I'm looking to switch from Windows and I'm in need of some solid Linux distributions for two different purposes: one for digital art and another specifically for gaming. I've only played around with Linux Mint Cinnamon in a virtual machine, which seemed user-friendly at first.
For my digital art, I primarily work in 2D using programs like Krita, Aseprite, Photodemon, and occasionally Rebelle 7. I'd love some recommendations, but please, no GIMP!
Regarding gaming, most of my games are on Steam, but there are a few that aren't. I'm currently enjoying titles like Helldivers 2, Zenless Zone Zero, Spirit of the North 2, and Vampire Survivors. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Here are my current specs:
- **Art PC**:
- Windows 11
- CPU: Ryzen 7 5800X
- GPU: Radeon RX 6800 XT
- 64GB RAM
- **Game PC**:
- Windows 11
- CPU: Ryzen 9 9900X
- GPU: XFX 7900XTX
- 64GB RAM
5 Answers
Krita and Aseprite should work great on Linux, and you can probably get Photodemon and Rebelle 7 running via Wine. In terms of distros, any of the popular ones should do the job well. I’ve heard good things about Bazzite for gaming, though I don't have personal experience with it. Good luck with your search!
For gaming, I recommend looking into Fedora with the KDE edition. It’s pretty great for daily tasks, and if you’re planning on trying out newer software often, it might just be the right fit for you. You can also explore Nobara for enhanced gaming support. Just make sure to check ProtonDB for your game compatibility!
Why not give EndeavourOS a shot? It's flexible and the Arch Wiki is a great resource if you run into any issues. All your art programs except for Rebelle and Photodemon should run seamlessly. For the gaming side, CachyOS is said to be really good too!
You might want to consider using just one distro instead of juggling two different ones. For gaming, CachyOS is optimized specifically for that purpose and gets good reviews from users. Plus, most of your art programs should run fine on Linux. Just make sure to check compatibility for Photodemon and Rebelle 7 as you might need to use Wine for those.
I say stick with something mainstream like Ubuntu, Mint, or Zorin. Those are the most user-friendly for productivity and have the best software support. You’ll probably find all your desired applications run without issues. If you want to get a bit adventurous, Pop!_OS is also a solid choice.
Yeah, I agree! Ubuntu is like the default for a reason, and it’s usually the best bet for ease of use.
Totally agree! Bazzite is worth checking out if you're into gaming, but make sure to try a couple of distros to find which fits best with your workflow.