Which atomic Linux distribution is best for a laptop with an Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti?

Bazzite is probably the easiest choice if you want gaming support without having to manually set up everything. Its Universal Blue image includes Nvidia drivers, and it still works well as a general-purpose desktop rather than forcing you into a purely gaming-oriented setup.

If you like GNOME, openSUSE Aeon is another good atomic desktop. Just be aware that Nvidia setup is less convenient there, since you’ll generally need to handle the driver installation manually.

Fedora Kinoite is a solid option if you prefer KDE, while Fedora Silverblue is the equivalent GNOME choice. They’re polished and reliable, but you’ll likely need to install the Nvidia driver yourself from the terminal. Aurora and Bluefin are also worth considering if you want a Universal Blue system with Nvidia support included.

Don’t choose SteamOS specifically for this laptop: Nvidia support is currently a limitation. For your hardware, Bazzite or an Nvidia-ready Universal Blue image would be a safer choice, especially if you occasionally want to play games.

If this is your first Linux installation, an immutable system may add some extra concepts and troubleshooting. Regular Fedora, Linux Mint, or CachyOS with a lightweight desktop could be easier places to start. You can always try an atomic distribution later once you’re comfortable.