Best Linux for gaming and for beginners?

[Cyber2B]

BIG UPDATE: After playing around for a bit with Linux versions, POP OS and KDE NEON are one of my favs RN, if any of you guys are new to linux like me, you gotta check these two out before anything else!


Plan to try out one of them... in a VM before thinking of switching.

I don't have any CS knowledge, I am just a casual computer user that browses the web and plays video games and online banking.

So any suggestions?

[Cyber2B]

Escrito originalmente por Dr Doom:

Escrito originalmente por Elk Cloner:

Many distributions can be tested by burning to a disc and booting into a live environment, so you don't have to commit to one before installing it.

If you're serious about learning Linux then I would definitely suggest trying Arch Linux. Arch allows you to build your OS exactly how you want it - small and simple, or big and complex.

I'm sure I'll catch flack for suggesting Arch because much of it is a manual process before you're set up and running. This includes the install itself - partitioning, installing, adding drivers, and installing and configuring your desktop environment. HOWEVER, there are plenty of tutorials which will show you how to do this and you will learn how Linux works. If something goes wrong, you'll learn how to fix it. It also uses Pacman which is a great software repository and the user repository has even more things available for you to use. It's also rolling-release which means you wont need to reinstall every few years (although this bleeding-edge technology can mean that updates have a chance at breaking something).

If the install scares you that much (it shouldn't!) then you could try Manjaro or Arch Bang, as these distributions were built on top of Arch - although they'll naturally be bloated in comparison. They are both rolling-release distributions.

Linux Mint is a good 'beginner' distribution but I found it too bloated and resource intensive for my needs, though I'd actually suggest that any Debian based distribution is great for beginners that might feel intimidated by Arch.

Also keep in mind that if you're using 32 bit hardware, your Linux choices will be slimmer. I'd personally recommend antiX if this is the case.

Getting Arch to install I did this but everything started breaking down once I installed the Desktop Environment and Xorg server, probably missed something. That's baseline Arch I enjoyed the process but felt a bit deflated after my DE wouldn't work, could still switch between console access using Ctrl + F# I really don't recommend Arch standalone for beginners. SDDM didn't like LXQT.

Also if you are using virtualbox for testing VMs DONT VirtualBox is so slow laggy and rubbish as a Type 2 Hypervisor. https://www.vmware.com/products/workstation-player/workstation-player-evaluation.html

Was running 60hrz on my VM box using mint. Also VMs are meant to be a testing playground that can be destroyed and altered with viruses, deleting system files, etc. it will have some sort of lag because it's not a main PC, just a sim of one.

[RGX12]

Escrito originalmente por x_wing:

Escrito originalmente por RGX12:

The issue with Mint and some of the other Ubuntu-based flavors can be poor driver support out of the box, specifically involving WiFi and graphics cards (due to their proprietary drivers).

Wifi drivers were a problem in the past, nowday any distro with a recent kernel shouldn't give you any problems.

Regarding GPU drivers, it depends of your GPU brand. Setting the right PPAs on a Ubuntu LTS will keep you quite up to date with them. And also, Pop!_OS is a Ubuntu based distro that takes care on keeping on the latest stable version the gpu drivers.

In the end is more about selecting the distro on which you feel more comfortable.

RE WiFI
With all due respect, perhaps you simply don't install as many Linux distros as I do. If the machine in question has wireless hardware incorporating one of the many prevalent Broadcom chipsets, you will have non-functioning WiFi. Every. Single. Time. Mint is especially a culprit, as are most of the other Ubuntu flavors. The proprietary BCM drivers aren't included by default, and the open-source drivers simply don't work most of the time. This is one of the reasons I place a premium on the distros which include the extras, like the AntiX/Mepis families.

[x_wing]

Escrito originalmente por PuertoRicanStripeHeadedTanager:

I have tried gaming on linux you can't even install graphics drivers and all the games need wine even then run like ♥♥♥♥ it's not worth it.

"All games need wine", that's BS.

Is quite easy to install proprietary nvidia driver in any modern distro, no to mention that AMD GPU is plug & play...

Escrito originalmente por RGX12:

RE WiFI
With all due respect, perhaps you simply don't install as many Linux distros as I do. If the machine in question has wireless hardware incorporating one of the many prevalent Broadcom chipsets, you will have non-functioning WiFi. Every. Single. Time. Mint is especially a culprit, as are most of the other Ubuntu flavors. The proprietary BCM drivers aren't included by default, and the open-source drivers simply don't work most of the time. This is one of the reasons I place a premium on the distros which include the extras, like the AntiX/Mepis families.

I don't recall having problems with ubuntu on any laptop I installed it. I'm almost sure that recent kernel have good support for broadcom, in fact I have a felling that I read about a fix in foss driver some yeara ago.

Anyway, the OP has a desktop pc, so even if this is still a problem, I doubt that he will face it.

[HypersleepyNaputunia]

I usually have hard time getting nvidia driver working on debian, ubuntu does it automagically no problem.

[Aliquis Freedom & Ethnopluralism]

I haven't used Linux in a very long time but usually I would say Ubuntu or Mint. Ubuntu because as Fedora and Debian it's a bit of a standard and also SteamOS was built on Debian/Ubuntu (later is a derivative.)

However I know some of the components in Ubuntu supposedly is a bit old for Steam or whatever I've seen mentioned as a reason for some other distribution so I kinda would want to find out which that one was. Also there's that program which help you install a lot of different games which haven't got Linux versions but run them through various programs like wine and with different settings and I feel that could be useful if the game is to be able to play as many games as possible.

Ubuntu still isn't a bad choice.

Then again so many YouTube videos are just marketing whatever and so many has been fance of whatever somewhat obscure / latest distribution and so many of them has bit the dust so maybe it's not worth worrying about. There was a GamePak for Ubuntu and you could of course also just run SteamOS.

[Cyber2B]

Escrito originalmente por x_wing:

Escrito originalmente por PuertoRicanStripeHeadedTanager:

I have tried gaming on linux you can't even install graphics drivers and all the games need wine even then run like ♥♥♥♥ it's not worth it.

"All games need wine", that's BS.

Is quite easy to install proprietary nvidia driver in any modern distro, no to mention that AMD GPU is plug & play...

Escrito originalmente por RGX12:

RE WiFI
With all due respect, perhaps you simply don't install as many Linux distros as I do. If the machine in question has wireless hardware incorporating one of the many prevalent Broadcom chipsets, you will have non-functioning WiFi. Every. Single. Time. Mint is especially a culprit, as are most of the other Ubuntu flavors. The proprietary BCM drivers aren't included by default, and the open-source drivers simply don't work most of the time. This is one of the reasons I place a premium on the distros which include the extras, like the AntiX/Mepis families.

I don't recall having problems with ubuntu on any laptop I installed it. I'm almost sure that recent kernel have good support for broadcom, in fact I have a felling that I read about a fix in foss driver some yeara ago.

Anyway, the OP has a desktop pc, so even if this is still a problem, I doubt that he will face it.

Linux is pretty straightforward to use, problem for me is knowing how to properly use the terminal.

Linux is a great OS but Win10 will be my daily driver until Linux supports atleast 90% of my steam Library.

It sucks that $500 worth of games won't be usable because devs didn't make it for Linux.

Though I will install Linux on a laptop because when I was using mint, some of the features looked like it was designed for a mobile device.

[TheRandomGuy]

It's also worth noting that dual-booting both Linux and Windows is possible if you have enough storage. Although a Windows Update can potentially affect the Linux Bootloader if both GRUB (Linux Bootloader) and the Windows Boot Loader are on the same disk. You could basically just grab two SSDs, put Windows 10 on one and a Linux distro of your choice on the other, set the Linux Distro to boot first and GRUB should auto-detect Windows and prompt you to choose to boot into Windows or Linux after start-up.

Ideally, a dual-boot would give you "The Best of Both Worlds" so to speak. The freedom of Linux and the compatibility of Windows, and all you need to do is reboot to switch from one to the other. Like I said earlier though, some problems can arise with major Windows Updates as they can potentially wipe GRUB if they're on the same partition.

[Cyber2B]

Escrito originalmente por TheRandomGuy:

It's also worth noting that dual-booting both Linux and Windows is possible if you have enough storage. Although a Windows Update can potentially affect the Linux Bootloader if both GRUB (Linux Bootloader) and the Windows Boot Loader are on the same disk. You could basically just grab two SSDs, put Windows 10 on one and a Linux distro of your choice on the other, set the Linux Distro to boot first and GRUB should auto-detect Windows and prompt you to choose to boot into Windows or Linux after start-up.

Ideally, a dual-boot would give you "The Best of Both Worlds" so to speak. The freedom of Linux and the compatibility of Windows, and all you need to do is reboot to switch from one to the other. Like I said earlier though, some problems can arise with major Windows Updates as they can potentially wipe GRUB if they're on the same partition.

That won't be necessary for me. I only pay video games and pay bills on my computer. I can't see me using Linux frequently if the only thing Linux benefits me is a faster OS and unique customization.

I will use VMs to experiment with different versions of Linux so when the time does come where most of my Library is available on Linux il make the full jump.

[TheRandomGuy]

Escrito originalmente por Dr Doom:

Escrito originalmente por DeusVult™:

That won't be necessary for me. I only pay video games and pay bills on my computer. I can't see me using Linux frequently if the only thing Linux benefits me is a faster OS and unique customization.

I will use VMs to experiment with different versions of Linux so when the time does come where most of my Library is available on Linux il make the full jump.

I'd like to see applications more widely adopted in Linux overall. I mean KDE Plasma DE is so sexy compared to Windows.

No arguments there, KDE is the best DE IMO. I tried it on my Laptop and the desktop alone made me want to make my next PC Build a Dual-Boot with Kubuntu / Win10 Pro.

[HypersleepyNaputunia]

paying bills on windows lets microsoft capture keystrokes, credit card, screenshot of what you are doing with address name and stuff. Better to do that on linux

[Cyber2B]

Escrito originalmente por TheRandomGuy:

Escrito originalmente por Dr Doom:

I'd like to see applications more widely adopted in Linux overall. I mean KDE Plasma DE is so sexy compared to Windows.

No arguments there, KDE is the best DE IMO. I tried it on my Laptop and the desktop alone made me want to make my next PC Build a Dual-Boot with Kubuntu / Win10 Pro.

Can you link me to the KDE your using? I'm pretty much trying everything at this point and seeing what works best for me.

[HypersleepyNaputunia]

puppy linux is super easy to try and super small and fast but is pretty full featured too. just boot up a flash disk with it dont even have to install it it runs in ram

[Cyber2B]

Escrito originalmente por Dr Doom:

Escrito originalmente por DeusVult™:

That won't be necessary for me. I only pay video games and pay bills on my computer. I can't see me using Linux frequently if the only thing Linux benefits me is a faster OS and unique customization.

I will use VMs to experiment with different versions of Linux so when the time does come where most of my Library is available on Linux il make the full jump.

I'd like to see applications more widely adopted in Linux overall. I mean KDE Plasma DE is so sexy compared to Windows.

Would be hard, Linux isn't mainstream like Windows, Linux machines (discluding Android devices) are not known to the majority of people in the world. Companies only help the majority first before looking towards the least of their concern.

[CravenCoyote]

Escrito originalmente por Dr Doom:

I'd like to see applications more widely adopted in Linux overall. I mean KDE Plasma DE is so sexy compared to Windows.

If all you're wanting is aesthetics, then you can just skin Windows to look like KDE.

[x_wing]

Escrito originalmente por DeusVult™:

Can you link me to the KDE your using? I'm pretty much trying everything at this point and seeing what works best for me.

KDE Neon distro is a good starting point to see KDE DE in action (is a ubuntu based distro from KDE devs)