I've just gotten a new HP Omen 16 Max for daily use and light gaming, so I'm looking to repurpose my 8-year-old Omen 17 that can't upgrade to Windows 11 for Linux. I want a distro that works well with my NVidia GTX 1050i graphics card, ideally without too much hassle for driver installation. I've read that OpenSUSE or Mint might be good choices, but I'm open to suggestions. My intended use is mainly web browsing, email, and some gaming through Steam. I'm usually a Debian user, but I'm not set on any specific distro. I'm looking for something that's low-maintenance and user-friendly.
4 Answers
MX Linux, which is Debian-based, usually handles NVidia drivers pretty well. It could be a good option to consider!
Have you checked out Ventoy? It allows you to try out multiple Linux distros from a USB without needing to install them. It's a great way to find what works best for you! Here's a helpful video on how it works: https://youtu.be/-7APoZzNPyU?si=LO6yYJ5zFyvJrIQe
I’d definitely go with Mint! It offers a really smooth experience, and most of the hardware just works without much hassle. Perfect for what you're aiming to do!
If you're looking for a "just works" experience, Ubuntu or Mint would be solid choices. They have a robust user community, so troubleshooting is typically straightforward if you run into any issues.
I've seen a lot of good feedback about using NVidia cards on Cachy too, though I'm not a gamer myself. Still, it could be worth looking into if you're interested in gaming!