TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

Piriponzolo · 2024-10-20 20:26

Hi to everyone!
A simple question: how much is lightweight TDE in comparison with LXDE, LXQT and XFCE? Is it, perhaps, a middleweight? If it can be of interest, here is a discussion about ''lightness''.
https://blog.lxde.org/2016/10/04/benchm … t-vs-xfce/

Thanks for the attention and have a nice evening/day.

Last edited by Piriponzolo (2024-10-20 20:29)

crosscourt · 2024-10-20 21:56

LXDE is close to dormant as LXQT has taken over. LXQT is lighter than XFCE but TDE is lighter than both of them. If I had to rate LXDE Id say its about the same as TDE. Im sure if you look around a bit online, youll find some good comparisons of these DEs.
Today with even low end computers using better processors and far more ram, the discussion of lightweight distros really doesnt come up as much. Only users of older hardware are looking for alternatives.

Durhammer · 2025-01-30 17:17

I'm more cuious as to how TDE compares to IceWM and jwm (I've used both extensively, but not TDE for more than an hour or so). Anyone know?

crosscourt · 2025-01-30 19:55

Since we really dont know what youre looking for, it might be best to use a livemedia session with Q4OS TDE and use it quite a bit more to see how it compares to your personal needs.

Durhammer · 2025-01-31 06:06

I did the desktop profile thing to load up TDE and logged in to it. I tried, and I tried, but it is really just too weird for me, mostly due to having a multi-monitor (one needing rotation) setup. Back on KDE Wayland. Not sure which is "lighter" -- KDE X11 or KDE Wayland, but they're both kinda heavy on resources. They're both really nice looking, of course!

crosscourt · 2025-01-31 20:31

If your using multiple monitors and have specific needs KDE by far is going to be easier to work with and Wayland is a bit lighter than X11. Overall Ive had less issues with X11 but Wayland typically works better with my newer hardware.

Last edited by crosscourt (2025-01-31 22:47)

VegaLinuxQ4 · 2025-02-02 06:45

Piriponzolo wrote:

Hi to everyone!
A simple question: how much is lightweight TDE in comparison with LXDE, LXQT and XFCE? Is it, perhaps, a middleweight? If it can be of interest, here is a discussion about ''lightness''.
https://blog.lxde.org/2016/10/04/benchm … t-vs-xfce/
Thanks for the attention and have a nice evening/day.

This is interesting, many peoples (including me) ask for it. Have read many source but just got mainstream info's that not so accurate.
So i decide to try them all by my self, I've found TDE to be Lightest+Richest at the same time (beautifull!), then LXQT - LXDE - OLD XFCE (New XFCE almost near to KDE's level in lightweight)

crosscourt · 2025-02-02 06:50

TDE is definitely the lightest resource wise followed by LXDE,LXQT and XFCE. It varies though a bit depending on the distro as some dont use SystemD and run a bit lighter. KDE is the same way as it depends on the distro. Ive found Q4OS KDE to quite light overall but in this age of pcs running with 8-16gb ram, is it really that big an issue anymore.

Durhammer · 2025-02-02 21:42

I used @seb3773's scripts (see https://www.q4os.org/forum/viewtopic.php?id=4706) to better configure TDE to my liking. Not bad! Still can't use lxterminal unless I just maybe leave its window size unmodified. Otherwise, Trinity scrunches the window into a narrow band. Must be some conflict 'twixt "LX" (LXDE, LXQt) apps that Trinity stumbles on. Konsole has no problem in any DE, and KDE has no problem with lxterminal. It's just that lxterminal is far lighter than konsole.

crosscourt · 2025-02-02 22:07

I doubt that lxterminal is hugely lighter than konsole but compatibility is far more important. Most systems today have 8gb or more of ram so its a moot issue.

I run the KDE version and Im only using 670mb of memory at desktop GUI with no additional apps running. My older systems run it very well with resource issues.

TDE will run it with even less resources so a few apps that work better but use slightly more memory shouldnt really be an issue.

Last edited by crosscourt (2025-02-02 22:18)

Durhammer · 2025-02-02 23:19

Hey @crosscourt, sure, in the grand scheme of things, it might not matter but that shouldn't prevent me from trying to lighten the load wherever I can!

As for Konsole vs lxterminal, Konsole is way more additive than lxterminal in terms of RAM.

If you have multiple terminal windows open, for example (say keeping a top or btop running in one and using another), the difference grows.

If I bring up one lxterminal, it takes about 23.2 MB. If I open two such lxterminal windows, it goes up to 24.4 MB.

In Kontrast, if I open up just ONE konsole terminal, it takes up 44.6 MB alone. Open TWO konsole terminal windows, it goes up to 81.4 MB. It has a lot of extras that I simply don't need and don't want to drag around.

crosscourt · 2025-02-02 23:28

I saw your numbers in the other thread and honestly youre doing fine 2.8gb out of 8gb of ram. Use lightweight programs where it makes sense but Konsole is a far better app than lxterminal. The point is to use apps that offer better features and ease of use, as you can always add more ram into your system if needed.
TDE is a great DE and is far lighter but Im far more productive with KDE with its features and customizations. Saving memory resources at times is necessary with apps that do things they shouldnt.
Most people run systems noiw with really good cpus, ssds and more than 8gb of ram so penny pinching for memory usage really isnt needed.

bin · 2025-02-03 08:35

I'm running Q4OS Plasma on a Macbook Air 7,2 with just 4gb RAM and it's fine. OK, if I go bonkers with opening too many progs then it crashes. Plan is to install a much bigger drive - 128gb is just not enough - so I can have a big swap space to make up for those occasions when I forget the RAM limitations.
Sweating about a few meg here or there is pointless. Open the process monitor and the amount in use is constantly shifting - but +1 for lxterminal BTW.

crosscourt · 2025-02-03 20:48

Ive got a couple of converted Chromeboxes that are using 4gb of ram and they run KDE just fine. Didnt know you were running Plasma bin

bin · 2025-02-04 07:51

crosscourt wrote:

Ive got a couple of converted Chromeboxes that are using 4gb of ram and they run KDE just fine. Didnt know you were running Plasma bin

It's a long story cc, but yes I am although at the moment it's just on the little Macbook - Catalina theme and you wouldn't know it was running linux. I use it mostly for photo show work via a projector with the local camera group mainly 'cos it is nice and light for lugging around the countryside.
Next step will be the Acer Chromebook 514 but that looks like being more of a challenge as I understand the newer Chromebooks can be a pain to install.

crosscourt · 2025-02-04 20:04

Ill be curious to see how it goes with the Chromebook as Im thinking of doing the exact same thing.

josek · 2025-06-06 00:43

I've been using the Q40S since January and have tried every desktop environment, from Plasma to Icewm, JWM, not forgetting Trinity, and Lxqt. The truth is...

KDE Plasma consumes about 700MB of RAM.
TDE Trinity and Lxqt consume about 350MB of RAM.
Icewm consumes about 250MB of RAM.
Lxde consumes 180MB of RAM.

And you can also notice the difference in temperature. With Trinity, it was around 65 degrees in medium load mode, while with Lxde, I noticed it stayed at 50 degrees. I don't know why, but the difference in performance is huge. Using Chrome and browsing YouTube, it's very low consumption.

Durhammer · 2025-06-06 02:29

Thanks for the feedback, josek! -- especially on the temperature issue. Never fiddled with LXDE (didn't LXQt supercede it?) but might have to try.

However, and I must apologize, but it will have to be in another distro. I've moved on from Q4OS for a number of other reasons. Still appreciate knowing a few new things, though!

crosscourt · 2025-06-06 06:45

LXDE is fun to play with, Ive used it with my WattOS install with older computers.

q4osteam · 2025-06-06 10:31

We don't like see anyone switching to another distro, we are working hard to make Q4OS just the best choice We also don't like to see anyone on our forum recommending or suggesting some competing distribution to switch to After all we appreciate, if you don't. However, we need to know shortcomings of Q4OS, so don't hesitate to point them out.

Would you elaborate on what your reasons were for switching from Q4OS @Durhammer, so we would be able to focus on improving Q4OS accordingly?

Durhammer wrote:

I've moved on from Q4OS for a number of other reasons.

Midas · 2025-06-06 13:19

While it's beyond my current capacity, I for one would very much like to see similar figures for Openbox -- of which I retain fond memories from using it in Crunchbang, the nimblest general purpose distro I ever used...

q4osteam · 2025-06-06 14:05

We have performed some testing on various desktop environments.

Steps to reproduce for anyone to try:
- Install Q4OS 5.8 Aquarius Plasma 64bit, Basic profile in Virtualbox_7.1.10/2GB RAM/64bit
- Install all desktop environments in question using Desktop profiler
- Reboot and login to each desktop session for the first time
- Run "htop" tool and wait for OS to settle down
- Read the memory usage by htop [1st] at 4:00 uptime
- Reboot and login to each desktop session the second time
- Run "htop" tool and wait for OS to settle down
- Read the memory usage by htop [2nd] at 4:00 uptime

Results: [2nd/1st] time login in MB:
- IceWM .. 288/294
- Openbox .. 346/355
- Trinity .. 421/422
- LXDE .. 436/449
- LXQt .. 539/540
- Plasma .. 740/775

Durhammer · 2025-06-06 15:53

Great test, @q4osteam! Thanks! It reinforces my previous experiences. I had installed MX Linux with Fluxbox, pretty much despised F-box, so I installed and configured IceWM to my liking (not too difficult). Later, I fiddled wfith jwm (even leaner, and also to my liking). For what it's worth, here's a (now a bit old, but probably still quite relevant) review with size comparisons of various DEs and WMs:

https://l3net.wordpress.com/2013/03/17/ … -desktops/

As for why I gave up on Q4OS, I can't remember the issues right now. I installed a different distro (AntiX) over but fumbled the installed, and it won't boot up. SO...maybe I'll re-install Q4OS and give it another try (and report any issues as they occur).

Installing anything new is a PITA on this laptop, with which I have a love-hate relationship. On the one hand, it's got a great 17" display and decent processors (Intel i7 Sandy Bridge and Nvidia GPU) and still has both CD/DVD and SD card slots and was upgradable from 4GB RAM to now 8GB, and slots for two SATA drives (now SSD). On the other hand, it has horrible cooling airflow and heat dissipation issues to the point where I have to install the acpi-call package and run the script to electrically turn off the Nvidia GPU so it doesn't overheat. The real PITA is that I have to do that in the OS that runs the installation, prior to starting the install, or it will encounter a thermal shutdown. Then, once the new distro is installed, I have to repeat the process and ensure that the command to turn off the GPU is done at startup (I think that was one of the Q4OS annoyances -- the root crontab setup is quite awkward to find, let alone to set up).

I do know the other big issue, but I have it with most every distro, and that's having a proper setup for my two-monitor arrangement -- normal horizontal 17" laptop display on bottom, and 22" Dell monitor above it in vertical/portrait (90 degrees left rotation). Always a major PITA, especially to get the login and new windows to show up on the laptop monitor.

Thanks for re-engaging me with the post update via email. I may be back!

By the way, one of the things I really, really do appreciate in a distro is an active and supportive forum. It's one of the reasons I did not continue testing and using Linux Lite -- couldn't even register on its forum.

crosscourt · 2025-06-06 17:28

Q4OS Trinity is a far better experience than WattOS LXDE that I use to use. I no longer have any older hardware and use Q4OS KDE exclusively on my recent systems. Q4OS KDE is the lightest KDE Ive used in regards to memory usage and it also boots much faster than most other KDE distros Ive used.

Durhammer · 2025-06-06 17:54

Ha -- I lied, sorta. I didn't install over Q4OS, I just haven't fired it up in a while.

@q4osteam -- one of the issues I have with Q4OS, at least in TDE, is that I effectively cannot use my favored terminal app, lxterminal. I can fire it up and use it, but when I try to resize it, it shrinks down vertically to about 3 visible lines worth (2+ being taken up by the banner and menus), and about 60% screen width. Prior to trying to resize, it appears as a square window with about 24 useful lines and only about 40% of the screen width. I can resize it horizontally, but not vertically.

That, and I'm not a fan of Konsole (etc.). I can't remember if I opened up an issue about this. Should I?

Q4OS Forum

#1 2024-10-20 20:26

TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

#2 2024-10-20 21:56

Re: TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

#3 2025-01-30 17:17

Re: TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

#4 2025-01-30 19:55

Re: TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

#5 2025-01-31 06:06

Re: TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

#6 2025-01-31 20:31

Re: TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

#7 2025-02-02 06:45

Re: TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

#8 2025-02-02 06:50

Re: TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

#9 2025-02-02 21:42

Re: TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

#10 2025-02-02 22:07

Re: TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

#11 2025-02-02 23:19

Re: TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

#12 2025-02-02 23:28

Re: TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

#13 2025-02-03 08:35

Re: TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

#14 2025-02-03 20:48

Re: TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

#15 2025-02-04 07:51

Re: TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

#16 2025-02-04 20:04

Re: TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

#17 2025-06-06 00:43

Re: TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

#18 2025-06-06 02:29

Re: TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

#19 2025-06-06 06:45

Re: TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

#20 2025-06-06 10:31

Re: TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

#21 2025-06-06 13:19

Re: TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

#22 2025-06-06 14:05

Re: TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

#23 2025-06-06 15:53

Re: TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

#24 2025-06-06 17:28

Re: TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

#25 2025-06-06 17:54

Re: TDE vs LXDE, LXQT and XFCE

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