I'm thinking about dual booting my gaming laptop (a LOQ) with Linux because I've heard it uses less RAM compared to Windows. My plan is to use Linux when I'm on battery for simple tasks and switch to Windows for gaming while plugged in. I'm pretty set on dual booting, but I'd love to hear your thoughts on whether this is a smart move. Also, I'm curious if using Linux could actually help improve my laptop's battery life? Thanks!
3 Answers
When it comes to battery life, it really depends on how well Linux manages power on your specific laptop. Sometimes you might see better battery performance than Windows, other times not. It’s a bit hit or miss, so the best advice is to test it out yourself to see which OS works better for your usage!
I suggest starting with a virtual machine to get a feel for Linux. It’s a low-risk way to see if you like it before going all-in with dual booting. Also, using a Live CD to test it out could be beneficial. Just remember, the performance on a virtual machine varies quite a bit compared to running directly on your hardware!
Yes, I'm planning to do that as a first step!
Before committing to dual booting, I'd recommend trying Linux out using a Live USB. You can use a tool called Ventoy to set it up easily. Popular distros you might want to check out are Linux Mint, Zorin OS, or MX Linux. Just keep in mind that Windows programs might not run on Linux as well, but there are great native Linux emulators for consoles!
Sure, thanks for the tip!
Ah, I see! Thanks for clarifying that.