I currently run windows 10 on my main desktop PC, and also have a steam deck that I sometimes use in desktop mode instead of my desktop. With the way Windows is going, and the way Linux Gaming is dramatically improving, I might consider ditching Windows, at least for the most part, on my next PC build. What would be the best distro to use for gaming, with casual use as well? Any suggestions?
Honestly anything with a non LTS release schedule will be fine. So long as you keep a relatively recent kernel and GPU drivers it pretty much doesn’t matter. You can go for a rolling release like Arch or OpenSUSE Tumbleweed or a staged release like Fedora. Even Ubuntu or it’s derivatives are fine so long as you stick to the yearly versions and don’t have a particularly bleeding-edge hardware.
My only advice is stick to the popular stuff. This applies to both distros and desktop environments. Much easier to troubleshoot things and find help and they have more people using them, which usually means the experience is more polished and bugs get fixed faster.
Whichever one you enjoy using.
Unless you have some special hardware need, all the desktop distros perform about the same. (Even long-term support releases, which offer newer kernels in case you need them.)
If you’re using a LTS release then you should be aware that many of the programs in the repository will only get bug-fixes and security updates until the next LTS is out. You can get around this by using the Flatpak versions of those programs instead of the distribution’s versions.
If you’re using a LTS release then you should be aware that many of the programs in the repository will only get bug-fixes and security updates until the next LTS is out.
Nonsense. Long-term support (LTS) generally lasts until either a predetermined date or until multiple subsequent releases are out. I don’t know of any that stop when the next LTS release arrives, but if such a distro exists, it is atypical.
Recent examples:
Fedora!
But wait.
Actually Bazzite, as a way to consume/deploy Fedora on your host desktop.
Even works great on non 64GB Steam Decks. With gnome available as an option as well.
- https://universal-blue.org/images/bazzite/
- https://universal-blue.org/blog/2023/10/05/bazzite-buzz-no-5/
Also builds for Nvidia users
Bazzite/Universal Blue is Not a “distro”, it’s a project. It’s not “immutable”, it’s Atomic OCI cloud based image deployment for your host OS.
It’s Chromebook easy, it’s Fedora “with batteries included/extra steps.”
Since they want it for gaming, Nobara might be a better option. Based on Fedora, but comes bundled with everything they would need for it.
“Bazzite is an OCI image that serves as an alternative operating system for the Steam Deck, and a ready-to-game SteamOS-like for desktop computers, living room home theater PCs, and numerous other handheld PCs.”
Nobara OS or Linux Mint if you’re converting from Windows. Flip a coin to pick one.
I’m using pop os Linux for some years now and like it a lot.
