I've been using Linux for quite a while now, starting with Linux Mint and moving on to distros like Nobara and EndeavourOS. I really loved Alpine Linux and PostmarketOS, but I ran into gaming issues that made me switch. Currently, I find EndeavourOS a bit fragile and prone to breaking things, in contrast to Manjaro, which I find untrustworthy. I'm seeking something similar to Alpine that can handle everyday tasks as well as gaming, since Arch is off the table and I've already ruled out Ubuntu and Debian for not being powerful enough. I also want to dual-boot with Windows 11 for gaming while using Linux for everything else. My hardware includes an Nvidia Palit RTX 3060 Ti and an Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5. Any recommendations for a distro that fits my needs, or has Alpine improved enough to consider going back?
5 Answers
Don't be too quick to dismiss Debian or suggest they lack power! With your setup, Debian can handle pretty much anything you throw at it. Consider trying Artix as well if you prefer a non-systemd environment that has some flexibility. Just keep in mind that GPUs work well with Ryzen-based systems; you're probably facing a configuration issue more than a compatibility one.
If you're looking for something that's powerful yet not geared towards beginners, give Debian 13 a shot. It might seem a bit beginner-friendly, but with a netinstall, you can set it up quite similarly to Alpine. It's got solid package management and community support for Nvidia drivers too.
You might want to check out Void Linux. It's lightweight, user-friendly, and employs the XBPS package manager, which is quite efficient. It supports your Nvidia card well and it's not a fork of any other distro, meaning it's pretty unique!
NixOS could be an interesting option for you too. It configures everything through a single file which might be different from what you're used to. Just be warned, there's a steep learning curve to it, but it can be very powerful once you get the hang of it!
Have you considered Gentoo? It allows for a highly customized setup and can deliver great performance once you get it configured. It's a bit of a learning curve, though, so be ready for that!
Yeah, Void is a solid pick, especially if you're looking for speed and simplicity without too many bells and whistles.