I'm really tired of dealing with Windows and Microsoft nonsense, so I'm planning to switch to Linux—specifically, I want to try out Linux Mint on my MSI Katana 15 B13V. I'm a total newbie when it comes to Linux aside from using Steam Deck's SteamOS, but I have a few questions before I dive in: 1) My laptop has an Intel i7-13620H CPU and Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU. I've heard that these brands can be problematic with Linux, but does it really matter since Linux isn't as bloated as Windows? 2) There's a Copilot button that replaces the Right Ctrl key. What does that do, and can I make it function as the Right Ctrl instead? 3) Will I need to install the Nvidia and Intel drivers, along with any MSI apps, or will Linux Mint handle that automatically? 4) Will the Fn key functions on my keyboard work after switching? Thanks for any help!
2 Answers
1. Don't worry, both your CPU and GPU are well supported now. Just choose a distro that handles NVIDIA well, like Mint.
2. The Copilot key probably won't do anything by default, but I'd expect you can easily remap it. Check out some forums for guides!
3. You will likely need to install NVIDIA drivers manually. Intel support is good, but for any MSI-specific features, you may need additional software.
4. Yes, typically these function keys work out of the box, but some odd functions might require additional tweaks.
1. You'll be just fine! NVIDIA has significantly improved their support for Linux recently.
2. Most likely, the Copilot button won't work by default, but it's definitely remappable.
3. You'll have to install the NVIDIA drivers. That part is pretty straightforward.
4. Yep, the Fn key should work without issues!
Thanks for the insight! I'll keep that in mind when I'm remapping keys.