I'm trying to decide between PopOS and CachyOS for my PC setup. My usual tasks include gaming, 3D modeling and rendering, Photoshop, and video editing. The only wrinkle is I also want to get into some retro gaming emulation, but I know Duckstation doesn't play well with Arch-based distros. So, I have a couple of questions:
1) Is PopOS really better for compatibility since many Linux programs are tailored for Ubuntu, or is there something about Arch-based systems like CachyOS that helps with software compatibility?
2) For my needs, does having an Nvidia-focused option make PopOS a better choice?
4 Answers
I'd suggest giving both a shot! Just install them and see which one feels better for you.
CachyOS seems to be the way to go! I heard PopOS has some issues with its new Cosmic desktop environment. If you're all about gaming, CachyOS has pre-installed drivers for Nvidia and is more stable right now. Good luck!
If you're relying heavily on Duckstation, I should warn you that Duckstation has dropped support for Linux on Arch builds, so you might run into trouble there. As for compatibility, while PopOS is based on Ubuntu and has a lot of software available, Arch-based systems like CachyOS have access to the AUR, which opens up a lot of software options too. I think, for your needs, CachyOS might be the better bet.
Honestly, CachyOS is better than PopOS for Nvidia support. I've used both and found CachyOS way more reliable, especially for gaming. Plus, you can check out a video where Linus shows how much easier it is on Cachy compared to PopOS; it might help your decision!
Doesn't Duckstation have an AppImage version? That could work for emulation without too much hassle!