Puppy Linux for old computers - still maintained?

[wizard]

@chilibowl

You need to tell us what CPU is in your system. Looking up the spec on the dc5100 shows it came with either a socket 775 Celeron or Pentium P4. Most of these were single core 64bit CPUs. Check yours and if it is 64bit, then install one of the 64bit Puppys and you will have a selection of modern browsers. Would suggest you try Firefox or one of it's derivatives since they require fewer resources.

wizard

[mikewalsh]

@wizard :-

I dunno so much, mate. I find current Firefox to be even heavier on RAM usage than Chrome.....which IS saying something..!!

@chilibowl :-

You could, indeed, install a 64-bit Puppy.....but don't expect sparkling performance. The 64-bit P4s and Celerons are OLD; these were implementations of the 64-bit architecture from the very early days, nearly 20 years ago. They don't have the instruction sets that modern CPUs do, and a lot of modern functionality we now take for granted simply didn't exist when these came off the production line.

Yes, they WILL run a 64-bit Puppy.....but with limitations, and some reservations.

(BTW:- That build of Tahrpup was one of the very early beta development releases PhilB put out. That, too, is rather limited in scope, and would never run a modern browser without being more or less re-built into the final 6.0.5/6.0.6 releases.)

Just my two-penn'orth.....FWIW.

Mike.

[wizard]

@mikewalsh

I find current Firefox to be even heavier on RAM usage than Chrome.

Could be Mike, haven't checked the latest, you're our browser expert. Do have an old single core 1.73mhz Celeron M, 2gb ram that would be somewhat close to @chilibowl rig. Running Fossapup64, has Firefox 90 & Chromium 94 on it. When running a Youtube movie in a window, not full screen, Firefox uses a little less ram and a little more CPU than Chromium. Both are pegging the CPU between 70-100%, but both have smooth video and audio.

Thanks
wizard

[chilibowl]

@chilibowl

You need to tell us what CPU is in your system. Looking up the spec on the dc5100 shows it came with either a

socket 775 Celeron or Pentium P4. Most of these were single core 64bit CPUs. Check yours and if it is 64bit, then install one of the 64bit Puppys a

nd you will have a selection of modern browsers. Would suggest you try Firefox or one of it's derivatives since they require fewer resources.

wizard

Ok as far as Ican tell under Hardinfo App - It enumerates Pentium(r) 4 CPU 3.20 GHZ 2400.00 Mhz
Pentium(r) 4 CPU 3.20 GHZ 2400.00 Mhz

Exactly as shown thisx too me would indicate a Dual -core processor -Ihave a feeling this was a very FaST Computer for its tyme -- even if it is/was built intoa Compact desktopcase.

So i COULD put a 64-bit OS on it??? hmm Any Recommendations??

[mikewalsh]

@chilibowl / @wizard :-

Socket 775 - 3.20 GHz......mm; almost certainly 64-bit, single-cored (but with HyperThreading; this makes it behave like a dual-core, and will show up as two CPUs in something like gKrellM). Plus, they had SpeedStep, too.......which Socket 478 P4s did NOT.

I'll hazard a guess this is a "641":- https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Pentium_ ... 2641).html

Probably "Cedar Mill"; these were among the final P4s manufactured.....most of the bugs were by that time ironed out, and with the move to the 65 nm 'node', the overheating that plagued "Prescott" was finally tamed. Probably the best Pentium 4s released, since these also have SSE3s, too.....so can cope with modern browsers & apps.

Well, for this one, ANY 64-bit Puppy should work. The sky's the limit, really......your choice. It's up to you.

Mike.

[wizard]

@chilibowl

If you're new to Puppy take a look at this one:viewtopic.php?t=4681

Instructions on installing are here:viewtopic.php?t=5192

wizard

[chilibowl]

@chilibowl / @wizard :-

Socket 775 - 3.20 GHz......mm; almost certainly 64-bit, single-cored (but with HyperThreading; this makes it behave like a dual-core, and will show up as two CPUs in something like gKrellM). Plus, they had SpeedStep, too.......which Socket 478 P4s did NOT.

I'll hazard a guess this is a "641":- https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Pentium_ ... 2641).html

Probably "Cedar Mill"; these were among the final P4s manufactured.....most of the bugs were by that time ironed out, and with the move to the 65 nm 'node', the overheating that plagued "Prescott" was finally tamed. Probably the best Pentium 4s released, since these also have SSE3s, too.....so can cope with modern browsers & apps.
OK -Iam using FOSSA pup 9.5 now ~ Ilike it!!! EXCEPT that one Can Only doa FRUGAL install !! Where is /what Happened to the Choice of a Full install???--regards //chili bowl
Well, for this one, ANY 64-bit Puppy should work. The sky's the limit, really......your choice. It's up to you.

Mike.

[Fenyo]

Here are some builds of nosse/non-sse2 browsers (Firefox esr, Palemoon, Seamonkey, Basilisk) and email clients (Epyrus) for old cpus/distros if anyone is interested.

[rockedge]

@Fenyo That is a nice repo! These types of browsers being available is important and relevant. Good work