Which Linux distribution is best for a gaming and school laptop?

Fedora or Ubuntu would be safer first choices than jumping straight into Arch-based systems. They have larger beginner communities and simpler troubleshooting. Immutable gaming-focused systems can be convenient, but they may be frustrating if you need software or drivers that weren’t included.

Linux Mint and Ubuntu are probably the easiest beginner choices. They’re well documented and generally let you focus on using the computer instead of maintaining it. Mint uses Cinnamon by default, while Ubuntu provides a GNOME-based experience, so Ubuntu may better match the look you prefer.

Don’t overthink the first choice too much. Fedora, Ubuntu, Mint, and similar mainstream distributions are all reasonable for gaming and schoolwork. Try a few in a virtual machine or from a live USB, keep regular backups, and choose the one whose hardware support and workflow feel best. You can always change distributions later.

Fedora Workstation is a strong starting point, especially if you like GNOME. It has current software, several desktop options, and plenty of documentation. You can also try Fedora KDE if you want something more customizable. NVIDIA drivers may require a little extra setup, so check that your RTX 5070 is supported before committing.

If you enjoy experimenting, CachyOS can be a good option and may work well out of the box, but it involves more tinkering than Mint, Ubuntu, or Fedora. It’s worth trying from a live USB first rather than installing immediately.