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[-Minsc-]

Was reading through some Linux threads and decided it may be time to test drive some distros.

Currently I'm on Linux Mint 21.3. Works well enough for me. Basically I use it for internet (web browsing, YouTube, email), Minecraft, Luanti (the game (but it's not a game, they say) formerly known as Minetest) and Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst (via Lutris). In short, nothing modern or overly taxing. In the past (when I tried Linuxing with a 2007 iMac) I've tried Pop!_OS and elementary OS.

Right now I'm thinking:

Pop!_OS
Zorin OS
CachyOS (they say it's Arch made easier, I'm sure it'll still be hard)
elementary OS
Manjaro

Will try to dual boot. Hopefully that won't be too difficult.

Quick system info

System:
  Kernel: 5.15.0-130-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 11.4.0 Desktop: Cinnamon 6.0.4
    tk: GTK 3.24.33 wm: muffin vt: 7 dm: LightDM 1.30.0 Distro: Linux Mint 21.3 Virginia
    base: Ubuntu 22.04 jammy
Machine:
  Type: Desktop Mobo: MSI model: H81M-E34 (MS-7817) v: 3.0 serial: <superuser required>
    UEFI: American Megatrends v: 17.5 date: 03/30/2015
CPU:
  Info: quad core model: Intel Core i5-4460 bits: 64 type: MCP smt: <unsupported> arch: Haswell
    rev: 3 cache: L1: 256 KiB L2: 1024 KiB L3: 6 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 3370 high: 3382 min/max: 800/3400 cores: 1: 3374 2: 3380 3: 3344 4: 3382
    bogomips: 25600
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA GM206 [GeForce GTX 950] vendor: eVga.com. driver: nvidia v: 550.120 pcie:
    speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16 ports: active: none off: HDMI-A-1 empty: DP-1, DP-2, DP-3, DVI-I-1
    bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:1402 class-ID: 0300
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.4 driver: X: loaded: nvidia
    unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,nouveau,vesa gpu: nvidia display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1920x1080 s-dpi: 95 s-size: 513x292mm (20.2x11.5") s-diag: 590mm (23.2")
  Monitor-1: HDMI-0 res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 96 size: 509x286mm (20.0x11.3") diag: 584mm (23")
  OpenGL: renderer: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950/PCIe/SSE2 v: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 550.120 direct render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 8 Series/C220 Series High Definition Audio vendor: Micro-Star MSI
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 8086:8c20 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: NVIDIA GM206 High Definition Audio vendor: eVga.com. driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
    pcie: speed: 5 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:0fba class-ID: 0403
  Device-3: C-Media Blue Snowball type: USB driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid
    bus-ID: 5-1.4:3 chip-ID: 0d8c:0005 class-ID: 0300 serial: <filter>
  Sound Server-1: ALSA v: k5.15.0-130-generic running: yes
  Sound Server-2: PulseAudio v: 15.99.1 running: yes
  Sound Server-3: PipeWire v: 0.3.48 running: yes
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet vendor: Micro-Star MSI
    driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: d000 bus-ID: 03:00.0
    chip-ID: 10ec:8168 class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp3s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 1.36 TiB used: 47.18 GiB (3.4%)
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Samsung model: SSD 870 EVO 500GB size: 465.76 GiB speed: 6.0 Gb/s
    type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: 1B6Q scheme: GPT
  ID-2: /dev/sdb vendor: Western Digital model: WD10EZEX-00BN5A0 size: 931.51 GiB
    speed: 6.0 Gb/s type: HDD rpm: 7200 serial: <filter> rev: 1A01 scheme: GPT
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 456.88 GiB used: 47.17 GiB (10.3%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda3
  ID-2: /boot/efi size: 512.1 MiB used: 6.1 MiB (1.2%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/sda1
Swap:
  ID-1: swap-1 type: file size: 2 GiB used: 36.8 MiB (1.8%) priority: -2 file: /swapfile
USB:
  Hub-1: 1-0:1 info: Full speed or root hub ports: 2 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s chip-ID: 1d6b:0002
    class-ID: 0900
  Hub-2: 1-1:2 info: Intel Integrated Rate Matching Hub ports: 4 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s
    chip-ID: 8087:8008 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-3: 2-0:1 info: Full speed or root hub ports: 2 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s chip-ID: 1d6b:0002
    class-ID: 0900
  Hub-4: 2-1:2 info: Intel Integrated Rate Matching Hub ports: 6 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s
    chip-ID: 8087:8000 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-5: 3-0:1 info: Hi-speed hub with single TT ports: 10 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s
    chip-ID: 1d6b:0002 class-ID: 0900
  Device-1: 3-8:2 info: Microsoft Xbox360 Controller type: <vendor specific> driver: xpad
    interfaces: 4 rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s power: 500mA chip-ID: 045e:028e class-ID: ff00
    serial: <filter>
  Device-2: 3-9:3 info: Primax Dell Mouse 2 Buttons Modell: MS111-P type: Mouse
    driver: hid-generic,usbhid interfaces: 1 rev: 2.0 speed: 1.5 Mb/s power: 100mA
    chip-ID: 0461:4e22 class-ID: 0301
  Device-3: 3-10:4 info: Weltrend wired Keyboard [Dynex DX-WRK1401] type: Keyboard,Mouse
    driver: hid-generic,usbhid interfaces: 2 rev: 1.1 speed: 1.5 Mb/s power: 100mA
    chip-ID: 040b:2000 class-ID: 0301
  Hub-6: 4-0:1 info: Super-speed hub ports: 2 rev: 3.0 speed: 5 Gb/s chip-ID: 1d6b:0003
    class-ID: 0900
  Hub-7: 5-0:1 info: Hi-speed hub with single TT ports: 1 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s
    chip-ID: 1d6b:0002 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-8: 5-1:2 info: VIA Labs Hub ports: 4 rev: 2.1 speed: 480 Mb/s power: 100mA
    chip-ID: 2109:3431 class-ID: 0900
  Device-1: 5-1.4:3 info: C-Media Blue Snowball type: Audio,HID
    driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid interfaces: 3 rev: 1.1 speed: 12 Mb/s power: 100mA
    chip-ID: 0d8c:0005 class-ID: 0300 serial: <filter>
  Hub-9: 6-0:1 info: Super-speed hub ports: 4 rev: 3.0 speed: 5 Gb/s chip-ID: 1d6b:0003
    class-ID: 0900
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 29.8 C mobo: 27.8 C gpu: nvidia temp: 36 C
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A gpu: nvidia fan: 0%
Repos:
  Packages: 2744 apt: 2720 flatpak: 24
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
    1: deb http: //mirror.scd31.com/mint virginia main upstream import backport
    2: deb http: //mirror.its.dal.ca/ubuntu jammy main restricted universe multiverse
    3: deb http: //mirror.its.dal.ca/ubuntu jammy-updates main restricted universe multiverse
    4: deb http: //mirror.its.dal.ca/ubuntu jammy-backports main restricted universe multiverse
    5: deb http: //security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jammy-security main restricted universe multiverse
Info:
  Processes: 275 Uptime: 1h 7m wakeups: 0 Memory: 7.69 GiB used: 3.16 GiB (41.0%) Init: systemd
  v: 249 runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 11.4.0 alt: 11/12 Client: Cinnamon v: 6.0.4 inxi: 3.3.13

Any more suggestions based on what I've said so far?

 

[od-chan]

I've never been a fan of all these super-specific weird distros. Debian, Gentoo, Arch, maybe Ubuntu or Mint, sure. Pop OS sounds like some zoomer bullshit.

 

[Syphon Filter]

Since you mentioned an open source game(luanti) I can recommened 0 a.d which is an rts still in progress. super tux kart is also fun if you like kart racing games.

 

[MrCunningham]

I've been a long time Linux user since 2007. I have been using Linux Mint since 2015. At this point, I am so embedded into this distro that I find it hard to switch to anything else. I haven't really run into any 'limitations' that I can't solve, and never really found another distro that suits my needs better. I tried to go to manjaro. But I keep reeling myself back over to Mint.

 

[ReBurn]

For everything I do outside of work I usually install either Debian or Ubuntu. Both are stable and reliable for me. Pop! is interesting with the STEM focus, but I've not actually found a compelling reason to try it. Zorin seems like Ubuntu with extra steps.

 

[kikkis]

I used linux for 6 months in 2021. Can't say I liked it. Mouse wheel scrolling is slow as shit and not smoothed. It supposedly has package manager for apps, but lot of stuff needs to break out multiple commands from a web site and no easy way to just get executable binary. I had audio issues on two computers. And some apps and games have poor Linux support.

 

[El Muerto]

I use Pop OS on my htpc and it's been working out pretty well and plays nice with my avr. Nvidia drivers are built in and afaik it's the only distro with hybrid mode where you can switch from the intel igpu to your nvidia dgpu easily. I use amd so my drivers are built into the kernel. It's built off of ubuntu so commands are similar to Mint.
Zorin has been around for a while. Very lightweight and gets decent support.
There's distros that come and go. Stick to one that's been around for a while. Also if you are dualbooting both windows and linux, make a windows recovery disk or something. When grub (linux bootloader) updates it sometimes breaks the windows boot entry. When it does, open command prompt from the windows recovery or install disk and run the commands "bootrec /fixmbr" "bootrec /fixboot" and "bootrec /RebuildBcd" which usually fixes it. But you'll need to reinstall grub too. This is why i use a 2nd hdd and pick which hdd to boot from my bios bootup menu.
Arch distros arent that much harder. File structure is a little different, different package manager. But way more reliable than debian distros imo.

 

[Hudo]

Fedora Silverblue for personal and work-from-home stuff. Ubuntu at work, with the occasional Windows 11 stint inbetween.

 

[Kenneth Haight]

Kali

 

[-Minsc-]

Since you mentioned an open source game(luanti) I can recommened 0 a.d which is an rts still in progress. super tux kart is also fun if you like kart racing games.

I tried 0 A.D. over about a decade ago, it didn't catch my interest. May check it out again to see what they've added. I have had more enjoyment with Battle For Wesnoth.

I've been a long time Linux user since 2007. I have been using Linux Mint since 2015. At this point, I am so embedded into this distro that I find it hard to switch to anything else. I haven't really run into any 'limitations' that I can't solve, and never really found another distro that suits my needs better. I tried to go to manjaro. But I keep reeling myself back over to Mint.

Like you, there's a good chance I'll just stick with Mint. I do know Mint can be outdated in terms of features but the benefit of stability is appealing to me. Manjaro, I remember hearing about that one now.

I use Pop OS on my htpc and it's been working out pretty well and plays nice with my avr. Nvidia drivers are built in and afaik it's the only distro with hybrid mode where you can switch from the intel igpu to your nvidia dgpu easily. I use amd so my drivers are built into the kernel. It's built off of ubuntu so commands are similar to Mint.
Zorin has been around for a while. Very lightweight and gets decent support.
There's distros that come and go. Stick to one that's been around for a while. Also if you are dualbooting both windows and linux, make a windows recovery disk or something. When grub (linux bootloader) updates it sometimes breaks the windows boot entry. When it does, open command prompt from the windows recovery or install disk and run the commands "bootrec /fixmbr" "bootrec /fixboot" and "bootrec /RebuildBcd" which usually fixes it. But you'll need to reinstall grub too. This is why i use a 2nd hdd and pick which hdd to boot from my bios bootup menu.
Arch distros arent that much harder. File structure is a little different, different package manager. But way more reliable than debian distros imo.

Switching between igpu and my nvidia gpu sounds interesting. When I eventually replace this PC a part of me wonders if I'll even need to buy a dedicated GPU for what I use it for.

I won't be dualbooting with Windows. Instead it'll be with another Linux distribution.

 

[RCX]

Longtime mint user but recently switched to Cachy. It is arch made easier.

Found it to be surprisingly user friendly so far.

 

[Trilobit]

What is the most ultra-lightweight and minimalist distro with GUI today?

In terms of size of the OS itself, how little computing power it requires or how well it runs on even a potato? Doesn't have to be able to booted from stick.

 

[Trogdor1123]

which ones are the most windows like?

Or do all of these require some brain power?

 

[Melon Husk]

which ones are the most windows like?

Or do all of these require some brain power?

Zorin, but it feels old. elementaryOS is like Mac and requires the least brain power. Pop OS is the most interesting one but also the most unfinished.