The Raspberry Pi‘s low cost and hackable nature have made it the go-to single-board computer for experimenting with various operating systems and software. A common question asked – can I install Linux Mint, one of the most popular desktop distros, on my Raspberry Pi 4?
The short answer is no, Linux Mint cannot natively run on the Pi hardware due to fundamental architecture differences. But with some effort, it is possible to create a Mint-like environment leveraging Ubuntu. This article will explore the technical challenges, performance sacrifices, and step-by-step guide for porting Linux Mint to Raspberry Pi.
Why is Hardware Architecture a Roadblock?
Mainstream computers predominantly use x64 architecture – 64-bit central processing units that support the complex x64 instruction set enabling today‘s powerful software. In contrast, the Pi lineup utilizes Arm processors based on RISC architecture for efficiency. The key differences are:
| x64 | ARM | |
|---|---|---|
| Instructions | Complex set – nearly ~200 | Reduced set – only ~125 |
| Registers | Larger, 16 x64-bit registers | 31 x 32-bit registers |
| Pipelines | Superscalar, out of order | In order |
| Applications | High performance apps, gaming | Embedded system software |
This means Linux distro package binaries compiled for x64 won‘t function on the Pi‘s Arm chipset – they have completely different machine code. Pi boards need operating systems specifically built for Arm-based systems.
Trade-offs of Running Linux Mint on a Pi via Ubuntu
Raspberry Pi OS delivers smooth performance by optimizing Linux for the Pi‘s hardware constraints. But for those keen on mimicking a Mint desktop experience, Ubuntu Core offers an Arm compatible base to install Cinnamon and port Mint software. There will be performance impacts – benchmarks show Linux Mint on a Core i5 desktop scores 412 frames per second (FPS) in SuperTuxKart game testing, while Ubuntu on a Pi 4 Model B with 4GB RAM renders just 31 FPS. Everyday tasks like web browsing and media playback are usable if expectations are set properly.
To install a makeshift Mint environment, first get Ubuntu Server running on your Pi:
# Download Ubuntu Server image:
$ wget https://ubuntu.com/download/raspberry-pi
# Flash image onto microSD card:
$ balenaEtcher Ubuntu_Server-22.04.1-preinstalled-server-arm64+raspi.img.xz
# Insert SD card and power on Pi
# Follow prompts to set up SSH access and user accountsNext, install Cinnamon desktop environment:
$ sudo apt install cinnamon-desktop-environment
$ sudo rebootFinally, install Linux Mint apps:
$ sudo apt install mint-meta-cinnamon mint-themes mint-backgrounds mint-artwork
$ sudo rebootCustomizing Ubuntu with Cinnamon and Mint software lets you mimic some hallmarks of the Mint experience via this workaround. But noticeably slower UI, window drawing, and application load times highlight the Pi hardware‘s natural limitations. Setting reasonable expectations will allow you to have fun tinkering with Linux Mint on a Raspberry Pi project!
