I’m considering making a full switch to Linux as my daily operating system. I recently installed NixOS, but I’ve encountered some strange issues that make me think about trying Nobara instead. I’m also worried that my GTX 1080 might not get the best support anymore. If I decide to upgrade, would it be better to switch to an AMD graphics card for improved Linux performance? Additionally, I’m curious if Nobara is a solid option for daily use, especially since my previous experience with Kubuntu, which I loved, felt a bit messy in terms of getting things to work right.
5 Answers
Just get an AMD card and use KDE for a smoother experience. AMD cards generally play nicer with the Linux ecosystem, especially for gaming.
If you’re gaming on Linux, going for an AMD GPU is highly recommended. The RX 6800 XT or a similar AMD card is a great option currently. Since you liked Kubuntu, definitely consider PikaOS too. It has a gaming focus and comes with updated drivers pre-installed. Nobara is solid as well, but PikaOS might align better with your gaming needs.
The issue with your GTX 1080 is that Nvidia has pretty much neglected it for modern features like Wayland. This could be a problem as many distros are moving towards Wayland. Most of them, including Nobara, still offer decent support for X11, so just be prepared for some configuration tweaks. I’d say give both Nobara and NixOS a go, as they both can work well if you’re willing to put in some effort.
Honestly, jumping into NixOS as your first distro is pretty bold! Your GTX 1080 was right around the time Nvidia started to focus more on Linux support, but newer cards definitely have a smoother experience. A lot of folks are loving AMD for Linux because they have fewer hiccups. If you upgrade, an AMD card could serve you better. As for Nobara, it’s a great choice! They fix a lot of Fedora’s quirks, making driver and software support much better. There are some issues like getting Steam to work right away, but most fixes aren’t too hard to tackle with a little command line action.
Wait, what issues with Steam? I thought Nobara was supposed to be user-friendly!
You should also look into Fedora since Nobara is a spin-off. It offers a KDE version as well, and with a newer GPU, you’ll benefit from the latest kernels too.
Really? So AMD is the way to go now?