I have an old gaming desktop that's still functioning well, but Windows 10 support is ending soon, and I'm not keen on sticking with Windows for several reasons. I'm mainly using it for older games on Steam, basic paperwork, emails, and casual browsing. I'm not looking to start a new hobby; I just need a user-friendly, secure operating system since I'm pretty new to Linux. Is it realistic to keep my old desktop running for another year or two with Linux? If so, how should I start, and what specific distribution do you recommend? I've read a bit about Mint Cinnamon, but I'm open to suggestions! Here are my specs: Intel Core i7-4790K, Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 5, 16 GB RAM, GeForce GTX 970, and some old storage drives. Any advice or resources would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
If you're not aiming to learn Linux extensively, Bazzite might be the way to go. It's super straightforward and reliable without much risk of breaking things. Ideal for someone who just needs an OS without the fuss!
I have a similar setup and it's running just fine with various distros. Mint Cinnamon could be a great fit for you since it's user-friendly, but I've also found Ubuntu to perform well. You shouldn’t have any performance issues with your specs, so just pick what looks good to you!
Mint is a fantastic choice for beginners; it has a familiar interface and great tools for managing your system!