What’s the Best Linux Distro for Gaming and Programming on My Windows PC?

For a first-time Linux user, I recommend trying Linux Mint 22.3 with the Cinnamon desktop. It offers a familiar interface that's great for getting used to Linux. Once you're comfortable, you can explore other distros based on your needs.

Most Linux distros support NVIDIA drivers, but I wouldn’t recommend a specific 'gaming' distro if you're also into programming. Stick with well-supported ones like Ubuntu or Fedora; they have extensive guides for setup and troubleshooting. I personally favor Ubuntu because of its compatibility. Both Ubuntu and Fedora offer two desktop environments: KDE (similar to Windows) and GNOME (more like Mac OS). You can check out how they both look on Distrosea!

You can play games on any Linux distribution, but some make it easier. For instance, CachyOS is super beginner-friendly and uses KDE Plasma, and Fedora is excellent if you're used to Mac's layout.

All Linux distros can work with NVIDIA, but sometimes you will need to install the drivers manually and disable the open-source alternative (nouveau). If gaming and programming are your main interests, I suggest trying Fedora for its user-friendliness. If you're leaning towards gaming, Bazzite is a good choice. And hey, if you want fun, just explore popular distros and pick one with a cool name!

It really depends on the games you play. For popular multiplayer titles, you might want to check Areweanticheatyet. For general gaming, look at ProtonDB to see if the games you want are compatible.