MX Linux is a dual adventure between the antiX and MX Linux communities and serves as a collection of open-source operating systems that are all built around the Debian Stable distribution. Because of that Debian base, MX Linux is a highly stable operating system that performs brilliantly on PCs of all types -- from older systems, midrange, and powerhouse computers.

There's also a version, MX-25.2_Xfce_ahs_x64, which includes the 7.07 kernel and includes new graphics drivers and firmware. This version of MX Linux is ideal for newer systems that are 1-3 years old.

The MX-25.2_Xfce_ahs_x64 version ships with a Liquorix kernel that is tuned for high-performance audio and video, which makes it an outstanding option for gaming. You also get DKMS packages to ensure that modern GPUs and Wi-Fi chips work out of the box. The combination of the kernel and Mesa stack offers HiDPI scaling via XFCE at 125% and 150%, while looking crisp, and you get the MX Nvidia installer to make it exponentially easier to get the proper GPU driver installed and working flawlessly.

Thanks to the Xfce desktop, MX Linux XFCE-AHS runs with speed that's on par (or superior) to any desktop OS on the planet. I've covered MX Linux several times here on ZDNET, and the OS has never ceased to impress me. It offers an old-school look and feel, but modern performance and ease.

I installed MX Linux XFCE-AHS as a virtual machine, and it did not fail to impress me out of the box. Keep in mind that I've never been a big fan of the Xfce desktop environment, but MX Linux gives Xfce a slightly more modern look and feel with a custom layout and a nicely laid-out Conky configuration that displays the time/date and RAM/CPU usage percentage.

Also: I customized an Arch-based distro my way in under 5 minutes - and it's glorious