Hey everyone! I'm thinking about jumping back into Linux after being away for 16 years. The recent privacy issues with Microsoft and a friend's reminder about Linux got me interested again. Last time I used it was around 2007-2009 with Ubuntu and Mint. Right now, I'm looking for a distro that fits these needs:
- Good gaming support for my 4-year-old HP Omen with a Ryzen processor and an Nvidia RTX 3070. I often use it like a console connected to my TV through Steam.
- A desktop environment that works well on a single laptop screen. I particularly like tiling options since I often have PDFs open while working in Obsidian.
- It needs to be straightforward to set up; I'm not aiming for complicated setups like Arch or Gentoo.
- Stability is key; this is my only home machine, so I don't want frequent issues.
- A preference for Gnome, or at least a well-done Gnome setup, since I'm not a fan of KDE or Windows-like interfaces.
- Strong privacy features and minimal bloat; I mainly use my laptop for gaming, browsing, and light coding.
I'm considering PopOS, Ubuntu, and Fedora, but I also heard about CachyOS and Bazzite, though they seem a bit more complex than I'm ready for. Any advice?
8 Answers
With your Nvidia card, newer distros have great support for gaming. If gaming is your focus, check out a KDE Plasma distro like Kubuntu or even Bazzite for easy setup and auto-updates.
If you’re diving back in, I’d rank Mint, Kubuntu (LTS), and Zorin OS higher than Ubuntu. Can’t wait to hear how it goes for you after your first week back!
I think Debian is a solid option! It's not flashy, but it does everything you need without any fuss.
Fedora could be perfect for you! It’s modern and pretty stable too, just keep an eye on the updates.
But you know, sometimes those updates can let you down. You might end up rolling back if something breaks, which can be a hassle.
Linux Mint could be great for you! Plus, there’s Pop!_OS, but I’ve heard it can be a bit unstable. I’ve been using MX Linux and it’s never crashed on me.
Mint is nice, but it's a bit Windows-like for my taste. What makes you say Pop!_OS is unstable?
Haha, nice pun on Mint!
If you're looking for something that fits well for general use, I’d recommend sticking with Ubuntu. It’s reliable and works fine for gaming with GNOME.
I switched to Linux Mint Cinnamon in 2018 and loved the transition. It felt just like Windows, which made it so easy for me! Gaming on Steam has been seamless too—no issues at all.
Check out Distrowatch! I started with Ubuntu but ended up on Mint for a long time. I’ve also started dual-booting Bazzite for gaming and it works smoothly! PopOS, Ubuntu, and Fedora are all solid choices too.
Totally agree, especially if you have some previous Linux experience. Debian is reliable!