For many people, the #Linux vs #Windows vs #Mac debate is a privilege — it assumes you can choose. But working with the Computer Upcycle Project, I've seen the real choice is often Linux vs no computer at all.
~95% of donated computers are "too old" for Windows 11 or macOS. Linux installs on them anyway, adding 10+ years of life to machines #Microsoft and #Apple called trash.
This isn't Linux vs Windows. It's Linux vs e-waste.
@codemonkeymike You are generally right, of course, i also hate that Microsoft / Apple is doing this.
But there are still easy and not forbidden ways to install Win11 on older Machines and there is also a (kinda costy) Windows 10 LTSC version that is supported till 2032.
Also i have strong feelings against people who say that Linux makes an old system fast. That is often not the case, and after hearing this everywhere people keep posting frustated on our unix-board about their core2duo & co
@Zeddiria sure.. i always tell people there are limits.. BUT I have dual core celerons with 4 gigs of ram and a 16gig EMMC that can stream HD video on youtube.
That just isn't possible with other OSs. So sure, its not going to make a computer a rocketship, but WILL improve and make usable
@codemonkeymike 4 gigs of RAM is 4x times more than the guys i mentioned usually have ;)
I'm pretty orientated what old hardware can do, tbh, my current oldest system running a current os (Latest OpenBSD) is a Pentium III with 512MB Ram which i use mainly for reading old floppys. I also own some older systems like a Atari ST, a DEC Alpha or a 486 but i'm not using any of these currently.
I know there are gaming-rigs from the mid 2010s that are faster than new notebooks, unsupported by MS
@codemonkeymike But as a mod on a particular german unix-board i have strong feelings for hot takes like "With Linux/*BSD or so you can easily run two browsers with dozen of open tabs, a big Libreoffice-File, a video and some other stuff simoultanisly on two QHD displays with a 15 year old low-end-rig fast and good.
And tbh - cheap-ass hardware of that age was sometimes not only slow even for that age but also buggy (think 64 bitcpu 32bit UEFI) and often didn't age well also.
@codemonkeymike For a unspecific desktop-use-case my lowest recommendation would be at least an i5 4.th gen, 16 Gigs of RAM and a somewhat fast sata-ssd. A slightly-newer mid-size GPU might also be nice add on to relieve the cpu a bit.
Than extensive test should be done, like at least a 8h CPU & GPU Burnin-Test, a complete memtest86 runthrough and a look at the SMART values is always worth the time.
For a notebook i would go newer, depending a lot an the specific specs
Mike 
Zeddi