I'm using a Lenovo laptop with the following specs: 477 GB storage, 6 GB graphics card, 16 GB RAM, and a 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12450HX processor. I primarily use this for gaming on Steam, and I'm considering dual booting Windows and Linux just in case. I have a few questions: 1. Which Linux distributions should I consider? I prefer something similar to Windows that's customizable but not too challenging to install, as this will be my first time using anything other than Windows 10/11. Is Arch really that difficult? 2. What do I need to know about gaming on Linux? 3. Are there good tutorials for dual booting? Also, I have an Nvidia graphics card.
4 Answers
I've tried both Fedora and Mint, and honestly, they are pretty similar in setup. Just be cautious with weird installations. Fedora KDE works great for me and is more stable than some other options. The terminal is often unavoidable, so go for a distro you feel comfortable with. In my case, Fedora managed my Nvidia drivers nicely without much hassle.
Linux Mint could be a good fit for you since it's very user-friendly and similar to Windows. Just keep in mind that if you have an Nvidia card, you'll need to install the drivers manually unless you go for a distro like Bazzite, which comes with them pre-installed. That said, secure boot settings might require a bit of adjustment for dual booting.
I recently made the switch to Fedora Kinoite and I love it. You should check out ProtonDB for Steam game compatibility—most games run well out of the box. When picking a distro, consider if you want an immutable one or not, and think about your desktop environment. KDE Plasma is quite similar to Windows, and GNOME resembles Mac. If you want a gaming-focused option, look into Bazzite; it auto-installs Nvidia drivers. Linux Mint is also a great beginner-friendly choice, especially if you want a smooth start.
If you want a solid option for gaming, check out Nobara or CachyOS. They're both friendly towards Nvidia cards and work well for gaming purposes. I've had great experiences with both, and you’ll likely find them easy to manage.

Related Questions
How To Get Your Domain Unblocked From Facebook
How To Find A String In a Directory of Files Using Linux