Arch on Pentium 200MHz and 64Mb RAM

MickeyKnox · 2012-07-12 13:59:49

I have an old computer with a Intel Pentium 200MHz CPU and 64Mb RAM.
Is that machine suitable to run archlinux?

I'm also open to suggestions for other linux distributions better suited for
such an old computer. I think i have no need for arch's bleeding edge approach on that machine.

I have experience with debian stable as well and like it for not having to maintain it that much.
But i'm not sure, if it's still suited for such an old computer. Maybe, there are better alternatives.

Any ideas?

zenlord · 2012-07-12 14:22:45

The cpu should not be a problem (minimum i686), but the amount of RAM is very low. IIRC, io use the installer, you'll need a minimum of 192MB, but arch doesn't need that much to run.

vacant · 2012-07-12 14:27:37

puppy linux (wary) maybe?

Last edited by vacant (2012-07-12 14:28:13)

Trilby · 2012-07-12 14:28:13

I doubt you'd be happy with arch on that low ram - even if you got it to run.

I don't use it much, as all my machines happily run arch - but I do keep an eye on Slitaz. I've installed it on some very old hardware, and tinkered a bit. It is surprisingly snappy on very low end hardware. I suspect the "vanilla" slitaz version should work, but they also have a lo-ram version if you need even more breathing room.

Upon checking my facts, the lo-ram version may be needed. But that only requires 16mb ram, so you'd be in good shape.

Last edited by Trilby (2012-07-12 14:30:46)

Pierre · 2012-07-12 15:05:01

zenlord wrote:

The cpu should not be a problem (minimum i686).

Afaik you need at least a pentium pro or pentium 2. The standard pentium is a i585 and Arch wont work here.

desaparecido · 2012-07-12 16:40:19

I have installed ConnochaetOS (archlinux based for i586) in toshiba laptop MMX 233MHz and 64MB, but for graphical apps is slow but works, in console mode is good. I tested Tinycore and if you take the time to install the differents extensions, only the necessary, is good to. good luck

Last edited by desaparecido (2012-07-12 16:41:10)

MoonSwan · 2012-07-12 17:03:30

Unfortunately Kmandala (blog here:http://kmandla.wordpress.com/) has stopped messing with ancient hardware for fun but his blog talks a great deal about using ancient hardware with modern linux systems. Check it out, it may help.

Last edited by MoonSwan (2012-07-12 17:04:29)

nomorewindows · 2012-07-12 21:44:39

desaparecido wrote:

I have installed ConnochaetOS (archlinux based for i586) in toshiba laptop MMX 233MHz and 64MB, but for graphical apps is slow but works, in console mode is good. I tested Tinycore and if you take the time to install the differents extensions, only the necessary, is good to. good luck

I have also used it on some older hardware and can be installed from a running ArchLinux computer and then use a liveCD (or even the ConnochaetOS CD) to download the files to the laptop (hopefully you have a network card of some kind). You would just modify the architecture for i586, and use the ConnochaetOS repos in a separate directory under your ArchLinux installation using pacman. If you are using wifi you may need to figure out what's needed on that to get it to work. Using your faster machinery, can speed up the install process for your slower machinery. And this will also help on disk space if you don't want to unpack the whole 2GB of the ConnochaetOS tarball.

MickeyKnox · 2012-07-13 11:15:26

Thanks a lot for all the suggestions.
@Moonswan: That link is great. (Direct link to the most interesting article: http://kmandla.wordpress.com/2010/12/13 … e-litter/)

I had a look at all the recommendations, but the choice hasn't become easier
Maybe i should decribe what i want to do with it:
I want to use it as my kitchen computer, to listen to music and browse the internet.
I want to install an PCI-USB card and connect a bluetooth adapter;
a network card and a soundcard (i have a Creative Soundblaster 16 with ISA bus and
a Creative Soundblaster Live! with PCI bus. I'm not sure, which one would be better for
my needs. Any ideas?)
Also, i want to just use the system, not tinker too much with it.

To me it looks like, Debian stable would give me all that. But it is certainly not the most
lightweight solution. Generally, i like the computer to work more, if that means i have to
work less. So, my favorite is still Debian, but i think, maybe i should give one of the more
lightweight distributions a chance. But which one?

rvdli · 2012-07-13 16:19:53

I think that even the lightweight desktops available on Arch would not fit in a computer with these specs.

Kinda hard to even see something with a config like this still running. Good luck... And choose the ISA sound card. ISA Sound Blaster cards always worked better with me on old PCs.

MoonSwan · 2012-07-13 16:21:33

The problem you're going to have is mixing the modern hardware (bluetooth for example) with antiquated hardware that was never meant to use our modern tools. Frankly, at least imo, your best bet is to use hardware that is closer to current standards. Your soundcard choice is a good example and it might be better to use a PCI soundcard because the ISA bus takes up more IRQ's and is likelier to have issues on a modern OS.

I could be wrong of course but you can check KMandla's blog for the hardware he used on a regular basis. He gives some excellent work-arounds and ideas with creative solutions to odd problems of mixing the young and quite old.

Trilby · 2012-07-13 22:56:59

I hope you do try slitaz. I sound like a salesman for them sometimes, but it really is an incredible tiny distro. It's smaller than damn small linux, and has support for a wide range of modern hardware "out of the box" even though it is slimmed down to run on much older machines.

Arch Linux

#1 2012-07-12 13:59:49

Arch on Pentium 200MHz and 64Mb RAM

#2 2012-07-12 14:22:45

Re: Arch on Pentium 200MHz and 64Mb RAM

#3 2012-07-12 14:27:37

Re: Arch on Pentium 200MHz and 64Mb RAM

#4 2012-07-12 14:28:13

Re: Arch on Pentium 200MHz and 64Mb RAM

#5 2012-07-12 15:05:01

Re: Arch on Pentium 200MHz and 64Mb RAM

#6 2012-07-12 16:40:19

Re: Arch on Pentium 200MHz and 64Mb RAM

#7 2012-07-12 17:03:30

Re: Arch on Pentium 200MHz and 64Mb RAM

#8 2012-07-12 21:44:39

Re: Arch on Pentium 200MHz and 64Mb RAM

#9 2012-07-13 11:15:26

Re: Arch on Pentium 200MHz and 64Mb RAM

#10 2012-07-13 16:19:53

Re: Arch on Pentium 200MHz and 64Mb RAM

#11 2012-07-13 16:21:33

Re: Arch on Pentium 200MHz and 64Mb RAM

#12 2012-07-13 22:56:59

Re: Arch on Pentium 200MHz and 64Mb RAM

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