I'm new to Linux and considering Pop!_OS for a laptop with an Intel Core i5-9300H, GeForce GTX 1050 with 3GB of VRAM, 16GB of DDR4 memory, and a 500GB NVMe SSD. I mainly play lighter games such as Grim Dawn, Stardew Valley, and Deadzone Rogue. How well should this hardware work, especially with the NVIDIA graphics card, and is Pop!_OS beginner-friendly enough for a first Linux installation?
3 Answers
The hardware should be capable of running Pop!_OS, and those games are relatively modest, so performance shouldn’t be the main concern. Use the NVIDIA-specific installer or make sure the appropriate proprietary NVIDIA driver is installed afterward rather than relying on Nouveau. You may need to select the NVIDIA GPU for some games on a hybrid-graphics laptop.
For a first Linux distribution, I’d consider something with a more mature desktop if you want the least troubleshooting. Pop!_OS can still be a perfectly reasonable choice, especially because it has good NVIDIA support, but expect to install or update the proprietary driver if the installer doesn’t configure it automatically.
The main hesitation is the desktop environment, not your laptop. The newer COSMIC desktop has been reported as rough around the edges, with occasional crashes and bugs. It may still work for you, but it’s worth watching a recent review first so you know what to expect.
Thanks—that helps. I’ll check the current desktop situation and make sure I use the proper NVIDIA driver before deciding.