recomeneded requirements for once are just that if you dont meet them your not likely to be able to run it. i just got a better computer it it runs great.... fedora rules if you have a spare computer to install it on/unpartitioned space or just want to ditch windows entirely here is the link. it is all GPL (general public lisence and legally free (as in free beer and freedom of speech. read the readmes btw if you dont know how to burn iso's
http://fedora.redhat.com/download/