I'm new to Linux and have been using Fedora Workstation for about two months on an older HP laptop with a 6th-generation i7, NVIDIA 940MX, 8 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB hard drive. After installing the NVIDIA drivers through RPM Fusion and setting up codecs and Lutris, Fedora has worked well for browsing, work, multiple monitors, media, and some gaming.
I now want to install Linux on my main MSI laptop, which has an 8th-generation i7, integrated Intel graphics, a GTX 1060 6 GB, 16 GB of RAM, a 256 GB SSD, and a 1 TB hard drive. It currently runs Windows 11. Both laptops use NVIDIA Optimus.
My main uses are browsing, Figma, documents, spreadsheets, media, and occasional single-player RPGs and open-world games. I prefer GNOME and would like a modern, privacy-friendly distribution with straightforward driver and software maintenance. I also want something stable enough that solutions are easy to find, while still allowing me to learn how Linux works.
I'm considering Fedora, Bazzite, Zorin OS, or another suitable option. How difficult is NVIDIA driver support for the GTX 1060, and should I expect the same kind of Optimus setup issues as with the 940MX? Is Fedora still the best fit, or would an atomic distribution such as Bazzite make more sense?
5 Answers
Bazzite is worth investigating if you mainly want a gaming-focused system with a rollback-friendly update model. However, it is an atomic desktop, so software is managed differently from a traditional Fedora installation. Don’t install NVIDIA drivers using ordinary package-management instructions on top of it; use the image that already matches your hardware and follow Bazzite’s documentation. For learning conventional Linux administration, regular Fedora may be less confusing.
Fedora is probably the most natural fit based on your experience so far. It gives you a current GNOME desktop, good documentation, and relatively simple access to NVIDIA drivers and codecs through RPM Fusion. Keep regular backups and test the NVIDIA setup before removing Windows, especially if you rely on external monitors or GPU acceleration.
The GTX 1060 is not unsupported just because it is older. NVIDIA’s 580-series driver branch still supports it, although it should not receive major new features. You can continue installing normal driver updates through your distribution; there is no need to freeze the driver after the initial setup. The main limitation is that future driver branches may eventually drop the card, so keep that in mind for long-term planning.
The GTX 1060 and 940MX use the same currently supported NVIDIA driver branch, so the driver situation should be broadly similar. Since you already configured the 940MX through RPM Fusion, you can follow the same official RPM Fusion NVIDIA instructions on Fedora. Optimus should work, although hybrid graphics and choosing whether an application runs on the Intel or NVIDIA GPU can require some configuration.
That makes Fedora seem like the safest choice. I originally struggled because I found a more complicated guide, but the RPM Fusion instructions were much clearer once I located them.
Zorin should be easy to use, but it tends to lag behind newer Ubuntu releases. Since you specifically want modern software and GNOME, Fedora is likely a better match. Debian is another stable option, but it may require more manual work to get newer desktop, graphics, and gaming components.
That clears up the driver concern. I was worried that ‘legacy’ meant I would have to stop updating entirely, but continuing with the supported package updates makes sense.