I recently built a PC and I want to dive deeper into Linux. I had a spare old laptop that I've tried installing Mint and Arch on previously, but I had to switch back to Windows briefly to update the BIOS. Now I'm on the hunt for a new Linux distro to install. Here are the specs for my laptop: GTX 1650 mobile, Ryzen 7 3750h, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 128GB SSD, and a 1TB HDD. I'm eager to invest a lot of time into learning more about Linux since I'm currently unemployed. I'm particularly interested in a distro with great customization options, solid support for Nvidia cards, good ricing potential, and a strong community to help me out when I inevitably make mistakes. Any recommendations?
4 Answers
Arch is solid, especially if you install it on ZFS for some extra fun. It gives you the ability to restore your system easily if you mess things up. Just make sure you’re prepared for some troubleshooting along the way!
I’d recommend trying out Arch Linux if you’re willing to read documentation and learn the ins-and-outs of Linux. Arch’s wiki is super helpful. Gentoo and NixOS are also great for a deep understanding, but they might be more complex. If you're looking for something easier to set up but still challenging, give Fedora or Debian a shot.
I've heard horror stories about Gentoo. Is it really that hard? Arch sounds appealing, especially with the AUR for packages.
If you want customization, it's more about the desktop environment anyway. Have you looked into tiling window managers like Hyprland?
Ubuntu and Bazzite work really well with my 3050 GPU, so I believe your GTX 1650 should be compatible too. However, if you're not into Ubuntu, maybe Mint could be a good alternative since it's user-friendly and might suit your needs without the gaming focus of Bazzite.
The 1650 is still supported by Nvidia, so you should have no issues with drivers. Mint is a good choice if you want something easier to use!
If you really want to learn, installing Arch manually is a great way to get your hands dirty in Linux. Also, there's Linux from Scratch (LFS) which could teach you a lot, but I’d recommend starting with Arch since it's more user-friendly for those new to Linux.
I think Arch is feasible for me since I’ve heard the manual installation helps you learn a lot. LFS seems like too much at this point though.
What’s the main difference between ZFS and ext4? I’m used to ext4 and just want to understand better.