Other distro(s) to try
Another distro being advertised as 'liteweight' (for x86/x64) is LXLE Linux. In my testing it's proved VERY responsive in the latest incarnation. It comes with a quirky set of apps, but it's not an unpleasant user experience :)
For 32-bit hardware you can go with an older release of LXLE derived from Lubuntu, with 18.04LTS at the core of it still being updated. On my netbook with a 200-series Atom / 1GB, the liveCD spins up at least but your mileage may vary. If you get it to work, you'd have to see if you like the results.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
