I'm really interested in switching to Linux but have found the available options a bit overwhelming. I mostly use my PC for gaming (like Minecraft, Warframe, Fortnite, and various indie games) and Unity for game development. I also need to handle a bit of school work, particularly with Microsoft Word. I'm looking for a Linux distribution that will allow me to customize my PC, is good for gaming performance, and potentially support Word or alternatives like LibreOffice for my school documents. My setup includes a CPU 9800x3D, GPU 7800XT, and 6000 CL30 RAM. If anyone has suggestions or needs more info, let me know!
5 Answers
Start with Mint Cinnamon; it’s pretty solid for new users. It comes with LibreOffice out of the box, which you'll find handy for schoolwork. If that doesn't suit you, other distros like MX Linux are also worth exploring. Just always back up your data before diving into a new system!
You might want to check out Linux Mint or Pop!_OS for a start. Mint is quite user-friendly and has a familiar interface for Windows users, while Pop!_OS offers a slick experience similar to macOS. Both have solid community support and should handle your gaming needs pretty well. For document editing, LibreOffice is a great alternative to Word, especially for basic needs.
Warframe works fine on Linux, but you may need to tweak some settings. For office tasks, LibreOffice has served me well through grad school—I only had to convert the format for compatibility. For gaming, remember not all games run perfectly, so some testing can be essential!
You can also look into using Nobara or Fedora KDE for gaming if you're feeling adventurous. However, installations can be a bit tricky with these. Just make sure your Razer gear has compatible software or find alternatives, and keep in mind that certain college apps might not run on Linux, so check that first.
Honestly, I’d recommend sticking with Windows if you're heavily reliant on those applications. But if you're set on switching, games like Minecraft and Valve games generally work well on Linux. Fortnite might be tricky, but you can find guides that show how to make it work on Linux with Wine.
Fortnite can run on Linux now thanks to Easy Anti-Cheat supporting Wine. Just check out some recent tutorials!
Yeah, LibreOffice works well for most Word documents! Just make sure to save your files in .docx format to avoid compatibility issues.