How much RAM does your Linux PC really need in 2025? I did the math

zdnet[.]com/article/how-much-ram-does-your-linux-pc-really-need-in-2025-i-did-the-math/

Want to learn Linux? These 5 games make it fun - and they're free

zdnet[.]com/article/want-to-learn-linux-these-5-games-make-it-fun-and-theyre-free/

5 more ways to share files on Linux that every pro should know

zdnet[.]com/article/5-more-ways-to-share-files-on-linux-that-every-pro-should-know/

Ready to ditch Windows 10? I debunked 7 Linux myths so you can switch with confidence

zdnet[.]com/article/ready-to-ditch-windows-10-i-debunked-7-linux-myths-so-you-can-switch-with-confidence/

10 Linux features you should be using to get the best performance and functionality

zdnet[.]com/article/10-linux-features-you-should-be-using-to-get-the-best-performance-and-functionality/

My 4 favorite image editing apps on Linux - and two are free Photoshop alternatives

zdnet[.]com/article/my-4-favorite-image-editing-apps-on-linux-and-two-are-free-photoshop-alternatives/

Linux desktop frozen? My 5 go-to tricks to try - before forcing a hard reboot

zdnet[.]com/article/linux-desktop-frozen-my-5-go-to-tricks-to-try-before-forcing-a-hard-reboot/

I'm a Linux expert, and here are 6 commands I can't live without

zdnet[.]com/article/im-a-linux-expert-and-here-are-6-commands-i-cant-live-without/

A couple more...

GNOME's new AI assistant can even run Linux commands for you - here's how

zdnet[.]com/article/gnomes-new-ai-assistant-can-even-run-linux-commands-for-you-heres-how/

Yes, you can edit video like a pro on Linux - here are my 4 go-to apps

zdnet[.]com/article/yes-you-can-edit-video-like-a-pro-on-linux-here-are-my-4-go-to-apps/

2 more Linux articles:

Yes, you need a firewall on Linux - here's why and which to use

zdnet[.]com/article/yes-you-need-a-firewall-on-linux-heres-why-and-which-to-use/

5 of my favorite Linux system-monitoring tools - and why I use them

zdnet[.]com/article/5-of-my-favorite-linux-system-monitoring-tools-and-why-i-use-them/

Ubuntu Linux lagging? Try my 10 go-to tricks to speed it up

zdnet[.]com/article/ubuntu-linux-lagging-try-my-10-go-to-tricks-to-speed-it-up/

Unless you're using a computer from the '90s or early 2000s, typically speaking, Ubuntu runs very well on most machines. I've found it to be fairly predictable in that respect. However, nothing is perfect, and you might run into an instance where the open-source operating system doesn't perform up to your standards.

So, what do you do? Do you hop to a different distribution? You certainly could, as there are plenty of Linux distributions that work perfectly on older hardware. If you want to stick with Ubuntu, there are ways you can eke out a bit more speed from that OS.

Linux PC acting up? How to check for bad blocks on a hard drive - before it's too late

zdnet[.]com/article/linux-pc-acting-up-how-to-check-for-bad-blocks-on-a-hard-drive-before-its-too-late/

I've had it happen before. Back when drives consisted of spinning, magnetic platters, that dreaded "tick" was a sure sign a hard drive was failing. Once upon a nightmare scenario, I waited too late and wound up losing everything on my drive. Sure, I could have recovered that data, but at a pretty high monetary cost.

Since then, I've always been vigilant about checking for bad blocks and sectors on hard drives.

How to check for bad blocks on an older drive

What you'll need: The only things you'll need for this are a running instance of Linux and a user with sudo privileges.

If your system uses an SSD, you'll need to use a tool called smartmontools. Chances are that this application isn't installed on your system.

10 ways true Linux power users get more out of the world's best OS

zdnet[.]com/article/10-ways-true-linux-power-users-get-more-out-of-the-worlds-best-os/

Linux is powerful, flexible, and can do just about anything.

However, to really get the most out of Linux and your computer(s), there are certain skills and habits you need to bolster; otherwise, you're not really enjoying the riches that can be mined from Linux.