When build stuff on a real slow platform a trick I have used is to setup distcc on the slow computer and at least one real fast computer with a compiler set to the slow computer's arch. Set the slow computer distcc to 0 so it compiles nothing locally, but it does do the configure/linking/etc. This avoids almost all the cross compilation issues you might run into while getting many of the fast benefits.
Yes, but you can't easily avoid doing linking in the local machine, because the output of linking depends on what system libraries there currently are. Also, it doesn't need _that_ much memory. You're still doing all the CPU-intensive parts on the powerful machine, thus saving time and likely keeping the non-powerful machine from overheating.
This is exactly how I work on 9front. All my compiles and computationally heavy stuff gets done on my loud cpu/fs server, while I can use my raspberry pi (or quite old thinkpad when I'm not at my desk) as the terminal and not have to deal with noise and space requirements of another computer or dual boot/virtualize on my main rig.
