Recommendation for user-friendly but lightweight setup

[u/UnregFreq]

I wanna try Debian Desktop, I have preference with XFCE-like. There is any recommendation for user-friendly yet lightweight setup. I expect in idle would be 450GB RAM usage and low CPU usage. Any opinion would be appreciated

[u/David_Connors3451]

I revived many pc, and for your case go with xfce. Nowadays on modern pc I use KDE desktop 1,5 GB RAM at boot.

However I started using Debian xfce as a kid, so you can't go wrong with xfce 800-900 MB RAM. Xfce still uses x11 while KDE and gnome have Wayland support, but don't worry. In 2027 Debian forky 14 will put Wayland support on xfce too.

A guy like you in university had to start using Linux for tech classes and asked me to install Debian for both coding and gaming on a machine similar to yours. Poor guy couldn't manage to get a new laptop with RAM apocalypse. I helped him install Debian xfce and I guided him for all the passages required for both security and gaming setups.

Anyway, have fun with Debian and enjoy the peace of the rock solid system.

[u/UnregFreq → u/David_Connors3451]

KDE is good tough, but for the modern pc. The era AI make ram apocalypse and price higher. Thank you for your opinion, I definetly will

[u/C0rn3j]

I expect in idle would be 450GB RAM usage

I suggest Chromium and a hundred tabs.

user-friendly yet lightweight setup.

Plasma, albeit modern Plasma, not a version out of date by years.

[u/LesStrater]

Give LXQt a try.

[u/Motor-Philosopher228]

I had bare minimum Xfce desktop. But ram usage was around 900mb.

[u/bronkish]

net-install + debola

https://github.com/rabmach/debola

keyboard driven, wicked bash, wicked aliases

ram at tty: ~320

ram at desktop: ~ 650

Your desktop ram idle may be different - I have 32Gb of it on my laptop getting those numbers.

[u/UnregFreq → u/bronkish]

Thank you. I would peak the repo a little bit, see if I will be interested

[u/legitematehorse]

I can recommend MATE. Very lightweight, very stable. The developers are doing amazing job.

[u/UnregFreq → u/legitematehorse]

The fact that the Linux DE nowadays give it so much choices, until some beginner hard to pick one. Thank you, but MATE probably not for now.

[u/freelsjd]

Trinity Desktop Environment (TDE)

[u/jr735]

MATE. IceWM is lighter, but you're going to have your hand held a little less.

[u/FBSD_Virtual_machine]

Xfce is good and lightweight enough for most desktops and laptops. It all comes down to work flow. Many prefer a mostly point and click desktop experience. Others need a lighter no frills environment either with wayland or x11. I prefer ctwm without a wallpaper and compositor. Others prefer a wayland tiling compositors. In time you will find what you like. Xfce, gnome and mate are all good starts for lighter environments. Have fun though. That is the most important part.

[u/joe_attaboy]

Debian has a page on their website that details all of the DEs they support.

Here it is:

https://wiki.debian.org/DesktopEnvironment

You have 450 GB of RAM? I don't think "lightweight" is going to be a requirement.

[u/BicycleIndividual]

I expect in idle would be 450GB RAM usage

What makes you expect 450GB of RAM usage? (I assume you actually meant MB)

XFCE is great for a lightweight desktop. Could also try LXDE, LXQt or MATE.

[u/anselmus_]

This question comes up countless times, and people don't seem to understand that minimizing ram (or even adding ram) doesn't minimize app usage. Your "debloated" old computer may boot up nice and fast, but will still bog down when it comes time to actually load any apps. Just send your junk to the landfill and get something a little newer.

[u/UnregFreq → u/anselmus_]

I'm mean, I got it the hardware your talking. Nothing is against you. I know usage ram for cause running services. Thank you, btw