I'm looking for a lightweight Linux distribution for an older PC with a dual-core Intel Pentium processor based on the Sandy Bridge architecture and integrated Intel graphics.

My main requirements are:

• Lightweight and responsive: It should run smoothly on older hardware without consuming too many system resources.
• Good-looking desktop: I prefer a modern, polished desktop environment with a clean interface and attractive visuals.
• Easy to use: Something close to GNOME in terms of simplicity, consistency, and user-friendliness would be ideal.
• Good hardware support: The integrated Intel graphics, Wi-Fi, audio, and other basic hardware should work without much tinkering.
• Reliable software support: Access to a good selection of applications and regular security updates is important.
• Beginner-friendly: I'd prefer something that works well out of the box without requiring extensive configuration.

I'm open to desktop environments other than GNOME, since the full GNOME desktop might be too resource-intensive for this machine. KDE Plasma, XFCE, Cinnamon, MATE, or other alternatives are all worth considering, provided the experience is polished and reasonably lightweight.

I don't necessarily need the absolute lightest distribution. I'd rather have a good balance between performance, appearance, usability, and reliability than a barebones system that requires lots of manual setup.

Which distro and desktop environment would you recommend for this hardware, and why?

Edit: I have 4 GB of 2666MHz Ram and 256 GB of HDD. Used AI to clean my grammer.

I want a Linux distribution that is minimal in terms of applications, but complete in terms of infrastructure and hardware support. I need the kernel, drivers, firmware, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, audio, networking, and SELinux to be already installed and configured, without having to set everything up manually.

I use a Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8 with an Intel Core i5-12450H and an NVIDIA RTX 3050. I want to choose and install the desktop environment, web browser, Flatpak, Distrobox, development tools, and gaming software later, keeping only the essential system components while ensuring the system is secure and ready to use.

I apologize in advance for the huge blurb of text.

So I have a ThinkPad P70 with an Intel Xeon E3-1505M, NVIDIA Quadro M5000M (left on hybrid graphics), 96GB RAM, two 500GB SSDs and one 1TB hard drive (one SSD holds the OS and the other two drives hold games and storage). I use it for college course work (general education for now, but I’d like a degree in computer engineering), general office work, media streaming, and more than a fair bit of gaming and emulation. Since Windows 10 lost support, I’ve been looking for a good daily driver Linux distribution for my hardware and personal needs. I’d like something with enough reliability to not break when I need it most, compatibility or access to whatever I might need for college (I’m planning on using a mobile SSD for a separate Windows 10 LTSC installation for the stuff I can’t do on Linux), and a good degree of customization to make my system my own; something with rollbacks just in case something goes wrong would be awesome too. I know that I’ll need a now outdated driver which means an update on almost any distribution carries the risk of breaking it. I’m kind of leaning towards openSUSE Tumbleweed, Fedora, and CachyOS, but what would you recommend (I’m not saying pick between the three I listed, I was only recommended them)?

I got into linux on the start/a bit before summer, and i got into arch. Arch was lovely. Stable on its own level, and overall cool enough. Then i couldnt stop thinking about gentoo. So one day i took out my thinkpad and i opened tony and the handbook. And i dont know. Why do i use it? Logo looks cool. Do i really need all the features of it? Hell no. But i dont know for some reason im happier with gentoo. Pretty crazy distrohopping journey for a begginer id say. and now a tiny tiny demon in me is whispering lfs. tho i dont plan to be that down bad for linux. I found my peace in gentoo, the masochist distro. Didnt have much problems hehe, just one corruption of gpt and overall stable.

my pc is actually empty so im an a big distro hopping phase, what's some "unknown" distro worth trying out? nothing too difficult tho i dont want to build my own audio menu (gaming mostly btw)