Hey everyone! Hope you’re all having a fantastic Friday! I’m diving into the world of Linux for a new gaming rig I’m building, since I’m done with Windows after 30 years. My last Linux experience was setting up Debian back in ’98, so I’m basically starting from scratch here! I’m looking for a distribution that’s newbie-friendly and handles the nitty-gritty stuff without too much hassle.
Here’s my build:
– **CPU**: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
– **GPU**: Powercolor Radeon RX 9070XT 16GB ‘Hellhound OC’
– **MB**: Gigabyte x870 Gaming WiFi6
– **RAM**: Kingston FURY 2×32 DIMM Kit, DDR5-6000
– **SSD**: Samsung 990 Pro 4TB
I’ll mainly use it for gaming, writing, and drawing, with software like LibreOffice, Krita, and Gimp. I’m planning to do my browsing through LibreWolf and PaleMoon. Most importantly, I want support for GOG games, and I’ve heard about various launchers like Wine, Lutris, and Heroic, but I’m unsure what each excels at. I don’t need Steam preinstalled, and I’m not into multiplayer gaming or anything like that.
I’m confused about the differences between desktop environments like KDE and GNOME and distributions like Nobara, Bazzite, Mint, and others. Any recommendations on what might suit a total newbie looking to game on these? Thanks a ton!
5 Answers
Go with Bazzite and pair it with the Heroic Game Launcher. It handles GOG and Epic games really well! Plus, you can get it with KDE, which is great if you want a familiar desktop layout. It sounds like a perfect fit for your new rig.
Bazzite is amazing for your needs! I run the KDE version and use Heroic Launcher for my GOG games. It’s straightforward to set up, and you’ll find most apps you need in the Discover app store. Also, consider Lutris if you want to manage any Windows games!
I’d recommend checking out Fedora 42, especially the KDE version if you prefer a Windows-like experience. It’s known for good gaming support. Alternatively, look at Nobara or Bazzite; both are solid choices for gaming and are beginner-friendly. You can also play around with different distros to see which suits you best!
Totally agree, Fedora is a great option!
I’m using PikaOS with Heroic Launcher, and it works fine for GOG and other games too! If you’re just starting out, it could be an easy option to consider. Good luck with your Linux journey!
I suggest looking at Nobara or even CachyOS. Both are super easy to install and good for gaming. They’ll have Heroic Launcher and maybe even Lutris pre-installed, which will help you with your GOG games. Just keep in mind that RDNA 4 cards might not have full driver support yet, but it’ll stabilize soon!
Appreciate the heads-up! I prefer a stable system, so I’ll keep an eye on that.
So, Bottles acts like a ‘Windows wrapper,’ right? I’m excited to see how that works!