I've used Windows all my life, but my older 2018 laptop has started feeling sluggish, and I suspect memory usage is part of the problem. It has a GTX 16-series GPU and 16 GB of RAM. I'd like to try Linux for gaming and programming, mainly using VS Code, but I'm unsure which Windows games will work and how reliable compatibility will be. I also play unofficially distributed games, so I'd like to understand any limitations without risking my system. Would Linux Mint, Fedora, Bazzite, or another distribution be a good choice? Would dual-booting be the best way to test Linux first, and would that require installing duplicate copies of applications or using twice the storage?
3 Answers
Bazzite can be convenient if gaming is the priority, especially because it is designed around a more controlled system setup. Mint is also a reasonable starting point for someone coming from Windows, and it should handle VS Code and normal development tasks easily. Make sure the NVIDIA driver support works properly for your particular laptop before committing.
Dual-booting is a sensible way to test Linux without giving up Windows. You install both systems on separate partitions, then choose which one to start when the laptop boots. You don’t need two copies of every application, but each operating system has its own installed programs, updates, and required disk space. Keep Windows for games or software that does not work properly on Linux, and back up important files before resizing partitions or installing anything.
A live USB is another low-risk option for checking hardware, Wi-Fi, graphics, and general comfort before changing the internal drive. It will be slower than a full installation, but it can reveal major compatibility problems first.
Check each game on ProtonDB to see whether it runs well through Steam Play and whether there are known issues. Multiplayer games that depend on certain anti-cheat or kernel-level protections may not work, even if other Windows games do. For a gaming-focused setup, Bazzite is worth considering, while Mint or Fedora may feel more familiar for general desktop use and programming.
I’m only doing programming at a beginner level, mostly in VS Code, so Mint sounds like it could be a good balance between programming and gaming.