• Start Here
    • How to Install Linux
    • Which Distro To Choose
    • 10 Best Linux Distributions of 2023
  • Distros
    • Ubuntu
  • Linux Commands
  • Virtualization
  • Open Source
Linux Start
  • Start Here
    • How to Install Linux
    • Which Distro To Choose
    • 10 Best Linux Distributions of 2023
  • Distros
    • Ubuntu
  • Linux Commands
  • Virtualization
  • Open Source
Linux Start
Home»Distros»Ubuntu»Ubuntu System Requirements – Recommended and Minimum

Ubuntu System Requirements – Recommended and Minimum

Anup ThapaBy Anup ThapaMarch 7, 2023 Ubuntu 3 Mins Read

The required system specs for Ubuntu depend on what you plan to do with the system.  Resource-intensive tasks like editing or development will call for higher specs, whereas the requirements for general usage are very reasonable.

Your system might match these ‘reasonable’ requirements but does that mean Ubuntu will run smoothly or just barely get by?

Additionally, there are lightweight Ubuntu versions like Xubuntu and Lubuntu if you want to use Ubuntu on a low-end system. We’ll cover Ubuntu’s recommended and minimum requirements keeping all these things in mind.

Recommended System Requirements

The recommended minimum requirements for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS are as follows:

  • 2 GHz dual-core processor or better 
  • 4 GB system memory 
  • 25 GB of free hard drive space

‘Recommended minimum’ may sound like an oxymoron, but hear me out. Depending on what processes are or aren’t running (e.g., the desktop environment), Ubuntu can run on extremely low specs. Think 512 MB RAM, 8 GB total drive space, and so on.

For instance, a barebones Ubuntu server installation can run on even lower specs. But if you install a desktop environment like Xfce, the memory requirement grows larger. You’ll need more memory for KDE Plasma, and even more for GNOME. 

GUI apps like browsers also tend to be resource hungry. And if you plan to store a lot of personal files, 8 GB of disk space obviously won’t be enough. My point here is that the actual system requirements depend on your exact installation and use cases.

It’s not easy to accurately estimate resource usage without actually installing and trying out Ubuntu. So, we recommend viewing the official recommendations from earlier as sort of a baseline minimum.

Lightweight flavors like Lubuntu and Xubuntu will work great with those specs. Standard Ubuntu won’t be as smooth, but it’ll still work decently. If you plan to store files or perform resource-intensive tasks, you’ll need to adjust the specs accordingly. 

Minimum System Requirements

If you want to run Ubuntu on a low-end system, you have a few options – Xubuntu, Lubuntu, and Ubuntu Server. These are intended to be lightweight, so the official requirements are a bit vague. But it’s more or less,

  • 1 GHz or better CPU
  • 512 MB – 1 GB RAM
  • 2.5 GB – 8.6 GB space

Ubuntu Server is the most barebones option with no desktop installed by default. So, if you want Ubuntu with the lowest requirements, go for Ubuntu server.

Anup Thapa
  • LinkedIn

Anup Thapa has been using Linux for over 5 years. He has an extensive background in computer hardware and networking. At LinuxStart, Anup is an integral part of our editorial team. His goal is to effectively communicate technical concepts in a simplified form understandable by new Linux users. To this end, he mainly writes beginner-friendly tutorials and troubleshooting guides. Outside of work, he enjoys experimenting with different Linux distros and reading up on things like networking and virtualization.

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Table of Contents
  • Recommended System Requirements
  • Minimum System Requirements
Linux Start
Guides

What is the Linux Kernel?

The Linux Kernel is the core of the Linux operating system and is central to…

How To Install Linux Mint

How To Install Linux on VirtualBox

Getting Started with Linux

How to Install Linux

10 Best Linux Distros of 2023

Which Linux Distro Should You Choose? A Complete Guide to Help You Decide

© 2023 LinuxStart.com

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.