Windows... okay.
Windows... okay.
Sure, you could even switch Steam to big picture mode and skip the window interface altogether. I guess personally I really dislike Steam BPM, so I’m not entirely sure. I usually stick with Steam (in smaller settings) and Windows for everything else, except maybe other launchers occasionally.
I assembled this setup using parts I already had. The mouse works fine, though not outstanding. For the Linux side, it performs significantly better than what I have—smooth and quick even with GNOME. Switching to XFCE feels like moving up two generations, though I prefer the more fluid interface. It also offers a smoother install process since all hardware is fully supported right away (no Nvidia included). Perhaps the advantage lies in Linux’s selective swap usage versus Windows’ constant reliance on it?
it doesn't require top-of-the-line gear, a decent setup works fine—being wireless usually isn't the issue. (often driver problems come into play.) For instance, I have to use a phone charger with my DualShock 4 "wireless" controller since Windows throws errors when it connects to my PC and stops functioning.
Windows uses the page file for inactive processes, which means there's a lag when waking them up again - it's just a different model, because Linux uses it when main memory's exhausted. For example, after leaving the Windows box on overnight there was about 10% usage...that machine has 128GB RAM, there's absolutely no pressure on the memory at all. For what it's worth...Linux is just plain nasty with Nvidia cards, even the iGPU on a 7th-gen Intel CPU is smoother in the user interface - I changed from a desktop with a 1080 Ti to a NUC, and I couldn't believe it when desktop performance improved out of all recognition. That's why I use AMD cards in all my machines these days, the open source drivers integrate so much better. Won't be going back to Nvidia until they properly sort out their drivers (and start giving us reasonable amounts of VRAM).
yeah, but see above, as long standby memory clears itself you can basically ignore page file (it works just differently than on linux, but not necessarily better or worse) agreed about the nvidia thing... its a shame, if that wasn't the case I'd be more confident to give linux another try, but as it stands i don't really need to so i don't and im not gonna buy an amd card just for that (i need nvidia mostly for the nvenc/recording stuffs...) ps: if i can say this... i find it really weird how people complain about windows memory management, and usually these people don't let windows do it automatically, turn indexing off and also refuse to turn off fast startup... so all things you can do wrong done wrong, but somehow its still "windows fault"... not aimed at you in particular, just a more general observation, because if there's one thing windows got down its memory management - yes, it seems weird, but it literally just works (except on some hardware configurations, which is why ISLC exists, so its again a non issue) as for drivers, especially usb/ wireless i really cant tell if that's a hardware issue or software issue, but generally windows is good with drivers too (ideally you don't need to install anything, except gpu and chipset)
Windows handles memory differently than you might expect. It shows usage and free space, but the actual RAM available is separate from what you see. With 10GB used out of 16GB, there’s still a lot left—enough for smooth performance without lag. You can stream, copy files, and run apps without issues, even when the CPU is busy. Using a wireless mouse wouldn’t hurt much, and the page file rarely affects things. It’s all about how the system manages space internally.