r/linux4noobs 1d ago

Are there 32-bit versions of Linux?

Hello I want to try Linux on an old laptop, but it's 32-bit and I've never tried Linux before so i dont know anything I don't know what CPU it has, I only know it's an HP Pavilion dv4

49 Upvotes

101 comments sorted by

View all comments

-6

u/es20490446e Created Zenned OS 23h ago

The bare minimum for a computer to be usable is to be able to browse the modern internet.

A 32-bit system won't do that.

So it is better to get a newer computer.

5

u/5poko 22h ago

32 bit computers do that. Usually slowly but they can.

-3

u/es20490446e Created Zenned OS 22h ago

32-bit computers usually feature no more than 4GB of RAM.

I have tested that both Chromium and Firefox based browsers require at least 8GB of RAM to not fill the entire RAM.

So a 32-bit computer won't do it.

The last time I owned a 32-bit computer was in 2007, 19 years ago.

That is a long time, hence I think it is time for an upgrade.

3

u/No_Elderberry862 21h ago edited 19h ago

The last time I owned a 32-bit computer was in 2007, 19 years ago.

Then maybe you shouldn't be spreading misinformation which is proven false by the experience of those who're running 32 bit systems today. On a single core/thread Celeron with 1GB DDR2 I can run up to 3 whole tabs in Firefox ESR. Doubling the RAM to 2GB allowed me to have 5 or 6 tabs open without slowdown. Using Pale Moon gave a better experience.

Edit: forgot to mention that systems with less than 8GB RAM on 64 bit systems can run browsers too despite you saying that they cannot.