Most people want to install an operating system for their desktop like Ubuntu, Kubuntu, or Xubuntu. OS (including based on Linux), as a rule, is used for personal computing tasks and has a graphical user interface (GUI), while the server system has a command-line interface (CLI).
Ubuntu - minimum system requirements
Recommended minimum system requirements are options that should allow you to perform a new installation of Ubuntu so that it functions correctly. The good news is that devices that run XP, Vista, Windows 7 or x86 OS X almost always work much faster with Ubuntu, even if they are quite old. To make sure of this, try downloading it as a Live CD to first check the hardware capabilities.
What are the Linux system requirements for Ubuntu ?
Your device must have the following hardware properties:
- 700 MHz processor (near Intel Celeron or better).
- 512 MB RAM (system memory).
- 5 GB of hard disk space (or a flash card, memory card or external hard drive, but LiveCD is suitable for an alternative approach).
- VGA and screen resolution of 1024x768.
- Either a CD / DVD drive or a USB port to run the installer.
- Internet access is useful, but not 100% required.
Screen resolution will be set to the highest setting at which your video card can work. But if the load will increase, you should use the Low graphics mode option, which allows you to make better settings for your monitor.
On the one hand, hardware manufactured over the past few years, or devices designed for a specific purpose, can often work well at lower cost. For example, a netbook with an 8 GB SSD will work well with Ubuntu, although there will be a lack of space for data storage. In this case, a cloud service can help.
On the other hand, an old computer, released about 15 years ago and having 8 GB on an IDE hard drive, most likely will not work correctly with the new OS, since the system requirements recommended for Ubuntu will not be met. You can try installing Ubuntu on it, but it is advisable to use not new versions. Also, some GNU / Linux distributions may require very powerful hardware (for example, Ubuntu GNOME).
All 64-bit (x86-64) processors must be fast enough to work well with Ubuntu (whose system requirements may seem significant). Nevertheless, this OS can boot well on the 32-bit (x86) version. For an optimized installation (and especially for those who want to work with more than 3 GB of RAM), however, a 64-bit installation disk is more desirable. The 32-bit version is generally easier to use and works for smaller tasks.
For new versions
Ubuntu Desktop 14.04 and above uses Unity as the default graphical user interface , while previous releases use GNOME panels. In order to run Unity, the system needs a more powerful graphics adapter. In this case, for Ubuntu 14. 04, the system requirements are as follows:
- 1000 ÎHz processor (Intel Celeron or better).
- 1024 MB of RAM.
- Video adapter at least 256 MB.
However, practice shows that it is recommended to have 2048 MB of RAM for the smooth operation of modern versions of Ubuntu.
Computers that are 10 years old or older (originally purchased with Windows ME or Windows 2000 preinstalled) that do not meet these requirements are likely to come up with some modification (RAM should usually be upgraded to the required level). In addition, you can always download a lightweight distribution or perform a minimal installation of Ubuntu.
The easiest and most efficient step to a minimal Ubuntu installation is to download a lightweight desktop environment. Of the above Desktop Environment, the most famous are Xfce (Xubuntu) and LXDE (Lubuntu). Some of the larger applications (such as LibreOffice) could be replaced with very light equivalents.
Visual effects
Visual effects provide various additional graphical options for the desktop to make it more attractive and easy to use. Even if your computer is powerful enough to run visual effects, you can still turn them off while still having the useful Ubuntu OS.
Visual effects will be included in the default download if you have a GPU (video card or integrated chipset) that is supported by Ubuntu. Supported GPU manufacturers are as follows:
- ATI (some may require the proprietary fglrx driver).
- Intel (i915 or later, with the exception of the GMA 500, also known as Poulsbo).
- NVidia (with proprietary driver).
- Lightweight GUI alternative (Xubuntu and Lubuntu).
Light version
If you have an old computer or device with low hardware properties, and you want to get the most out of your equipment by installing Linux on it, you have the opportunity. In such a case, lightweight operating systems such as Xubuntu or Lubuntu would be ideal. They allow you to more effectively use the resources of your device. However, if your system has less than 192 MB of system memory, use an alternative installation CD.
The minimum system requirements for Xubuntu will be roughly between Ubuntu Server and Desktop:
- 512 MB of random access memory (RAM).
- 5 GB of disk space.
- Graphics card and monitor supporting 800x600 resolution.
In addition, you can always use one of the versions of Ubuntu, the system requirements of which are very small. So, to install Lubuntu, you can use computers with even less memory than indicated above.