Curious about switching to Linux?
Curious about switching to Linux?
I often think about trying Linux again, and the newest Pewdiepie video sparked my interest. I’m just starting out with Linux (except for the time I spent three days on Ubuntu in 2007), so I’m looking for the best fit for my needs. Games on Steam generally work well on Linux these days, which isn’t a big concern. However, my favorite game is Wow, and I need a distro that runs it smoothly with minimal hassle. For updating Wow addons, I use CurseForge, and I’m hoping there’s good support for Synapse. I also use a Razer BlackShark v2 headset and a Razer Naga Pro mouse, so I’m hoping for compatibility with Synapse. I’ve heard NVIDIA drivers can be tricky on Linux, but I’m open to troubleshooting myself. I just want to keep things simple as I explore this side of the platform.
Popular distributions are suitable for most needs. Choose a rolling release to access the latest updates, such as Arch or Fedora, and decide later on your preferred desktop environment. I favor GNOME but KDE suits a Windows-like interface better. Fedora works well for WoW—just set up Lutris, install Battlenet via it, and download the game. For Razer gear, OpenRGB manages RGB colors, while OpenRazer offers more customization. Synapse isn’t recommended due to poor performance and bugs, especially on Windows. Your 3000-series NVIDIA cards should handle it, though older cards on NVIDIA may require extra setup. Drivers are generally compatible, but AMD users often face simpler installation compared to others.
It's the most cutting edge distro so there is chance something will break even if you don't mess up. It's not recommended for beginners but that does not mean you can't use it even as a beginner. I picked Fedora because it's also rolling release but with far more stability and I never really had issues with it. Understandable. Still, the biggest learning curve will be wrestling with issues you'll eventually run into. I switched about a year ago and I can tell you that the biggest issue for me was when I didn't even knew what to search for. Depending on what you will try to do things may get considerably more difficult until you figure them out. If you're mostly just gaming and web browsing then it should be smooth sailing for the most part. All you really need for gaming is to install Steam and in 95% of cases it works just like on Windows. Lutris for launchers like Battlenet. HeroicLauncher for GoG games, ... You will probably also want to install MangoHUD to get FPS lock capability and monitoring like with MSI Afterburner.
For an Arch-like experience that's not overly advanced and simpler to configure, consider distributions such as Manjaro or EndeavourOS. Both include a visual installer and offer rolling updates, though they temporarily delay releases to ensure stability.
My Manjaro setup has been running for nearly four years now. I rely on AUR for a few specific tools (mainly Android Studio and IntelliJ for coding), but honestly, if you're just starting with Linux, it might not be essential at all.
I prefer Ubuntu (with Unity DE). I'm not very experienced with Linux and find Debian-based systems to have the best support. BUT, most major distros now offer similar levels of help, so it's not as old-fashioned anymore. My suggestion is to try a few, boot dual or triple and see which works best.