I'm getting a used gaming PC from a friend. It should be a major upgrade over my current computer, with two SSDs and a dedicated GPU, but I only know that the GPU is NVIDIA and don't have the exact model yet. I previously enjoyed using Linux, though my old system had unreliable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth hardware that worked better under Windows. Since I rely on both regularly, I eventually switched back. Once I receive the new computer, I'd like to try Linux again, mainly for gaming. How good is NVIDIA support these days, which distributions handle it well, and are there any important things I should check before installing?
4 Answers
NVIDIA support is much better than it used to be. Ubuntu-based distributions such as Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Pop!_OS generally make installing the proprietary driver fairly straightforward, and some detect or install it automatically. The exact GPU model matters more than the distribution, so check that first once you receive the computer.
Nearly any mainstream distribution can support an NVIDIA card if the appropriate driver is available, although some make setup easier. Newer cards, especially Turing-generation and later models such as GTX 16-series and RTX cards, generally have current driver support. Older cards may only receive legacy or security updates, while very old hardware can require the open-source Nouveau driver, which usually offers lower gaming performance.
It’s worth trying Linux, but use the recommended proprietary NVIDIA driver rather than assuming the open-source driver will be ideal for gaming. Keep the system and kernel updated, and be prepared to install matching kernel headers if the driver needs to build a module. If you want the least troubleshooting, start with a beginner-friendly distribution that offers NVIDIA-specific installation media or an easy driver manager.
Before choosing a system, make a list of all the hardware: the exact GPU, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chipset, processor, and motherboard. Driver support depends on those details. If the GPU is supported by the Linux driver, the main difference between distributions is usually whether that driver is enabled by default, not whether Linux can use the card at all.
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