I've got an older computer setup that I need to keep running for another year or two, and I'm considering switching from Windows 10 to a Linux distribution since Microsoft won't let me upgrade to Windows 11. My setup includes a 1080 ti FTW, an i7-6700k processor, an SSD, and 16GB of RAM. Does anyone here have experience making this switch, especially in terms of how it works with Steam? Any tips or advice would really help!
5 Answers
Steam runs pretty well on Linux, but just a heads up, not every game is compatible. I'm using Fedora, and while I have few issues, sometimes anti-cheat features can be a hassle with Linux. Your hardware might also create some compatibility challenges, so keep that in mind!
If you have an extra SSD lying around, I recommend trying Linux on it with a couple of your Steam games first. I've set up CachyOS on similar hardware and haven’t looked back. Since your 1080 Ti isn't getting updates anymore, you might even consider switching to an AMD GPU to benefit from ongoing driver support. Here’s a screenshot of how well Tiny Tina's Wonderlands runs: [link]. Your i7-6700k should perform even better!
If you want to stick with Windows, you can always look into the LTSC version from 2021; it will be supported until 2032.
ProtonDB is a great resource to check if your games will run on Linux. You can also create an installation USB for Windows 11 using Rufus that bypasses its system requirements if you're really set on staying with Windows.
I recently faced the same dilemma but decided to keep Windows 10 for my setup. I upgraded from an older SSD to an NVMe one and everything runs smoothly with my 1080 Ti. Staying on a familiar OS has kept my Steam library intact without any compatibility issues.
Thanks for the tip!