Switching to Linux brings up setup queries and gaming-specific distros.
Switching to Linux brings up setup queries and gaming-specific distros.
It seems like things aren’t entirely bad. I discovered something called "coolbits" which lets you manage the fans and even do some undervolting. It might be a bit of work, but it could be worth it if it works. Also, I noticed Nvidia now includes built-in overclocking in Windows, and it’s possible they’re planning to add similar features for Linux as well—though I have no idea if it would suit undervolting.
My GPU often hits 86 to 87°C during use, but I don’t mind because it’s designed for those temperatures and I still have a few years of warranty. The fan noise might be a problem, though—it’s actually pretty quiet for me.
Right, if the subject you referenced is accurate, power limits plus offsets behave somewhat like undervolt settings, which makes sense. You can adjust that in afterburner as well—it’s not identical, but it reduces voltage slightly. Honestly, my GPU reaches 1995 MHz at 1.081v (the standard value), but with undervolt it jumps to 2040 MHz at 0.930v, making it faster and cooler too. That NVIDIA boost feature on my card performs poorly at the default setting; it’s much better with undervolt. In fact, cooling down the GPU lowers fan noise while gaming—usually I hit around 60°C max in most titles. If I could add some ice, it’d help, but with these cards, it’s usually more efficient to push them down to lower voltages. I can go even lower, around 0.700v (roughly idle voltage) and still get boosts near 1980 MHz, though some games might be unstable at that point. So about 0.930v is the most stable option.
What is this? Possibly when no open source option exists like certain WiFi cards, but based on my experience, usually they come pre-installed. You can use an NTFS drive and keep your existing installations, but I don’t advise that. It’s better to set up a separate folder for Linux games and move the titles there. Also, mount the drive using ntfs-3g. Why not? They function well and perform nicely, though I had some issues updating them to the latest version. Lel I’m only interested in monitoring temperatures—I use HTOP for my i7-3770 and NVTOP for my 980 Ti.
A benefit of PopOS compared to regular Ubuntu or Mint is that the download page lets you pick an ISO with Nvidia drivers already installed. I’d choose this option for that reason. Because PopOS runs on Ubuntu, any Ubuntu guides should work with it as well.
This topic involves many nuanced points with no clear correct or incorrect answer. Steam primarily backs up its official support for Ubuntu LTS. It’s easier to align with one widely used distribution, even though Ubuntu is the most popular choice. Valve contributes to upstream projects and bases Proton around them, then develops it using Ubuntu as a foundation. This became clear when Cyberpunk launched, with Valve adding a Vulkan extension required by the game and warning users about needing upstream Mesa. This situation also affected NVIDIA users because of proprietary driver issues, though it seems the problem has been addressed. Another example is the Virtual Memory Limit issue I’m not entirely sure about. I play ARK Survival Evolved on a server with many mods and can run it smoothly on my Arch system via Steam Native. My wife struggles with mod 33, crashing due to a Virtual Memory error on KDE Neon using Steam Runtime Container. I’ve seen bug reports for other games with this problem, but it doesn’t appear on Arch. It’s possible the fix came from upstream but hasn’t reached other distros. Steam uses its own Runtime container, which is built on Ubuntu. Regardless of the distribution you pick, you’ll run Steam inside an Ubuntu container—except for Arch. Arch provides a Native Runtime Bundle that lets Steam use native system libraries, which is essentially just Steam itself. For Proton, Native builds are available for Arch to use its native libraries, often resulting in better compatibility. There’s also the matter of how much these changes rely on the graphics stack. For NVIDIA, the stack remains consistent across distros, while AMD uses an open-source setup where updates happen frequently. Valve’s Vulkan extension is an example of something built upstream, offering better performance and compatibility. For AMD, repositories sometimes build Mesa for Ubuntu, but these still depend on Ubuntu libraries rather than upstream sources. Overall, the differences in gaming performance between distros have narrowed, and issues like the Virtual Memory Error are rare and usually only appear under specific conditions. Based on my experience with Fedora, Ubuntu, and Arch, I’d rank compatibility and performance in favor of Arch, especially with a patched FSF kernel.
So I should probably try pop OS, then Ubuntu, then Mint—hope it works okay! On another point, switching platforms comes with a lot of challenges I’m not even sure everyone understands. (I really need Corsair Link, or else my PC will overheat.) Luckily, there’s a tool called liquidctl that can help with the fans, but I’m not sure it will work for everything or all devices. There are plenty of hidden obstacles that might trip people up, especially when they try to switch. I spent a lot of time thinking about how important it is to have control over my PSU fan, which is tricky under Windows but might be even harder on Linux. I guess I managed to cover most of it, so hopefully I won’t run into big problems, but I’m still a bit unsure and might have missed something.
PopOS, Ubuntu, or Linux Mint are all suitable options for someone new to Linux. However, running Linux on a gaming PC can be challenging, similar to forcing a cube into a round hole. It might work with significant effort and patience, but it adds unnecessary complexity. Regardless of the distribution you pick, you'll still need to learn many concepts unfamiliar on Windows. If your main focus is gaming and browsing, sticking with Windows 10 seems more practical. For those eager to explore Linux and enjoy customizing software, Linux Mint Mate is currently my top recommendation.