I recently built my first PC and am considering switching from Windows 10 to Linux. I'm still a beginner, so I'd prefer something reliable rather than a system that requires constant troubleshooting. My main goals are playing games through Steam, GOG, and possibly emulators, while continuing to use OBS, DaVinci Resolve, Aseprite, Audacity, and eventually learning Godot with GDScript, C++, and maybe Blender. Would Linux Mint be a sensible starting point, or would another distribution provide better hardware support and gaming tools on a new PC?
3 Answers
For a first Linux installation, I’d lean toward Fedora KDE or Nobara rather than an older, slower-moving distribution. Newer hardware generally benefits from newer kernels, drivers, and graphics packages. Nobara is Fedora-based and includes several gaming-related setup choices, while Fedora KDE is a more general-purpose option that stays fairly current. If you choose Fedora, enable the recommended third-party repositories during setup.
Most of the applications you listed aren’t tied to one particular distribution, although installation methods and package availability can differ. OBS, Aseprite, Audacity, Godot, and Blender are generally workable on Linux. DaVinci Resolve is available too, but its Linux version can have specific hardware, codec, and media-format limitations, so check those before switching completely.
For games, Steam with Proton works well for many titles. Check ProtonDB before buying or migrating important games, and check Are We Anti-Cheat Yet? for multiplayer games that use anti-cheat. Lutris can help with games from GOG and other launchers.
Gaming-focused options such as Bazzite can make setup easier, but its read-only, container-oriented design may feel unusual for a beginner. CachyOS is fast and popular, but its Arch-based maintenance style usually requires more reading and troubleshooting.
Nobara is a reasonable middle ground if you want a normal, writable desktop rather than an immutable system, but with gaming-oriented defaults already handled. Mint can still be a friendly introduction, especially if your hardware is well supported, but it may not provide the newest kernel and graphics stack as quickly as Fedora-based options. Whatever you choose, test it from a live USB first and keep Windows available until you’ve confirmed that your games and creative programs work the way you need.
Kubuntu is also usable, but if gaming is important, keep it updated between major releases instead of staying on an LTS installation for years. That helps avoid falling behind on hardware and desktop fixes.