It’s been a while but once again here is the latest instalment of the series of posts where I install the major, full desktop, distributions into a limited hardware machine and report on how they perform. Once again, and like before, I’ve decided to re-run my previous tests this time using the following distributions:

Debian 8.2 (Cinnamon)

Debian 8.2 (GNOME)

Debian 8.2 (KDE)

Debian 8.2 (MATE)

Debian 8.2 (Xfce)

Elementary OS 0.3.1 (Freya)

Kubuntu 15.10 (KDE)

Linux Mint 17.2 (Cinnamon)

Linux Mint 17.2 (MATE)

Linux Mint 17.2 (Xfce)

Mageia 5 (GNOME)

Mageia 5 (KDE)

Ubuntu 15.10 (Unity)

Xubuntu 15.10 (Xfce)

I also attempted to try and install Fedora 23, Linux Mint 17.2 (KDE) and OpenSUSE 42.1 but none of them were able to complete installation.

All of the tests were done within VirtualBox on ‘machines’ with the following specifications:

Total RAM: 512MB

Hard drive: 10GB

CPU type: x86 with PAE/NX

Graphics: 3D Acceleration enabled

The tests were all done using VirtualBox 5, and I did not install VirtualBox tools (although some distributions may have shipped with them). I also left the screen resolution at the default (whatever the distribution chose) and accepted the installation defaults. All tests were run prior to December 2015 so your results may not be identical.

Results

Just as before I have compiled a series of bar graphs to show you how each installation stacks up against one another. Measurements were taken using the free -m command for memory and the df -h command for disk usage.

Like before I have provided the results file as a download so you can see exactly what the numbers were or create your own custom comparisons (see below for link).

Things to know before looking at the graphs

First off if your distribution of choice didn’t appear in the list above its probably not reasonably possible to be installed (i.e. I don’t have hours to compile Gentoo) or I didn’t feel it was mainstream enough (pretty much anything with LXDE). As always feel free to run your own tests and link them in the comments for everyone to see.

Quick Info



Out of the Cinnamon desktops tested Debian 8.2 had the lowest memory footprint

Out of the GNOME desktops tested Mageia 5 had the lowest memory footprint

Out of the KDE desktops tested Mageia 5 had the lowest memory footprint

Out of the Xfce desktops tested Debian 8.2 had the lowest memory footprint

Out of the MATE desktops tested Debian 8.2 had the lowest memory footprint

Elementary OS 0.3.1 had the highest memory footprint of those tested

Debian 8.2 Xfce and MATE tied for the lowest memory footprint of those tested

Debian 8.2 Xfce had the lowest install size of those tested

Kubuntu 15.10 had the largest install size of those tested

Elementary OS 0.3.1 had the lowest change after updates (+2MiB)

Mageia 5 KDE had the largest change after updates (-265MiB)

First boot memory (RAM) usage

This test was measured on the first startup after finishing a fresh install.

Memory (RAM) usage after updates

This test was performed after all updates were installed and a reboot was performed.

Memory (RAM) usage change after updates

The net growth or decline in RAM usage after applying all of the updates.

Install size after updates

The hard drive space used by the distribution after applying all of the updates.

Conclusion

Once again I will leave the conclusions to you. Source data provided below.

Source Data

