Hey folks! I’m on the hunt for a suitable Linux distribution to use for gaming on my desktop. I’ve tried a number of distros before, but none really grabbed me and ultimately, I’ve ended up back on Windows.
Here’s my setup: FX8350 CPU, GTX 1060 6GB GPU, 16GB RAM, and two 256GB SATA SSDs.
I’ve heard that AMD GPUs perform better on Linux than Nvidia ones, but also that gaming performance on Linux can sometimes outshine Windows.
I’ve seen recommendations for Garuda, Nobara, CachyOS, Bazzite, and RegataOS. Any suggestions from your experiences would be really appreciated. Thanks a ton!
5 Answers
If you’re unsure where to start, Mint is a good beginner-friendly option to learn the ropes before diving into other distros.
Try using Ventoy on a USB drive to download those distros. You can test them all without messing with your system. Plus, Nvidia support has improved a lot, and many distros come with Nvidia drivers out of the box.
Almost all major distros can be used for gaming nowadays, even the ones known for servers. I’m on Debian and it works fine with the latest Nvidia drivers. Just keep in mind that Linux requires some patience to really get the hang of it. I recommend trying Mint or Fedora, especially Fedora with the KDE/Plasma desktop, as it feels the most like Windows. Stick with it, and you’ll get your system gaming-ready!
Honestly, all the modern distros like Fedora, Bazzite, Arch, and Nobara are good for gaming and are quite similar. Just pick one and dive in!
I’m using Bazzite on my gaming desktops and it works great! Definitely give it a shot. If you’re ever thinking of switching from Nvidia, AMD GPUs are solid on Linux too!
What, no love for Ubuntu then? Seems a bit harsh!