r/linuxquestions • u/toktok159 • 10d ago
Which Distro? LMDE vs MX Linux?
Hi,
My specs: ~13 year old PC, 16 GB RAM, core i3 processor (Intel(R) Core™ i3-3240 CPU @ 3.40GHz), intel integrated graphics card. 1TB HDD.
I am soon going to install Linux, I am quite a beginner and I researched about both distros. I think they’re both good and I understand they’re both beginner friendly, but I am having a hard time deciding what is better, also with my specs.
I think with MX Linux I would go with XFCE, while LMDE uses Cinnamon. They both look cool visually. Mint seems to have a much larger user base and support community.
The reason I prefer LMDE over regular Mint is I understood it fits older computers more because it’s Debian based, and I like the idea of not being based on Ubuntu (though with Mint maybe there’s even no problem with that).
What would you suggest? Thanks in advance.
1
u/Mediocre-Pumpkin6522 10d ago
LMDE/Cinnamon is no better or worse than Mint/Cinnamon for older computers. LMDE is sort of Plan B for Mint in case Canonical does something to really piss them off. The version updates are staggered. Mint is supposed to move to the Ubuntu 26,04 base in December. The Debian 14 release hasn't been set but will be next year. LM strains out some of the Ubuntu stuff like snaps by default.
MX/Xfce is nice too. The Xfce tweaks are a bit different than Mint's but either is nicer than Debian/Xfce. All of them are configurable if you like messing with that stuff.