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Even in its present sad state, I think most people would agree Windows requires less care and feeding than Linux, especially for gaming. Fewer config tweaks and workarounds. Less fiddling. Less research. (Less use of the command line?) You use what I'll call a daunting array of apps (kudos for being well enough organized to list them), and there is no guarantee you'll get them all working to your satisfaction on Linux. If you do, it may be only after dozens of hours of research.
For example, it doesn't appear (to me) that the creators provide Linux versions of either PS Remote Play or the Streamlabs desktop. There appears to be a gihub alternative for PS Remote Play[github.com]. Which Linux distro(s) is it (most) compatible with? More research requred.
My guess is that you won't enjoy it if you just jump into Linux all at once. I'd advise resurrecting your Windows system first (good tip from @Xenophobe re usb stick recovery) and then investigating Linux in a more leisurely, lower-pressure environment.
If you want to know what Linux is like, pick a distro, any distro (I personally favour Kubuntu, but whatever catches your interest - it's your computer) and run it off a live USB. Kick the tyres. Do some of the things you normally do on your computer. If you don't like it, you've answered your question. If you do like it, you've answered your question. If it's almost there but not quite, try a different distro.
In general, from my perspective Linux is more powerful for gaming. Most distributions provide needed libraries and drivers from their own source, so they are mostly compatible. On the other side you load drivers and patches from different sources on Windows, which is a main source for issues.
As for gaming, Steam has done a great job in providing proton support, so you should be able to run most of the newer games, while sometimes older games may need some tinkering. Be sure to use the Steam origin client (runtime or at least native), as flatpack or snap installations tendend to bring a lot of issues. Games that use additional anti-cheat programs may be a painfull experience as their vendors still try to ignore Linux.
Other platforms are usually done with additional clients, like Heroic Games Launcher (Epic, GOG, Steam) or Minigalaxy (GOG). Experienced quite good overall playability so far.
Pure Windows games without any client support could be run either by Wine, which may need some further learning steps. But in my eyes best choice would be to go with Lutris platform, which is a suitable client to run and tinker games with Wine.
As for working titles like Blender (Linux native), or other graphical tools, programming tools and others, there are plenty of titles that are either better or at least offereing the same capabilities as your known Windows titles. You just have to get used to them. If no other choice, you still could run your beloved Windows tool under Wine.
Windows will do that, and they will insist that it is a feature for YOUR security.
Soon as I get new drive will definitely try it. It's been over 20 years since I used Linux, I'm sure much has changed.
There is a website where you can check Linux compatibility for your Steam games:
https://www.protondb.com/
There is another compatibility layer called wine which proton is based on, which can also be used to run Windows software.
Blender and Chrome both works on Linux.
Unity the game engine works, as in games made in it can run on Linux natively without the compatibility layer if the devs decide to make it so. Don't know about the editor, though, since I haven't tried.
I don't think Epic Games has first class support, but I have heard you can run it via things like proton and wine, though I'm not sure since I haven't done it. Just googled it to answer your question.
The rest I'm just too unfamiliar with to comment on.
The difference between how it feels to use Windows and Linux is (at least to me) that Windows feels like a live service provided by Microsoft. Linux, by contrast, it yours to do with as you please, for good and bad. For example, you are encouraged to update your computer, but it will let you do so when you want and won't force you to restart your computer (many times a restart isn't needed, but if it is it will just tell you and you get to decide when to do it without any nagging).
I would advice to try out Linux in a virtual machine like VirtualBox, which will be slower and won't handle 3D that well, but it lets you test Linux itself without messing around with your hardware. Installing Linux is really easy, though, much smoother than with Windows in my experience. And you get to try it out directly from the installation medium without installing if you want. But I would still advice a virtual machine as a first try.
So all they really did was change from calling something "6" to calling it "a half dozen." Nothing really changed except how it was called.
You can also use a virtual machine such as oracle box to try out different OS at once, to familiarize yourself with them with little to no risk of breaking your computer, you just have to setup a virtual hard disk (.vhd)
as for recommendations, Mint definitely works, Manjaro probably works. If using a distro that let's you select desktops, GNOME should be the most stable, but KDE or plasma would look nicer
Linux… if you know the basics already (you have used it before after all) it is easy. As a new user back then with no knowledge whatsoever, my only experience was setting up something was a pain and everything else was easy after that. Paitence when setting up something might be most important.
Games wise using steam is easiest. Lutris is good for other store content. I've used Heroic Games Launcher once but the dosbox game I played through it did not work well so I did not use it after.
Most games will work after tinkering. Many will work without tinkering. But this is mainly limited to games which are not 'live service'. Live service games will also work but not always. Multiple DRM games may work but they're usually a pain. If you've got those and don't want to deal with the setting up pain, I recommend sticking to windows still. Surely windows cannot keep ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ around for such a long stretch (I hope, but fans will stick to anything and muddy everything. And microsoft has, and relies on its, lots of fans. Frankly though, you'll find many linux fanatics and their comments will be to make themselves feel great rather than help you. You'll know the ones, the ones who'll blame you for everything and insist something was your fault when you make a simple support post).
Personally I recommend sticking with windows for now, even if I wouldn't touch it with a 10 yard pole unless I wanted to give it a beating. If you can live without heavily restricting services though, can navigate your way to avoid distribution fanatics and distro wars on linux, do not mind spending days on setting up specific applications if they do not work immediately (mostly applies to beginners like me back then), and have the courage to say 'screw it' and change the distribution entirely if it is giving you problems, you can avoid all the linux politics and have a relatively problem free, high utility operating system in linux.
Original post seems clear. But some people would write that when they really mean
But what is important. Linux won't upset you.
Linux is like ice cream. Everyone likes ice cream, I hate chocolate ice cream, others love it. So the point is that you find your taste, and there are thousands of flavors, it's called distributions.
You wrote that you are tired of updates, I have computers on which the update has not been done for 20 years. It didn't happen because I didn't say, do updates. It's that simple.
Others make updates on demand every few months, and others themselves every day, you decide.
When it comes to distributions, I recommend you one that starts with the debian root, e.g. mint.
Simplified distribution tree:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/Linux_Distribution_Timeline.svg
The installer will let you know if your ssd is really dead
At the very least I can say it was worth it, but I am also aware most people do not want to deal with that stuff. I am aware, nothing more than that. So there'll need to be some adapting as mentioned in the above comment. If that can be accepted, all the differing public opinion will not matter. Linux will work.