Would switching from Linux Mint XFCE to Arch improve gaming on an older Dell laptop?
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MellowPine47
I'm currently running Linux Mint XFCE on a Dell Latitude E6420. The desktop is fairly lightweight, but some games that meet my laptop's requirements still occasionally crash when I try to launch them. I'm considering Arch because it seems more lightweight and configurable, but I'm worried I won't be able to set it up properly or optimize it. Would switching actually improve performance, or should I try something else first?
Answers
If you want to experiment, try another lightweight desktop or distribution on a spare drive first. But for a laptop you rely on for everyday tasks, Mint XFCE is already a sensible choice, and Arch may add troubleshooting work without solving the underlying issue.
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Arch might use roughly 100 MB less RAM at idle, but that difference is unlikely to improve gaming or stop crashes. Before changing distributions, check your graphics drivers, game logs, temperatures, available RAM, and whether the game is running through a compatibility layer. Enabling ZRAM could also help if memory is the problem.
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Switching to Arch probably won’t give you a meaningful performance boost. The desktop environment and game requirements matter much more than the distribution itself, and Arch also requires more hands-on maintenance.
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MellowPine47: That makes sense. I’ll investigate the drivers and memory situation before considering a distro change.