Hey everyone! After stepping away from Linux for 16 years thanks to Windows, I'm considering making the switch back. I used to run Ubuntu and Mint between 2007 and 2009, so I'm a bit rusty. My laptop is a 4-year-old HP Omen with an AMD Ryzen processor and an Nvidia RTX 3070. I have a few requirements for the new distro:
- It should be good for gaming, as I use it like a console connected to my TV, mainly through Steam.
- I'd prefer a desktop environment that's efficient on a single laptop screen, ideally something that supports tiling, as I often work with PDFs in Obsidian.
- The setup should be straightforward; I don't want a complex setup like Arch or Gentoo.
- Stability is key since this is my only home machine, and I want to avoid issues.
- I'd like a good Gnome setup, as I'm not a fan of KDE or anything Windows-like.
- Privacy protections are important.
- I'd appreciate a distro that isn't bloated, as I mainly game, browse the web, and use basic apps.
So far, I'm considering PopOS, Ubuntu, and Fedora. I've heard about CachyOS but it seems too much work due to its Arch base. Bazzite looks interesting too, but I couldn't find a proper live image. Any advice would be appreciated!
5 Answers
Fedora is an excellent pick because it’s modern and stable. You’ll get updates regularly without being on a rolling release, which means fewer issues down the line!
You might also want to check out Linux Mint, especially the Cinnamon version. It’s user-friendly and has been stable for lots of users, plus gaming on it usually works fine with Steam.
I used Mint back in the day too, but it feels too much like Windows for me. Gnome is just better!
With your Nvidia card, you'll want something that handles graphics well. KDA Plasma on Wayland is great for gaming if you decide to go that route! Bazzite is good for out-of-the-box gaming support, but I'd recommend checking what's stable for your specific hardware.
Debian is my go-to choice. It's straightforward and gets the job done without unnecessary frills. Since you have some Linux experience, I think you'll find it meets your needs well!
Yeah, if you've used Linux before, Debian should be quite easy to get comfortable with again.
If you want a simple experience without daily tinkering, definitely stick to Ubuntu or Mint. Ubuntu has a lot of support and is very good for gaming. Bazzite has some great stability for a newer distro, but it's best to do a bit of research before jumping in.
Just be careful with updates; sometimes things can break after an update, and you might need to roll back.