Hey everyone, I used Arch Linux for about 6 months as a newbie but switched back to Windows because DaVinci Resolve (even the studio version) doesn’t run well on Linux. Now I want to switch to a Linux distro that’s stable but doesn’t have outdated packages—especially Nvidia drivers. Should I stick with Debian or Linux Mint, or maybe go back to Arch? I want to avoid things breaking too often but still want fairly up-to-date software. Any advice or recommendations?
4 Answers
Arch Linux is great but can be rough for newcomers because things can break with updates if you’re not careful. If you liked Arch but want less hassle, consider Fedora, openSUSE Tumbleweed, or Bazzite. They offer newer packages and a smoother experience while staying fairly up-to-date.
If you want a fresher environment on Debian, try Debian testing or unstable (sid). They have much newer packages but can be a bit less stable. On Linux Mint, you can add various PPAs like the graphics drivers PPA to get newer Nvidia drivers and Mesa updates without switching distros. Mint is pretty smooth if you just add a few backports or PPAs for the things you want newer.
Wait, what exactly is Debian testing? Is it safe enough for everyday use?
For Nvidia drivers specifically on Mint, a lot of folks rely on third-party PPAs like the graphics-drivers PPA, which is super easy to set up and keeps drivers quite current. You can also use a mainline kernel PPA if you’ve got very new hardware, but it’s optional and can be a bit trickier. Overall, Mint offers a comfy experience as long as you add these extra sources for the latest drivers and Mesa when needed.
Debian’s stable releases update only every couple of years, so by the end of a cycle, packages can feel pretty old. Right now, since Debian 13 is about to drop, the current stable version is a bit behind. Linux Mint is usually fresher because it follows Ubuntu’s schedule, updating twice a year. Still, neither Debian stable nor Mint are the best for gaming since games and drivers often need the very latest stuff. Fedora is often considered a nice middle ground — it updates every 6 months, pushing newer packages and technologies, which can be better for gaming and newer hardware.
Actually, Fedora’s kernel and drivers follow a more rolling release model, even though GNOME and libc get bigger updates every 6 months. This usually helps with newer hardware and gaming stuff, but sometimes things like Lutris break on upgrade cycles.
Yeah Arch was fun but definitely made life more complicated than I wanted sometimes.