I've been toying with the idea of installing Linux on a USB flash drive to see if I can play games from it. Honestly, I'm a total newbie when it comes to Linux, so I could use some guidance. I know there are options for either a live installation or a full installation—what are the key differences between them, and which one would be better for gaming? I also have a 2TB external Seagate HDD that I keep some games on, and I'll be using it with a Dell desktop PC. By the way, the USB drive I'm considering is a SanDisk Ultra 3.0. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
5 Answers
Why not just give it a shot? Trying it out could be a fun learning project, and you'll see firsthand what works and what doesn't!
You can totally run games from a USB drive! Just keep in mind that performance may vary; using a standard USB flash drive is usually slower compared to an SSD. I've played around with Linux on external drives, and while I noticed some performance drops, it can still be enjoyable for lighter games.
Thanks for the insight! I'll have to check how heavy the games are that I want to install.
Just a heads up, USB sticks have slower transfer rates compared to SSDs. So, if you're planning on playing a big game, like one that's 60GB, you might have to grab a snack while it loads! But hey, if you've got an SSD connected via USB, it should be alright for gaming.
The difference between a live install and a full install is pretty significant. A live USB is like a test drive—great for quick use but doesn't save your changes after a restart. If you're looking to actually install games, a full installation is the way to go. You can also add persistence to a live USB, but it's not optimal for gaming.
Exactly! The live version is cool for emergencies, but for gaming, you want that full install.
If you want to play more demanding games, make sure to have enough space and the right drivers installed, especially for platforms like Steam. If the external drive is formatted as NTFS, it could complicate things, since Linux handles NTFS differently than Windows does.
I agree! Just be cautious about loading times. If you're trying to play something hefty, you might need a bit more patience.