Another suggestion for a Linux distro discussion (ending with Windows at the close of October)
Another suggestion for a Linux distro discussion (ending with Windows at the close of October)
I’m considering switching from Windows to Linux. Previously, I used Suse and Ubuntu, with Suse being the first to fully support my hardware. I’ve used Macs and appreciated OSX’s appearance, but mostly stayed on Windows at home because most of my needs were Windows-only. Now I mainly play games, browse the web for email and streaming, and do some photo and video editing. For these tasks I use Paintshop Pro 7 and Magix MX, both of which are still functional. I’ve experimented with Gimp and DaVinci Resolve but haven’t mastered them yet. What matters most to me is a stable system that recognizes my hardware without requiring deep technical knowledge. Outside of Suse and Ubuntu, I’ve heard good things about Pop OS, Mint, and Elementary OS. I’m drawn to the look of Elementary but question how much of that comes from the window manager versus built-in design. I play 2 MMOs occasionally, ESO and Guild Wars 2, but neither is officially supported on Linux. Forums suggest they work, though it’s unlikely they’ll become fully native. My current setup includes an AMD Ryzen 5 3600, Windows 10 (64-bit), GTX 1060, 6GB RAM, an old Xbox controller, an Epson ETM1100 for printing, a scanner, and a tape camera connected via FireWire. I’m assuming the extra peripherals should work fine on modern distros, aside from potential Nvidia driver issues. I can’t afford a new graphics card right now. The advantage is I have two years before Microsoft ends support for Windows 10 in 2025, giving me time to explore and upgrade. I’m seeking recommendations and would love to hear what others use and why they prefer it. Thanks in advance!
If Windows performs well in many areas, why are you abandoning it? I never grasped the point of making life more complicated. For example, I play 2 mmos on and off, ESO and Guild Wars 2. Neither is available on Linux, though posts on their forums suggest they function there. It seems improbable either will ever become fully native to Linux. I can understand trying new things, learning, and experimenting, but your departure feels like a major shift—like moving countries. If you don’t agree with Microsoft, then just buy a key or don’t use it at all. Use em for free.
Stick with Windows. Running Linux demands trade-offs or switching to other tools, or using it as a backup system. If the program isn't available for Linux or doesn't work there, it's a waste of time.
I usually suggest Mint for beginners diving into Linux and learning. It runs on Ubuntu, offers solid performance, supports hardware well, and features a user-friendly interface if you're switching from Windows. The key is that you don’t need to dive deep into the details—most tasks are handled through the GUI. Over the past 20 years, I’ve used Linux daily, simply because it’s intuitive and easy to manage. I once played GW2 on Linux and noticed it performed better there than on Windows. This tends to happen with games that are well-optimized in emulators like Wine or Proton.
I'm considering leaving because I'm frustrated with Microsoft's decisions. They pushed Windows 11 while claiming Windows 10 would be the final version, which didn't sit well with me. I've always disliked Windows 10 and find Windows 11's appearance, functionality, and privacy features unsatisfactory. Even though my system has a modern processor, I feel it doesn't work well with Windows 11. Since this is my personal machine and not something I'm required to use at work, I want a more suitable operating system. Finding one might be challenging.
I've been using Manjaro for some time, switched from the (discontinued) Antergos. Both are based on Arch, so fairly cutting edge (not quite bleeding edge like Arch directly). Comes with a graphical installer, since installing an OS is not my hobby. I like it because it comes with very recent packages (am a software dev). There is a risk of breakage that goes along with this, but so far no major issues. Last couple of Steam games I tried (CP2077, Kena, Quake 2 Remaster) all worked without issues. I am using an AMD GPU though. I would strongly recommend to give it a try in dual boot first, before making any final decisions. Try it out for a few weeks, see how you get along.
Get the 11 ISO files and use Rufus to create a bootable USB drive. When you power on, it will prompt to disable hardware checks, and 11 functions perfectly on anything. 10 ran smoothly. Most problems with these emulators come from updating their anti-cheat systems—emulating Windows compatibility layers like Proton or Wine can cause bans. It's not unusual. Just check what Windows 12 offers and decide which OS to move forward with.
I’m considering ESO but it requires 125GB download. Guild Wars 2 functions well for me, especially since they updated to Chromium recently. I’m comfortable with ArcDPS and Reshade without issues. Perhaps you could try Krita for photo work and Kdenlive for video editing? I’m using Manjaro Plasma Desktop and have chosen to use the proprietary driver at boot to install the official Nvidia driver.
I understand GW2 functions at https://www.protondb.com/app/1284210 and ESO also works there https://www.protondb.com/app/306130. I chose Fedora KDE (GNOME on Wayland) since it offers consistent performance and stability, despite the frequent updates. Arch distributions are often preferred for gaming because they provide regular new features but can sometimes become unstable and aren't ideal for beginners.
Adjust settings to turn off CSM and activate Secure Boot plus the on-CPU TPM feature. These options appear in your BIOS, but they’re not enabled by default since the chips were released before W11. I’m using W11 on my 3700X with a B450 board and it works perfectly. For Linux users, adding +1 for Mint makes it simple to locate guides for CLI tasks since it’s built on Ubuntu (based on Debian). You can find relevant instructions and commands. As mentioned, most operations can be handled via the GUI; however, I usually just use the terminal for things like RAID management. Updates are faster and more convenient through the terminal. You can configure Mint to automate updates whenever you wish, allowing a hands-off approach if you prefer. This setup will be useful for my future alt rig, especially since I rely on Proxmox, Unifi devices, and TrueNAS Scale—all of which run on Debian-based systems.