Howdy!
Currently experimenting with AntiX on a system so low end, it requires no active cooling. Specifically the HP Stream 11.
The device was designed with cloud interaction in mind, yet still came equipped with windows, a memory hog built upon decades of legacy code, and was expected to perform to some degree.
To give you some insight as to why that is ridiculous, the device is equiped with the following components:
CPU - Intel Celeron N3050 @ 1.60Ghz - 2 cores/1 stream per core - 4W to 6W power consumption. (SMD)
RAM - 2GB DDR3L (SMD)
Internal Storage - 32GB of eMMc (SMD)
Those are the main components that typically struggle with current generations of Windows.
Enter AntiX. A systemd free variant of Linux with multiple desktop environments. In my case, I work in iceWM. The idle RAM consumption is far, far less than many editions of windows. Only 284MB at true idle for AntiX leaves enough room for other tasks. Eeven JavaScript heavy websites can occupy the memory space with room to spare. Though, the low power output of the processor still hiccups on loading the pages, but will still load them to full functionality.
I've tested compatibility with various game launchers through Debian installation, rather than flatpaks. Steam, GoG, Heroic Games Launcher. All offer compatibility layers thanks to wine, but especially thanks to Proton's translation of DirectX to Vulkan.
Steam can be memory heavy, but enabling Low Performance Mode can ease up on the tight resource budget, allowing for older games to be ran with a functional level of efficiency. GoG has a lighter installation as well. Heroic Games Launcher is naturally light weight and comes prepared with GE-Proton.
Windows or Direct X games are just one example on how well AntiX can function.
Web browsers that are resource heavy can run well enough on the small device, but accessing YouTube via FreeTube is the best option, as it cuts away most of the fat, and leaves the absolute minimum to play videos reliably. AI based search engines function adequately on Firefox, but long inquiries over time tend to bog the browser down.
Linux has always been known for its customization, too. Of that I have taken advantage. Frankensteining different desktop, taskbar, and file system components has been a blast. Imagine a mix of Irix OS, Windows 95, and Lubuntu. Talk about personalization. You can really make AntiX your own with a little time and effort.
In summation, I believe the continued development of light Linux distributions breathes more life into old or underpowered computers that would have otherwise ended up in a land fill. With the way computer component prices are today, one cannot afford to toss silicon in the trash. Instead, repurpose such devices however possible, and squeeze more potential out of the hardware than initially thought possible. As a computer with a beating heart, no matter how small or fragile, is one to care for and admire.
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AntiX reviving (seemingly) obsolete e-Waste.
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Utahraptor118
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Sun May 14, 2023 5:02 am
Re: AntiX reviving (seemingly) obsolete e-Waste.
Hey dude, nice write up.
On Linux, you can use a swap file and swappiness similarly to a page file on Windows to achieve extra "RAM." About 2GB oof swap per core on core processors helps. I had too use this when compiling a custom Linux firmware on Ubuntu recently. My 1st gen I7 only has 2gb RAM and Ubuntu ate that up especially with make running. I used a 8gb swap and set make to run on 1 core with a swappiness of 90%. It did the job slowly, but I have since ordered a 16gb upgrade so I can use all of the cores next time.
Thanks to UEFI a whole generation of computers is e waste before they hit the shelf. E waste is defined by obsolescence. The corporate operating systems intended UEFI are by corporate policy obsolete after specific time based on their product release schedule and not the needs of the operator. The fact that machines are expected to become obsolete based on corporate sales policy, but also prevent the operator from moving to an open system without jumping through hoops, is the proof that such machines are obsolete from their inception.
The only reason distros line Antix are able to save these UEFI machines is the developers had to move away from BIOS and deal with new hoops after decades of compatibility.
The perfect counter example was the Zipit and Zipit Z2. These were released by a corporation as wifi based wireless messenger, but they explicitly stated that these could be flashed using custom linux firmwares. They even provided documentation. They managed to create a device that ran its course as a corporate product, but sold more to the hacker community and continues to live on due to their decision to do the right thing.
Yes and also new ones such as raspberry pi or customizing any other microcontroller based tech.development of light Linux distributions breathes more life into old or underpowered computers
This is the essence of true hacking. Preservation and autonomy.squeeze more potential out of the hardware than initially thought possible
2GB ram is just about right for these tasks such as AI search or Youtube. Using Ubuntu 22 and up or Windows XP, 2GB is the floor for these sites with overly abstracted frameworks and hyper tracking. On my laptop with a Core 2 Duo and 2GB , Youtube runs well enough on XP. On my mini PC with an I3 and 4GB RAM, Windows XP can handle 20 or 40 tabs of Google AI and Youtube, etc. Meanwhile apps can be running in the background. This is thanks to the Supermium browser which is a modern Chrome fork to XP. Seamonkey and k meleon are still good options too, but with Supermium I can even run official Discord on XP still. Ubuntu on the same machine runs well enough too.Web browsers that are resource heavy can run well enough on the small device, but accessing YouTube via FreeTube is the best option, as it cuts away most of the fat, and leaves the absolute minimum to play videos reliably. AI based search engines function adequately on Firefox, but long inquiries over time tend to bog the browser down.
On Linux, you can use a swap file and swappiness similarly to a page file on Windows to achieve extra "RAM." About 2GB oof swap per core on core processors helps. I had too use this when compiling a custom Linux firmware on Ubuntu recently. My 1st gen I7 only has 2gb RAM and Ubuntu ate that up especially with make running. I used a 8gb swap and set make to run on 1 core with a swappiness of 90%. It did the job slowly, but I have since ordered a 16gb upgrade so I can use all of the cores next time.
Windows replacements are becoming impressive. On my Raspberry PI which has an ARM processor (non x86 compatible), I have Wine setup still with something called box86 which is like a JIT (just in time) translator that turns the x86 instructions into ARM while preserving the stuff the doesn't need to be translated. Basically, I can run all my favorite Windows 95-XP apps on a RISC machine! Including MicroSIP which is my VOIP phone program. Also my favorite compilers such as Open Watcom 1.9 or Emergence BASIC.Steam can be memory heavy, but enabling Low Performance Mode can ease up on the tight resource budget, allowing for older games to be ran with a functional level of efficiency. GoG has a lighter installation as well. Heroic Games Launcher is naturally light weight and comes prepared with GE-Proton.
Windows or Direct X games are just one example on how well AntiX can function.
As you say, these specs struggle with "modern" Windows which is ironically based on "legacy" code. This is true. Not a lot has improved since XP. A lot has actually become much worse. Namely, thing like UEFI which create more obstacles for booting operating systems without having to jump though extra hoops. Also, incompatible processors to the long running x86 standard and funky ports and HID components that constantly require newer black box drivers. Probably some of the biggest and most damning thing are IME and SMM. IME, introduced in 2008 allows for negative ring activity without your knowledge or consent. Even if you wipe the Minix, the processor depends on IME for power managment. SMM was introduced with the later 386 models that came out as a budget alternative to the 486. It's a deep dark rabbit hole and a path that will lead us tech tyranny if we don't start doing exactly what you're talking about. Start preserving old tech. I would just add that the older the better as pretty much anything from the past 10 plus years was literally designed to be E waste and it's only about to get worse with these Windows 11 boxes.CPU - Intel Celeron N3050 @ 1.60Ghz - 2 cores/1 stream per core - 4W to 6W power consumption. (SMD)
RAM - 2GB DDR3L (SMD)
Internal Storage - 32GB of eMMc (SMD)
Thanks to UEFI a whole generation of computers is e waste before they hit the shelf. E waste is defined by obsolescence. The corporate operating systems intended UEFI are by corporate policy obsolete after specific time based on their product release schedule and not the needs of the operator. The fact that machines are expected to become obsolete based on corporate sales policy, but also prevent the operator from moving to an open system without jumping through hoops, is the proof that such machines are obsolete from their inception.
The only reason distros line Antix are able to save these UEFI machines is the developers had to move away from BIOS and deal with new hoops after decades of compatibility.
The perfect counter example was the Zipit and Zipit Z2. These were released by a corporation as wifi based wireless messenger, but they explicitly stated that these could be flashed using custom linux firmwares. They even provided documentation. They managed to create a device that ran its course as a corporate product, but sold more to the hacker community and continues to live on due to their decision to do the right thing.
