SparkyLinux 8.4 rekindles support for 32-bit PCs
SparkyLinux 8.4, the latest release of the Debian 13-based distribution codenamed "the Seven Sisters," has reintroduced 32-bit installation images a year after they were dropped in version 8.0. The move is aimed at owners of older hardware, such as Atom-powered netbooks, since 32-bit code generally has a smaller memory footprint than 64-bit equivalents, and the release could also suit small virtual machines.
The distro offers rolling-release and stable variants with a choice of desktops including LXQt, MATE, Xfce and KDE, alongside minimal command-line and Openbox editions, all managed via Sparky's own Aptus package manager. The Register tested both the 64-bit LXQt edition, installed easily via the Calamares graphical installer, and the 32-bit "minimal GUI" edition, which requires a command-line installer and now needs a 686-class CPU with PAE support. Both use Linux kernel 6.12, and the 32-bit build ran the classic CDE desktop comfortably in a 1GB RAM, 8GB disk virtual machine, using just 259MB of memory and 6.9GB of storage; it ships its own 32-bit build of Firefox 140 ESR, as Mozilla has ended mainstream 32-bit Linux support after Firefox 144.
- SparkyLinux 8.4 brings back 32-bit PC support, dropped in version 8.0
- Built on Debian 13, offers LXQt, MATE, Xfce, KDE and minimal editions
- Runs comfortably on minimal hardware, including revived Atom netbooks
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SparkyLinux is a version of Linux, the operating system used on computers, phones and servers. It is based on Debian, a long-running Linux project, and comes in editions with different desktop layouts and tools. Users can choose a fuller desktop or a smaller setup for less powerful machines.
Most modern PCs use 64-bit processors, but some older computers have 32-bit processors and cannot run 64-bit software. Linux projects have increasingly stopped supporting 32-bit systems, so keeping this option available may help people continue using older hardware. Smaller 32-bit systems can also be useful for virtual machines, which run as software inside another computer.