I'm new to Linux and looking for a distro that works smoothly with my system, especially since I've had some issues with Pop!_OS. Here's my setup: Ryzen 7 9700X, Gigabyte RX 9060 XT 16GB, 48GB DDR5 RAM, an Asus B650E motherboard, and a 1TB WD Black NVMe drive.
My main requirements are:
1. Support for my 1440p 32" 165Hz monitor.
2. A working version of Discord, including screen sharing and support for my Elgato mic.
3. Good Steam support, particularly for controllers.
4. Overall smooth performance for both general use and gaming.
I've had the following issues with Pop!_OS:
- It tends to be stuck at 60Hz or has scaling problems.
- When I managed to get 165Hz, it reverted to 1080p.
- The GPU fans get loud for no reason, and sometimes the screen goes black unexpectedly.
Any distro recommendations, or things I should avoid would be super helpful! Thanks!
8 Answers
I bet Fedora KDE would work well for you! It's pretty stable and known for handling high resolutions with ease, especially when compared to Pop!_OS with its Cosmic desktop, which can have issues.
Are you using DisplayPort or HDMI? That might make a difference in getting your refresh rates right.
If you're comfortable trying Arch with Plasma, that’s another solid choice. Just avoid Debian-based distros for your needs, as they might not perform as well with high refresh rates on newer hardware.
Try any up-to-date distro with KDE. Fedora KDE or openSUSE are top choices. OpenSUSE's snapshot feature is neat; it creates backups before updates, so you can roll back if needed. Just remember to switch to Wayland if you can, as some distros still default to X11, which can cause problems with your monitor.
That’s strange! I’ve had Ubuntu 22.04 handle 4K at 120fps just fine on an RTX 2070. Sure it’s not the distro? Maybe try a fresh install?
I’ve got the RX 9060 XT too, and I've been using Fedora Workstation for 1440p at 165Hz. It’s been great for me! Many recommend the KDE version as well, but I've found GNOME to work just fine.
I'd highly recommend looking into KDE or GNOME. They support Wayland, which is crucial for your needs. Avoid older setups with X11; Cinnamon and XFCE might not serve you well with your specs. Also, have a look at Nobara—it’s becoming a popular choice too!
You might want to switch from X11 to Wayland in Pop!_OS. I had the same issue with refresh rates stuck on lower settings, and changing to Wayland fixed it for me. Just something to try out!
Yeah, definitely give Wayland a shot! It worked wonders for me.