Consider your options carefully What do you think is best? Let’s evaluate the possibilities together
Consider your options carefully What do you think is best? Let’s evaluate the possibilities together
I understand this has been asked many times before, so let's move past that. For your setup—i5 4690K, GTX 980 Ti, 16GB DDR3—I’d recommend Pop!_OS or Manjaro as solid choices. They handle gaming well and are fairly stable. Regarding NVIDIA drivers, some users report issues, but many find they work fine with proper tuning. It’s worth checking the latest driver versions and community feedback before deciding.
You can use any popular distribution. Options include Ubuntu, Mint, PopOS, etc. Installing Nvidia drivers on Ubuntu and Mint is straightforward thanks to the "Additional Drivers" app, letting you choose between proprietary or open-source solutions. However, I recommend keeping Windows available for now. Set up Linux on a separate drive and dual boot for some time. Gaming performance may be poor on Linux, so consider this if you rely on Windows when needed.
This has made me cautious about changing. Windows keeps pushing updates every couple of weeks, and the previous one crashed because a module installer was running during it. I've checked the forums for fixes but found nothing beyond reinstalling. I think the issue is tied to updates, so I'm deciding to try another operating system instead.
Consider trying Linux with realistic expectations. Not every game will run smoothly—Steam Deck may increasingly support Proton or native ports, but some titles will remain unavailable. MS Office won’t function, so alternatives like Office 365 online, Google Docs, or Libreoffice are your best bets. Photoshop won’t work either; you’ll need to use Gimp or Krita instead. For video editing, DaVinci Resolve is the closest option. Eventually, you’ll probably need to interact with the terminal and stay calm about it. If none of these choices are a big issue for you, go ahead and give it a shot as a dual boot.
Linux distributions receive frequent updates, often introducing more issues than stability seen in Windows 10. Linux Mint delivers significant upgrades that strongly recommend backing up your system beforehand due to the high chance of problems. This isn't meant to discourage you from Linux but to set realistic expectations. While Linux offers powerful capabilities, it demands a steep learning curve and considerable time to become proficient enough for smooth performance.
It was unexpected to learn! Were you performing a basic upgrade or a complete one?
It's a feature update to the next Linux Mint version. It literally comes with a step-by-step guide on how to install it that requires me to backup my system. I didn't install it because I use my laptop for work and don't need this update. Still, it's something inexperienced users need to keep in mind to keep from accidentaly wrecking their OS.
I tried PoP!_OS and installed Grub, but it doesn’t show up in the boot menu. I’m looking for alternative dual-boot options that are simpler than Grub.