I'm considering repurposing my 8-year-old PC into a gaming system using Linux. I've had my Steam Deck for a few months, and after watching PewDiePie's video, I thought this could be a fun project. My current setup includes an Intel i5 7400, an Nvidia GTX 1060 with 3 GB, and 16 GB of RAM. Is this a good idea, and what distro or setup would you recommend for getting the most out of my old hardware?
3 Answers
I think Kubuntu is a good choice too; it’s very user-friendly and has a similar desktop layout to the Steam Deck. Just keep in mind that some of the LTS versions might be a bit outdated, so look for a more gaming-focused distro if performance is key for you.
Bazzite is worth a shot on your system! It's designed to provide a smoother gaming experience. I wouldn't expect Linux to make your hardware run like new, but it's definitely a good test to see how it performs with some lighter titles!
That's actually a solid plan! I'd suggest going with a user-friendly Linux distro like Ubuntu. Steam
does a great job with Proton, which usually handles most games without any hassle. Be sure to set it to use the latest Proton version in the game settings. If you're running an Nvidia GPU, check out the guide on the Debian Wiki to get the drivers installed properly. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions later! Good luck with the conversion!
Great tips! Ubuntu really simplifies the installation process, especially for gaming.
True! While Kubuntu is nice, distros like Pop!_OS or even some gaming-specific ones could offer better performance out of the box.