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    Suggest simple Linux distro for RetroPie use only?

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General Discussion and Gaming
    linux
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    • metal_sluggerM
      metal_slugger @mitu
      last edited by

      @mitu said in Suggest simple Linux distro for RetroPie use only?:

      Xubuntu 20.04

      Thanks, am looking at now

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • ClydeC
        Clyde
        last edited by

        Lubuntu may be even less resource hungry than Xubuntu.

        metal_sluggerM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
        • metal_sluggerM
          metal_slugger @Clyde
          last edited by

          @Clyde Cool. I just found that. I'll try that too, thanks

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • IceChes1I
            IceChes1
            last edited by

            @Clyde You are right. Lubuntu is the least resource draining. But don't you need X to run RetroPie?

            HOME CONSOLE
            Pi 4
            SanDisk 64 GB
            Master branch install
            3.5 amp CanaKit PSU
            Logitech F310, Dell keyboard, Dell mouse, JetFlash Transcend 16 GB USB stick
            HANDHELD
            Pi 0 W
            SanDisk 32 GB
            Random image I found. Had a driver I needed.
            IPEGA PG-9157 USB Receiver

            mituM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • mituM
              mitu Global Moderator @IceChes1
              last edited by

              @IceChes1 said in Suggest simple Linux distro for RetroPie use only?:

              But don't you need X to run RetroPie?

              For the PC installations, yes, and Lubuntu has that already.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
              • IceChes1I
                IceChes1
                last edited by

                @mitu Does it? I'm sorry. I have no experience with Ubuntu but would think that since Lubuntu has an L in front of it compared to Xubuntu which has an X in front of it that Lubuntu would not have X compared to Xubuntu.

                Also is Xubuntu pronounced: Zoobuntu? English is weird.

                HOME CONSOLE
                Pi 4
                SanDisk 64 GB
                Master branch install
                3.5 amp CanaKit PSU
                Logitech F310, Dell keyboard, Dell mouse, JetFlash Transcend 16 GB USB stick
                HANDHELD
                Pi 0 W
                SanDisk 32 GB
                Random image I found. Had a driver I needed.
                IPEGA PG-9157 USB Receiver

                ClydeC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                • ClydeC
                  Clyde @IceChes1
                  last edited by

                  @IceChes1 The X in Xubuntu (pronounced /zʊˈbʊntuː/)comes from its desktop environment called Xfce (officially pronounced as four letters, but some call it "ex-face"). Likewise, the L in Lubuntu comes from LXQt (or LXDE up to release 18.04). Both are based on X, although both support the new display server Wayland, which Lubuntu plans to use as default from 20.10 on. (source: Wikipedia)

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                  • metal_sluggerM
                    metal_slugger
                    last edited by

                    Can someone explain what X is and why it's not in all linux releases?
                    Can it be added to any version of linux?
                    Sorry for newb questions but I have no idea what X is.
                    Thanks in advance for any replies.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • wmarcioW
                      wmarcio
                      last edited by

                      Lubuntu is the best distro and work very well. I sugest you install lubuntu 18.4.

                      ClydeC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                      • mituM
                        mitu Global Moderator
                        last edited by

                        X is an abbreviation for X.org, the component that provides the standard GUI in Unices/Linux systems. You shouldn't care too much about it, it's available for all distros - either by default or can be installed after the installation.
                        Use one of the options suggested - all of them have the necessary prerequisites for RetroPie to work on a PC.

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                        • wmarcioW
                          wmarcio
                          last edited by

                          And wont forget to install/update vulkan drivers.

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                          • ClydeC
                            Clyde @wmarcio
                            last edited by Clyde

                            @wmarcio said in Suggest simple Linux distro for RetroPie use only?:

                            Lubuntu is the best distro and work very well. I sugest you install lubuntu 18.4.

                            Lubuntu's long term support (LTS) only lasts three years, so 18.04 will get updates only 'til April 2021. In contrast, the current LTS release 20.04 is supported until April 2023, so today I would choose the latter for a fresh installation.

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                            • wmarcioW
                              wmarcio
                              last edited by

                              Yes, I know that, but predicting problems, or even breaking the entire system with a very updated distro, I have by default, for all my computers, always install the previous LTS version, for security reasons, but the ideal is always the latest LTS version.

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                              • B
                                bloodykean
                                last edited by

                                For more stability it is recommended that you install the previous LTS version. It will not update that often. Features will be less and less added. Till of course April 2021, less than a year. Then you switch to the next version.

                                wmarcioW 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                • B
                                  bloodykean
                                  last edited by

                                  For only RetroPie road i recommend that you try this: https://github.com/MizterB/RetroPie-Setup-Ubuntu/tree/LTS-20.04

                                  C 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                  • wmarcioW
                                    wmarcio @bloodykean
                                    last edited by

                                    @bloodykean said in Suggest simple Linux distro for RetroPie use only?:

                                    For more stability it is recommended that you install the previous LTS version. It will not update that often. Features will be less and less added. Till of course April 2021, less than a year. Then you switch to the next version.

                                    Thats the Idea.

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                    • C
                                      construkt @bloodykean
                                      last edited by

                                      @bloodykean I've been looking around for the best way to install Retropie on x86.

                                      Is that distro going to let me have everything structured as it is on my RPi4? Like, I can basically run the thing headless, keep my video splashscreen and theme that I want to run? I just don't want to get something that will leave me bogged down with a desktop environment that will never get used. I'm waiting for my Intel NUC to arrive on Saturday, and I want to use it to replace my RPi4. My 4 runs great, but there are a lot more options with a more powerful machine. Would this script allow me an identical experience?

                                      mituM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • C
                                        construkt @mitu
                                        last edited by

                                        @mitu

                                        Is it possible with that OS to set it up in such a way that it is identical to my Pi 4?

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • mituM
                                          mitu Global Moderator @construkt
                                          last edited by

                                          @construkt RetroPie on a PC uses the desktop environment, so you need to have one installed (a minimal one would suffice). Video splashscreens are not supported, but you can enable the Plymouth splashscreen to show during boot.
                                          Other than that, enable auto-login to desktop and setup EmulationStation to start automatically at login and it should be pretty identical to a Pi4.

                                          C 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                          • C
                                            construkt @mitu
                                            last edited by

                                            @mitu

                                            I was waiting til I gathered more information and got my NUC to reply to this since I didn't know what to expect. I followed this guideto set everything up. I wanted to use something newer than 16.04 but I was told that Ubuntu 20 had some Python compatibility issues, so I went with Ubuntu 18.04. Everything runs pretty great on it. I did everything you were talking about with the auto-login. I disabled lock screens and adjusted all the power settings so it wouldn't turn off on me and what not.

                                            There are just a few things I'm still struggling with. Every time I start a game, I see the desktop, and if runcommand needs to ask me anything the desktop shows the whole time. Is that something I can do away with? I'm trying to dial it all in so it doesn't actually look like it's a functional PC, just a console. I was looking at this script, and while there is a lot of stuff in there I'm not sure is necessary, it looked like some things would get me closer to a true pi experience.

                                            Since I have Ubuntu 18.04 desktop and this script was written for Ubuntu Server, I don't think I need XWindows autostart and I think I already have autologin setup from the Ubuntu settings menu. Adding plymouth and hiding boot messages could be useful. Also in the Xwindows autostart script it calls to hide the cursor. When Ubuntu is starting up, I can still see it. Is it possible to hide that? The big thing is the terminal window being small in the background. I have launch images for each system, but before I see those it goes out to the desktop for a second. Is there a way to stop that from happening? Or maybe a way to make the terminal window full screen so when it does flash out of ES, you can't see anything?

                                            Thanks for any info you have provided and can further provide. I really appreciate it.

                                            mituM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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