I'm looking to dual boot Windows and Linux on my laptop, but I only have a single 500GB SSD. Given the current prices, I can't buy a larger SSD, so I'm wondering if dual booting is feasible with my 500GB drive. How much space does Linux typically require? I also play games and have heard that AMD chips perform better on Linux, so what Linux distribution would you recommend for gaming while dual booting?
3 Answers
I would suggest budgeting at least 100GB for Linux to keep things comfortable, especially if you're not planning to install huge AAA games. For basic use and apps, 256GB might be a good shout. If you're really focusing on light usage, you can get Linux running under 10GB, but that may limit what you can do. Just pick a popular beginner-friendly distro.
If you’re uncertain about partitioning, consider running a VM for a while to get comfortable with Linux. If your ultimate goal is gaming on Linux, dual booting is absolutely doable, but you should be aware that sometimes Windows updates can cause boot issues. Alternatively, using an external USB drive for Linux might help you realize which OS you end up using more!
While it's a common belief that AMD chips perform significantly better on Linux, it really depends on the overall hardware setup. Linux is generally lighter on resources than Windows, making both AMD and Intel CPUs perform well. As for space, Linux can run fine with as little as 25GB, but it all depends on how much you plan to install. Personally, I allocated 130GB for Windows and the rest for Linux. You might want to check out Linux Mint – it's beginner-friendly and widely recommended.
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