I've been using Windows 11, but I'm increasingly frustrated with it and am considering switching to Linux. My main concerns are whether my Radeon RX 9070 XT OC will work properly, whether gaming performance will be reasonable, and whether I can continue recording music with REAPER and Neural Amp Modeler. I also need to teach classes through Google Meet. I'm familiar with the general reputation of Linux, but I don't really know how the operating system works or which distribution would be a good starting point. Would Linux handle this setup, and what would be the safest way to try it?
4 Answers
Your AMD card is a strong choice for Linux. Radeon support is generally included in the Linux kernel and Mesa graphics stack, so you usually don’t need to hunt down a separate proprietary driver. The RX 9070 XT should work well on a current distribution, although using a recent release is important for newer hardware. Google Meet should also work normally in a supported Chromium-based browser. I’d still verify your exact REAPER and Neural Amp Modeler setup before wiping Windows, since audio plugins and specialized hardware can be the trickiest part.
The safest approach is to dual-boot first, preferably on a second drive or with plenty of unused storage. That lets you test gaming, audio recording, your interfaces, plugins, and online classes while keeping Windows available for anything that doesn’t work yet. Make a backup before changing partitions, and don’t assume every Windows audio plugin will behave perfectly through compatibility layers.
You can preview several Linux desktops in a browser before installing anything, then create a bootable USB and test the system in live mode. For a first installation, a mainstream Ubuntu- or Fedora-based distribution with a current kernel would be less work than jumping straight into a highly configurable option. The main decision is whether the applications and plugins you rely on are supported—not just whether the graphics card is compatible.
REAPER itself has Linux support, and many users run it successfully, but Neural Amp Modeler and any related plugins, audio drivers, and interfaces deserve specific testing. Check whether your models and plugins have native Linux versions or require workarounds. If your teaching and recording workflow works from the live USB or a separate installation, you’ll have a much clearer idea of whether switching full-time makes sense.
For video meetings, using Google Meet in Chrome, Chromium, or another well-supported browser is usually straightforward. Test your microphone, camera, screen sharing, and any virtual audio devices before relying on it for a class.