Linux-DesktopEnv: RAM Usage Comparison For Sparky Linux LxQT and Xfce and Q40S MATE Desktop Environment

 

Today I did a test on RAM usage for the following desktop environments (DE) using VirtualBox to determine their RAM usage:

• MATE DE with Q4OS 4.7
• Sparky Linux 6.2 LXQt
• Sparky Linux 6.2 Xfce

    The main reason is for me to decide which desktop environment I want to use for my Lenovo Thinkpad X200. I have tried other desktop environments:

• Enlightenment with SparkyLinux MininumGUI 
• Trinity with Q4OS
• Bodhi Linux with a customized Enlightenment DE

    The main issue with Enlightenment with SparkyLinux is that it does not work well with autologin. Sometimes it gets kicked out and you have to login again. I suspect is the windows manager issue but I cannot find the solution for this. Trinity has an issue with using jpg wallpaper so it is a turn-off as I don't want default wallpapers. The customized Enlightenment desktop in Bodhi Linux has limited themes but is still acceptable but I want to look for the best for my Thinkpad X200. 

    There are some main objectives for choosing a desktop environment:

1. Lightweight. Since Thinkpad X200 is considered an old laptop hardware (i got 8GB RAM and 500GBHDD), I prefer a responsive desktop environment, hard disk slowness aside.
2. Easy to change to a dark theme.
3. Easy to change wallpaper.
4. Debian or Ubuntu variant is preferred.

    With the above objectives, I set out to test the installation media with VirtualBox with the following configurations:

• 1 CPU
• 2 GB RAM
• 30 GB harddisk space

Results From My Tests

LXQt Desktop Environment with SparkyLinux 6.2

    In the default installation, I have to remove Internet and Multimedia applications that I normally don't use. LXQt comes first in place with the least RAM (less than 300MB) in my tests. LXQt does not have a full dark theme that I was looking for by default. I had used LXDE and LXQt DE for a long time and wanted to change to a nicer DE.  

Xfce Desktop Environment with SparkyLinux 6.2

    In the default installation, I have to remove Internet and Multimedia applications that I normally don't use. Xfce uses about 350MB RAM in my tests. It comes second in place. It comes with the default dark theme that I liked and is easy to change wallpaper. I have used Zorin OS so it has a similar feel.

MATE Desktop Environment with Q4OS 4.7

    This is MATE DE after setting minimal profile with Mate desktop in Q4OS. There is no "extra" software spilled over from Trinity DE. With less than 400MB RAM used, it is a good choice as I have a preference to use gnome and GTK applications sometimes. Just that I cannot get it to autologin so it is a minor hassle for me. Can install any applications after I install the synaptic package manager. There is a default dark theme that I liked, so I don't need to look for others.

    So I have decided to install SparkyLinux 6.2 Xfce on my Thinkpad X200. Depending on your needs and preferences, your choice might defer from mine but is nice to know that other than RAM usage, you need to consider what applications you use and the resources that you have on your computer. Regardless of what you choose, as long as it meets your needs, there is nothing to regret.