System Requirements
Basalt Linux runs on a wide range of hardware — from older machines to modern computers. The figures below are not guesses: the minimum column is exactly what the Debian 13 (Trixie) install manual recommends for a desktop system, and the notes are taken from Basalt's own build configuration.
Source for the minimums: Debian Release Information — Meeting Minimum Hardware Requirements.
Minimum Requirements
This is the least hardware Basalt will install and boot on. It matches Debian's “With Desktop” row exactly.
| Hardware | Minimum | Debian source |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 64-bit x86_64 (Intel or AMD), 1 GHz or faster | “A Pentium 4, 1 GHz system is the minimum recommended for a desktop system.” |
| Memory (RAM) | 2 GB | Desktop install: 1 GB minimum |
| Storage | 10 GB free disk space | Desktop install: 10 GB |
| Boot firmware | UEFI or Legacy BIOS | — (Basalt ships both grub-efi-amd64 and grub-pc) |
| Graphics | Any GPU with display output (VGA, HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI) | — |
| Display | 1024×768 or higher (required by the Calamares installer UI) | — |
| Network | Not required to install; needed later for updates | — |
Read the fine print: Debian states that these minimums assume swap is enabled and a non-live (netinst) image is used. Basalt ships a live desktop ISO, which is heavier — and the Calamares installer is graphical, which Debian says should not be used below 780 MB of memory. So for Basalt's live installer, treat 2 GB as the practical minimum, not 1 GB.
Recommended Specifications
What you should actually have for everyday use. Basalt ships Firefox ESR and the full LibreOffice suite, so 2 GB can fill up quickly once a browser and a document are open.
- Processor: Dual-core x86_64 at 2 GHz or better
- RAM: 4 GB or more (2 GB is Debian's recommended figure for a desktop install, and Basalt's minimum)
- Storage: 20 GB or more (SSD strongly recommended)
- Display: 1366×768 or higher
Installation Media
- ISO size:2.28 GB (2,281,701,376 bytes) for Basalt 1.2 "Obsidian"
- USB flash drive: 4 GB or larger is enough — any 4 GB stick leaves ample room for a 2.28 GB image
- Optical disc: A standard single-layer DVD (4.7 GB) also works
- Warning: Writing the ISO erases everything on the target drive
Supported Architectures
- x86_64 (amd64) — standard 64-bit Intel and AMD processors. This is the only supported architecture; the build is configured with
--architectures amd64.
Verified Features
Confirmed directly in Basalt's published build scripts:
- Secure Boot: supported —
shim-signedandgrub-efi-amd64-signedare installed by the installer, so you can leave Secure Boot enabled - Boot modes: both UEFI and Legacy BIOS (hybrid ISO)
- Compositing: disabled by default in Xfce (
xfwm4:use_compositing=false) — turn it on in Settings → Window Manager Tweaks → Compositor if your GPU handles it well
Performance Notes
- 2 GB RAM: the minimum for the live session and install; it handles light tasks (files, terminal, text editing). Expect heavy swapping with Firefox or LibreOffice open — use 4 GB for real work
- The Xfce desktop itself is lightweight; most of the RAM goes to your applications
- An SSD makes the biggest single difference to day-to-day responsiveness
- A USB 3.0 drive makes live-booting and installing noticeably faster
- Older hardware is explicitly a target audience — Debian lists
xfce4as a suitable desktop for low-end machines
Known Limitations
- 32-bit (i386) processors are not supported
- ARM-based processors (Raspberry Pi, Apple Silicon) are not supported
- Hybrid graphics (NVIDIA Optimus) may require additional configuration
- TPM/disk-encryption and other advanced installer options depend on your hardware