System Requirements
Xfce runs on over 90 UNIX-like distributions. Below is a short list of 6 representative distributions that use Xfce as their primary, default Desktop Environment (DE) as well as their minimum system requirements for installation.
Xubuntu is a community‑developed, Ubuntu‑based Linux operating system. Its minimum requirements are:
- CPU: 1.0Ghz+ (needs to support PAE)
- RAM: 512MiB+ for Desktop/LiveCD
- Hard drive space: 7.5GB
- Graphics card and monitor capable of 800×600 resolution
MX Linux is “a cooperative venture between the antiX and former MEPIS communities, using the best tools and talents from each distro. It is a midweight OS designed to combine an elegant and efficient desktop with simple configuration, high stability, solid performance and medium-sized footprint.” Based on Debian Stable, its minimum system requirements are:
- A CD/DVD drive (and BIOS capable of booting from that drive), or a live USB (and BIOS capable of booting from USB)
- A modern i686 Intel or AMD processor
- 2 GB of RAM memory or more
- At least 10 GB free hard drive space
- A 3D-capable video card for 3D desktop support
- For use as a LiveUSB, 8 GB free if using persistence
Manjaro is based on and provides all the benefits of the Arch operating system combined with a focus on user-friendliness and accessibility. Its minimum system requirements are:
- One gigabyte (GB) of memory
- Thirty gigabytes (GB) of hard disk space
- A one gigahertz (Ghz) processor
- A high definition (HD) graphics card and monitor
- A broadband internet connection
Kwort is a Slackware-based operating system featuring the Xfce4 desktop with Kwort's own Network Manager and kpkg package manager. Its minimum requirements are:
- CPU: PC i686 or above.
- RAM: 16MB for base system (minimum). 32MB for desktop (minimum), 64MB recommended.
- Hard drive space: 200MB for base system, 1.5GB for full desktop (Openoffice 2.0 included)
Mythbuntu is “an official Ubuntu flavor focused upon setting up a standalone MythTV based PVR system.Mythbuntu uses the XFCE desktop. All unnecessary standard Ubuntu applications such as LibreOffice, Evolution, and a full Gnome desktop are not installed in a default Mythbuntu install” Its minimum requirements are:
- CPU: 1.0 GHz x86 or x86_64 Processor
- RAM: 512 MB of system memory (RAM)
- Hard drive space: 2 GB of disk space (Frontend Role) / 10GB + 1.5GB/hour for storage of SD material (Backend Role)
- Graphics card capable of 1024×768 resolution (if using VDPAU, 256MB minimum)
- Supported TV Tuner Card (Backend Role)
Pentoo is “a security-focused livecd based on Gentoo. Here is a non-exhaustive list of the features currently included : available binary packages, updated 4 times daily, module loading support ala Slax, XFCE4 WM, dozens of daily security and functionality updates daily.” Its minimum requirements are:
- i686 Processor
- 2+ GiB of RAM
- an OpenGL capable 3D graphics card
- 30+ GB free hard drive space highly recommended
- DDC capable Monitor
Memory footprint
The following memory footprint test was obtained on an Ubuntu 19.10 desktop and this script.
- Runlevel 3 : 118.1 MiB
- Login screen with lighdm (and no opened session) : 400.9 MiB
- CTWM session : 218.9 MiB
- IceWM session : 293.5 MiB
- Xfce 4.14pre3 session : 393.7 MiB
- KDE 5 : 619.5 MiB