Which Linux Distribution and Installation Method Would Work Best for Gaming and Creative Software?

For a beginner, Linux Mint or Ubuntu are sensible starting points because they have lots of documentation and community support. Mint feels familiar to many Windows users, while Ubuntu often has newer hardware support. Gaming-focused options such as Bazzite or CachyOS are also worth investigating, but they may be less straightforward when you need to troubleshoot something. You can try several of them from a live USB without installing first.

Before choosing a distribution, make a list of the games and check their compatibility with Proton and any anti-cheat they use. Steam gaming can work very well on Linux, but some multiplayer games still do not. Blender generally works well, while Unreal Engine may require extra setup or a container. If gaming is your main priority, it’s worth keeping a Windows option available until you know everything you use works.

The usual process is to download the ISO from the distribution’s official site, write it to a USB drive with a tool such as Rufus, boot the computer from that USB, and select the live-session option to test hardware and graphics. From there, the installer can guide you through using the whole drive or setting up dual boot. Don’t erase or resize anything until your backups are verified, and keep the Windows installer USB available in case you need to recover the system.

I’d avoid making the first attempt a dual-boot installation on your only drive. Back up important files, create a Windows recovery or installer USB, and test Linux on the older laptop or a separate SSD if possible. A spare drive lets you experiment without risking your existing Windows installation. Once you’re comfortable, you can either replace the Windows drive or install Linux alongside it, following the chosen distribution’s official installation guide.