It is supported by popular SSL/TLS libraries such as wolfSSL.

Various videos on internet – all much the same – take your pick!

No hard disk required - It seems to be light as it has and does very little, it also cannot interface with modern browsers or web pages. Perhaps the poster can illuminate any potential uses for LQ members?