Hey everyone! I'm getting really frustrated with Windows 11 despite its sleek design, and I'm eager to try out Linux. I've spent days searching for the right distribution and desktop environment that meets my needs, but I'm still lost. Here's what I'm looking for:
1. **Working HDR**, 120Hz support, and compatibility with NVIDIA drivers for gaming.
2. A **modern**, **clean**, and **consistent design**.
3. Fast performance—though with my setup (64GB DDR4 RAM, Ryzen 9 5900x, and RTX 3080), I don't foresee major issues.
4. **Smooth animations** or an easy way to add them.
5. **Mouse-focused** interface, as I prefer a GUI over command line usage.
I've already tried several distros like ZorinOS (no HDR), PopOS (feels clunky), Fedora KDE (not happy with the design), and others. I'm even confused about using Arch with KDE versus Fedora's stability. I'm also unsure about window managers like Hyprland—do they come with a user interface? I'm hoping to find a distro that combines the modern design of GNOME with the features of KDE. Any suggestions? Thanks!
5 Answers
You could try running live versions of different distros to experiment with their desktop environments first. Using Ventoy makes that easy, and you'll find what fits your style!
If you want a consistent design, I say go with GNOME on Fedora. It’s user-friendly and has a lot of support. Budgie is also a decent option on Fedora or CachyOS, but it may not have the effects you want.
GNOME isn't exactly mouse-focused, but it's still pretty simple
I've heard good things about Bazzite for gaming, especially if you have NVIDIA. Might be worth a shot!
Yeah, I just started downloading it to try with Ventoy!
It seems like you might want to focus more on choosing a desktop environment first, rather than the distro itself. Once you find a DE you love, pick a distro that supports it well. AnduinOS resembles Windows a lot, so check it out for a similar feel.
Why not just go with Fedora? It's easy to switch between desktop environments. You can install the one you like and remove the others, keeping the system clean.
Are you referring to system apps when you say KDE packages?
I've been using CachyOS daily, but it's not the best for newcomers.