Post History
2 GB is not particularly small for Linux. "Low memory distros" would be things like OpenWRT, which can run on 64 MB of RAM. Linux itself will probably take about 150 MB of RAM so this isn't the is...
#3: Post edited
by
GeraldS
·
2025-10-15T04:54:45Z (11 months ago)
made the abbrevation DE more clear and clarified that with Plasma KDE is meant
- 2 GB is not particularly small for Linux. "Low memory distros" would be things like OpenWRT, which can run on 64 MB of RAM.
Linux itself will probably take about 150 MB of RAM so this isn't the issue. Your DE (graphics) will eat the lion's share. Probably the most bloated DE is Plasma, so don't use that. Gnome can also be heavy. Even Plasma or Gnome can be made to fit under 1 GB with some tweaking. But rather than removing all the things you don't want, it's easier to start with a minimal distro like Arch and add only what you need (like a lightweight WM from the wiki).- Unfortunately you can't solve the real problem by switching distros: Bloatfox browsers, JS atrocity websites, electron crapware will hog your resources regardless of what OS or DE you're on. And if you try to ask for help or complain to devs, enjoy being told to "buy more ram lol".
- 2 GB is not particularly small for Linux. "Low memory distros" would be things like OpenWRT, which can run on 64 MB of RAM.
- Linux itself will probably take about 150 MB of RAM so this isn't the issue. Your DE (graphical desktop environment) will eat the lion's share. Probably the most bloated DE is KDE Plasma, so don't use that. Gnome can also be heavy. Even Plasma or Gnome can be made to fit under 1 GB with some tweaking. But rather than removing all the things you don't want, it's easier to start with a minimal distro like Arch and add only what you need (like a lightweight WM from the wiki).
- Unfortunately you can't solve the real problem by switching distros: Bloatfox browsers, JS atrocity websites, electron crapware will hog your resources regardless of what OS or DE you're on. And if you try to ask for help or complain to devs, enjoy being told to "buy more ram lol".
#2: Post edited
by
matthewsnyder
·
2025-10-05T19:37:13Z (12 months ago)
- 2 GB is not particularly small for Linux. "Low memory distros" would be things like OpenWRT, which can run on 64 MB of RAM.
- Linux itself will probably take about 150 MB of RAM so this isn't the issue. Your DE (graphics) will eat the lion's share. Probably the most bloated DE is Plasma, so don't use that. Gnome can also be heavy. Even Plasma or Gnome can be made to fit under 1 GB with some tweaking. But rather than removing all the things you don't want, it's easier to start with a minimal distro like Arch and add only what you need (like a lightweight WM from the wiki).
Unfortunately you can't solve the real problem by switching distros: Bloatfox browsers, JS atrocity websites, electron crapware will hog your resources regardless of what OS or DE you're on. And if you try to ask for help or complain to devs, you can enjoy being told to just "buy more ram lol".
- 2 GB is not particularly small for Linux. "Low memory distros" would be things like OpenWRT, which can run on 64 MB of RAM.
- Linux itself will probably take about 150 MB of RAM so this isn't the issue. Your DE (graphics) will eat the lion's share. Probably the most bloated DE is Plasma, so don't use that. Gnome can also be heavy. Even Plasma or Gnome can be made to fit under 1 GB with some tweaking. But rather than removing all the things you don't want, it's easier to start with a minimal distro like Arch and add only what you need (like a lightweight WM from the wiki).
- Unfortunately you can't solve the real problem by switching distros: Bloatfox browsers, JS atrocity websites, electron crapware will hog your resources regardless of what OS or DE you're on. And if you try to ask for help or complain to devs, enjoy being told to "buy more ram lol".
#1: Initial revision
by
matthewsnyder
·
2025-10-05T19:36:14Z (12 months ago)
2 GB is not particularly small for Linux. "Low memory distros" would be things like OpenWRT, which can run on 64 MB of RAM. Linux itself will probably take about 150 MB of RAM so this isn't the issue. Your DE (graphics) will eat the lion's share. Probably the most bloated DE is Plasma, so don't use that. Gnome can also be heavy. Even Plasma or Gnome can be made to fit under 1 GB with some tweaking. But rather than removing all the things you don't want, it's easier to start with a minimal distro like Arch and add only what you need (like a lightweight WM from the wiki). Unfortunately you can't solve the real problem by switching distros: Bloatfox browsers, JS atrocity websites, electron crapware will hog your resources regardless of what OS or DE you're on. And if you try to ask for help or complain to devs, you can enjoy being told to just "buy more ram lol".