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Possible Duplicate:
Which is the best Ubuntu Flavor for an old laptop?

I am totally new to Linux. I downloaded ubuntu 12.04 and installed it on my old laptop with 512MB ram, 1.66 ghz processor on a partition of size 10GB( with windows xp on another partition.) Now when I boot to linux it shows Lubuntu at the start screen(which i found out is a lighter version or something, may be because of low specs) .

Now when I run ubuntu and try to browse 5-6 tabs on firefox it starts getting sluggish. Do I need to switch to an older version of Ubuntu or is there any other fix to this??

Thanks in advance!!

Community
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Abhijit Anand
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  • No that's normal considering your hardware. – Mitch Aug 18 '12 at 14:01
  • BTW, there's something odd. You say you downloaded Ubuntu but then see Lubuntu? What exactly did you download and from where? –  Aug 18 '12 at 14:48

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That is because of you low RAM. Starting tab of firfox takes 100-150mb. From second onwards it takes addition 50-75mb RAM. You have a low RAM. Shortage of RAM causes this problem. You can overcome this by assigning a new Swap area. This can be better explained in this link.

Pranit Bauva
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  • Hmm.. I have allocated a swap space of 1GB as of now.. will increase it to 2 and try again.. Thanks a lot!! – Abhijit Anand Aug 18 '12 at 18:08
  • You're correct that low RAM is the likeliest source of sluggishness, but increasing swap is not a solution (upvoted you anyways). Adding more RAM, or using a browser with smaller memory footprint (some suggestions to try: midori, epiphany or even chromium). – taneli Sep 17 '12 at 12:37
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Ubuntu 12.04 uses Unity as the Desktop Environment (DE). With your 512 ram you should use ONLY Lubuntu which uses LXDE as DE. It is the lightest of the Ubuntu family. (See here.)

But the fact that it shows Lubuntu at the start screen might not mean necessarily that you are logging into the LXDE/Lubuntu desktop. It happened to me to see the Lubuntu screen when I chose no matter what DE. So be sure that is LXDE/Lubuntu you chose upon logging in.

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You can try: - Ubuntu with low-end customization:lightDM, ubuntu-2D, no effect - Lubuntu - Xubuntu

bagustrix
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