<p>There is a very useful comparison of the Bitcoin desktop clients here:
<a href="http://dre.redmartian.org/compare.htm" rel="nofollow">http://dre.redmartian.org/compare.htm</a></p>

<p>In order 'lighter' to 'heavier' there are:</p>

<p>electrum</p>

<p>multibit</p>

<p>bitcoind</p>

<p>armory + bitcoind</p>

<p>If you need the full bitcoind RPC API then only bitcoind will do however. In that case trying/ waiting for v0.8 is probably your best option. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-11-09T18:28:00.973Z
2012-11-09T18:28:00.973Z
jim618
<p>Bitcoin v0.8 (which hasn't been released yet. But you can build it from source and use it ... with a nearly empty wallet with backups and only a low amount of funds.)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-11-09T12:44:09.743Z
Hmm, could you elaborate a bit on how does this differ from the current version? Does it use less memory, disk space, etc?
ThePiachu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-11-09T21:00:53.430Z
Somewhat less memory, and somewhat less disk, but mostly far less I/O and CPU usage.
Pieter Wuille
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-11-09T12:23:09.457Z
2012-11-09T12:23:09.457Z
Stephen Gornick
<p>I am running the standard client on a weak computer (Windows environment). It often is slow and unresponsive, and takes a noticeable chunk of the hard drive. I would want to replace it with some alternative client that offers the same functionality (mainly, running as server and supporting the standard Bitcoin API), while also consuming less system resources.</p>

<p>Which Bitcoin client consumes the least system resources and is the best fit for weak computers?</p>

<client>
I'm trying to run Bitcoin on a weak computer, which client consumes the least resources?
ThePiachu
# I'm trying to run Bitcoin on a weak computer, which client consumes the least resources?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-11-09)

I am running the standard client on a weak computer (Windows environment). It often is slow and unresponsive, and takes a noticeable chunk of the hard drive. I would want to replace it with some alternative client that offers the same functionality (mainly, running as server and supporting the standard Bitcoin API), while also consuming less system resources.

Which Bitcoin client consumes the least system resources and is the best fit for weak computers?

**Tags:** client


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2012-11-09. Score: 3

There is a very useful comparison of the Bitcoin desktop clients here:
<http://dre.redmartian.org/compare.htm>

In order 'lighter' to 'heavier' there are:

electrum

multibit

bitcoind

armory + bitcoind

If you need the full bitcoind RPC API then only bitcoind will do however. In that case trying/ waiting for v0.8 is probably your best option.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2012-11-09. Score: 1

Bitcoin v0.8 (which hasn't been released yet. But you can build it from source and use it ... with a nearly empty wallet with backups and only a low amount of funds.)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Hmm, could you elaborate a bit on how does this differ from the current version? Does it use less memory, disk space, etc?  
> **username_3**: Somewhat less memory, and somewhat less disk, but mostly far less I/O and CPU usage.  

---

