I've been using a Steam Deck for a couple of years now, and I'm pretty comfortable with Linux, especially in the KDE Plasma desktop mode. I'm contemplating switching to Linux full-time for gaming, but I need to know if it's actually viable for someone with an Nvidia GPU. I've got an AMD CPU, and I'm curious if the Linux gaming scene is ready for it. Also, do motherboard manufacturers typically provide Linux drivers, or are they included already? Lastly, what's the best Linux distro for gaming with Nvidia drivers, given that SteamOS isn't fully ready yet?
2 Answers
It really depends on your specific hardware and what games you play. Check out ProtonDB to see if the games you like run well on Linux. Generally, Nvidia on Linux is decent, though you might see a 10-30% drop in performance in DX12 games. Most modern motherboards work fine with Linux as the drivers are usually included in the Linux kernel. For distros, Nobara and Bazzite have Nvidia drivers pre-installed and are great for gaming. Almost any Fedora-based distro with KDE also works well! You can customize almost any distro for gaming, but it depends on how much setup you're willing to do.
What else do those distros like Nobara include besides the Nvidia drivers?
I'd recommend going with Ubuntu. They've streamlined the process for installing Nvidia drivers, and everything you need is mostly included in the kernel. Unlike some other distros, Ubuntu makes it easy to manage driver versions, so you won't have to hunt for them online. That said, Ubuntu should work well with your hardware if you're worried about compatibility!
I know about ProtonDB from my Steam Deck. Quick question though, how does gaming performance with HDR look on Linux, compared to Windows?
Performance drop is a bit concerning! I might just stick with Windows for now.