2026 LiveCD Memory Usage Compare

I am using pretty much the exact same setup I did in 2024. Let's see who is more efficient in a live session!

But first let's take a look at the image sizes:

Image size (in GB) 00112233445566776.156.42809364548495317.67054655870454.978.20735785953177358.2069838056683.999.9866220735786391.98734817813774.8121.76588628762542361.5850202429153.7143.54515050167223398.743421052631564165.3244147157191388.60931174089075.3187.1036789297659344.694838056680175.3208.8829431438127344.694838056680175.2230.66220735785956348.07287449392715252.44147157190636354.828947368421044.4274.22073578595325375.097165991902844.1296.0385.231275303643773.9317.77926421404686391.98734817813773.7339.5585284280937398.743421052631563.5361.33779264214047405.49949392712552.9383.11705685618733425.76771255060737.6404.8963210702342267.02.7426.67558528428094432.52378542510122.3448.4548494983278446.03593117408912.5470.23411371237466439.279858299595163.2492.0133779264215415.63360323886643513.7926421404683422.389676113360342.9535.5719063545151425.7677125506073Image size (in GB)UbuntuXubuntuUbuntu BudgieKubuntuLubuntuUbuntu UnityUbuntu CinnamonManjaro KDEManjaro GnomeManjaro XFCEDebian KDE Tes…Debian KDE TestingDebian Gnome T…Debian Gnome TestingDebian XFCE Te…Debian XFCE TestingZorin OSEndeavourOS Ti…EndeavourOS Titan NeoCachyos 260426Bazzite nvidia…Bazzite nvidia open stableFedora Worksta…Fedora WorkstationFedora SwayFedora KDE Mob…Fedora KDE MobileFedora KDEFedora COSMICFedora Budgie

Round 1 - Basic Bootup

Requirements: Trying each image with 1.5 GB. Had a 3 minute timer going on each boot so I didn't let it take forever. I mostly did not test twice, so your results may vary.

  • Ubuntu - Boots, not responsive. Out.
  • Xubuntu - Boots and browser opens slowly.
  • Ubuntu Budgie - Boots to Ubuntu welcome and Budgie welcome. Having both makes it very laggy to start. Eventually a terminal opens, but menu doesn't. Borderline but Out.
  • Kubuntu - Fails to boot. Out.
  • Lubuntu - Responsive and fast as expected. Easy pass.
  • Ubuntu Unity - Boots in 2 minutes but becomes unstable. Out.
  • Ubuntu Cinnamon -Boots OK, Menu loads slowly. Doesn't launch anything. Out.
  • Manjaro KDE - Boots to desktop (pretty background!), but not responsive after. Out.
  • Manjaro Gnome - Seems responsive for a bit (but without icons) but then stops. Out.
  • Manjaro XFCE - Boots and responsive.
  • Debian KDE Testing - Gets a mouse instantly and then just a background. Out.
  • Debian Gnome Testing - Almost responsive enough, but couldn't launch anything. Out.
  • Debian XFCE Testing - Boots and responsive.
  • Zorin OS - Gives an error message "Something has gone wrong". That's a level of polish we don't have on other Linuxes. Out.
  • EndeavourOS Titan Neo - Boots, not responsive. Out.
  • CachyOS 260426 - Bit laggy, but can launch apps.
  • Bazzite nvidia open stable - Boots with 1.5GB but not enough to lauch Firefox. Also warns that it's way too little memory!
  • Fedora Workstation - Gets to desktop and can do a bit of moving, but not enough to use. Out.
  • Fedora Sway - Responsive.
  • Fedora KDE Mobile - Gives wizard but doesn't finish booting. Out.
  • Fedora KDE - Fails to boot. Out.
  • Fedora COSMIC - Boots but not reponsive enough. Out.
  • Fedora Budgie - Responsive.

So let's cover some of the ones that are out in slightly more detail.

5 Min reviews of some who didn't pass to the next round

Zorin OS - 5 min Review

  • Software: Brave (web browser). Gnome Software, Linux 6.17. Based on Ubuntu.
  • LibreOffice is configured to use the Ribbon which is likely better for recent converts.
  • They still have Brasero for CD/DVD Burning
  • They have both Snap and Flatpak installed - but no apps using each - Flatpak has a bunch of their themes though.
  • Zorin Appearance does make it easier to switch desktop UI "models"

I'm always interested in new linux distro business models. It's not really targetted at me, but nice to see it out there.

Endeavour OS

"A terminal-centric system ready to personalize." Opposite target users as above.

  • Software: KDE as default desktop with Firefox browser. Linux 6.19
  • No GUI for App installing. Neither Snap or Flatpak preinstalled. Based on Arch.
  • GUI app for rsync.
  • Transparency on by default which I don't personally like.

Fedora KDE Mobile

Gives you a wizard to go through to setup for your device. Designed for touch.

Does come with 2 browsers - Firefox and Angelfish (a browser designed for mobile).

It's very clear this is not ideal to demo on a desktop with no touchscreen.

Round 2 - Web browser

Requirements: Can we start and run a web browser and load a website in those 3 minutes with 1.5GB, without much lag. If possible watch the first 20 seconds of WING IT! Blender Open Movie from wikipedia commons.

  • Xubuntu - Out. Just barely able to load a site. Not responsive.
  • Lubuntu - Web browser is actually quite laggy. Video is able to play, but barely.
  • Manjaro XFCE - Very slow. Eventually browser and session died.
  • Debian XFCE Testing - Boots and responsive. Firefox ESR 140. Movie plays fine.
  • CachyOS 260426 - Can't load Firefox.
  • Bazzite Nvidia open stable - Can't load Firefox.
  • Fedora Sway - Boots and responsive. Firefox 150. Movie plays fine.
  • Fedora Budgie - A bit unresponsive but does play movie OK.

Round 3 - File Manager

Requirements : 1 GB of memory. Must fully load the background. Has 30 seconds to load file manager after reaching desktop. Must be smooth opening it.

  • Xubuntu - Fails
  • Lubuntu - Passes, Smooth.
  • Manjaro XFCE - Fails with part of the intro screen.
  • Debian XFCE Testing - Fails with Panic.
  • Cachyos 260426 - Fails with Intro message.
  • Bazzite nvidia open stable - Fails with message alerting user to low memory!
  • Fedora Sway - Passes. Smooth.
  • Fedora Budgie - Not smooth.

Round 4 - Breaking Point

Requirements: Same as above except we reduce the memory amount in 0.05G increments.

Memory usage compared (in G) 000.10.10.20.20.30.30.40.40.50.50.60.60.70.70.80.8LubuntuFedora Sway0.65179.12949759384145292.72087718659975Lubuntu0.85510.8507894342886238.71333527025294Fedora SwayMemory usage compared (in G)Desktop responsive to Folder

Conclusion

  • Lubuntu still wins even with a bigger comparison base, but minimum memory has increased.
  • All Ubuntu image sizes seem up a good amount.
  • Zorin and Bazzite provide much more user friendly error messages when things go wrong. Other distros can learn from this to make a better user experience.

Notes:

  • qemu-system-x86_64 -enable-kvm -bios /usr/share/ovmf/OVMF.fd -cdrom bazzite-nvidia-open-stable-live-amd64.iso -m 1.5G -smp 4 -cpu host -vga virtio --full-screen
  • Full screen video apparently is an intensive task. Dropped testing that.
  • Just picked the 3 testing debian that they promote on the main page.
  • Fedora offers many spins. As a gauge for popularity I'm picking the 5 also available as an Immutable desktop. But I'm not testing those :) as they aren't liveCDs. I'm adding back in KDE Mobile cause I wanted to try it.
  • Manjaro has Full or Minimal Images available. Must use full to get full browser.
  • Bazzite has KDE and Gnome - just picking KDE with modern Nvidia driver (realized later that makes no sense, but oh well).
  • I might test the next version of PopOS and AnduinOS (and others) as they update to the latest Ubuntu base.
  • Ubuntu Mate no release https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/ubuntu-mate-seeking-maintainers/79264
  • Linux Mint changing release cycle to do newer release around Christmas. (Already reviewed base set 2 years ago)
  • Ubuntu version was 26.04. Fedora was 44.