I'm making the switch from Windows 10 to Linux due to its upcoming support issues, and I need advice on setting up my machine for gaming. My specs are an Intel i7 6700, an Nvidia 1060 3GB, an H170 Pro motherboard, a 110GB SATA SSD, and a 1TB HDD.
My two main concerns include:
1. **Installation and Storage:** I'm considering getting a 2TB M.2 NVMe SSD (ideally Gen3, possibly Gen4 if the price is right) to install Linux. This could improve loading times for games like No Man's Sky and Star Citizen. I like the idea of having both root and home on the same drive to avoid space issues, but I've heard booting from an NVMe can be tricky—any tips? Also, for gaming performance, should I use separate storage for games?
2. **Graphics Card:** I plan to stick with my Nvidia card for now, as switching to an RX 580 isn't in the budget. I've heard AMD is better for Linux, but I need HDMI compatibility due to my TV setup. Will the Nvidia card work well, or are there better options? Also, what Linux distro works best with Nvidia, and should I use X11 or Wayland?
3 Answers
About the NVMe SSD: If you're not planning to upgrade your motherboard soon, it might be wise to stick with a Gen3 model. As for partitioning, using BTRFS can make it easier without much hassle, but if you go with EXT4, you'll likely want separate partitions for root and home, and possibly for your games depending on their size. A single storage device won’t necessarily slow things down, just manage your traffic accordingly. And don’t worry too much about SSD lifespan—just make sure you have a backup plan in place!
Brazzite is a good choice; I've seen it has support for Nvidia cards. Consider upgrading to a 256GB SSD for around 20-30 bucks for better performance. If that's not in the cards, you can keep your OS on the SSD and games on the HDD, but keep in mind that running Star Citizen might still be problematic regardless of your setup.
You might want to test some Live-USB versions like Linux Mint. They let you boot into a working system to see how everything runs before you commit to an install. Plus, Mint has multiple desktop environments to choose from, which can be handy!
So, having the OS and games on one drive can keep traffic manageable? I assumed separating them would speed things up.