I'm a complete beginner when it comes to PCs, and I'm eager to dive into Linux, specifically considering beginner-friendly distributions like Mint or Zorin OS. I've done some research and watched various tutorials, but they often confuse me more than they help. I'm left with a couple of key questions that I can't quite figure out, so any guidance would be appreciated.
1. Do I need to manually install drivers as I would in Windows? If so, can I do it the same way? Are drivers typically included in the Linux kernel, and if yes, are they optimized? I recently got an RX 9060XT 16GB GPU, which was released just in June. Will it be supported by the current kernels on Mint (6.18) and Zorin OS (6.14)? If Zorin does not support it, how can I get the correct drivers?
2. I've heard that ext4 drives are preferable over NTFS to avoid issues, especially with games, but I'm unsure what that even means. Do I need to replace my SSD for this? Is it a software change, and how can I check or change my drive format to ext4 if necessary?
Are there any additional tips or important information I should keep in mind as I embark on this Linux journey?
1 Answer
You generally won't need to install drivers on Linux as most drivers are already included in the kernel. However, if you're using an Nvidia GPU or some less common hardware, you might need to install those drivers manually. For your RX 9060XT, both Mint and Zorin support it since the needed driver support started in kernel version 6.12. If you're concerned about optimization, just ensure you keep your kernel updated; the latest usually offers better support for new hardware.
That's good to know! So, if I switch distros later, I should also check the kernel version to ensure I have support for my hardware?