From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0
How old is your PC? Do you game via Steam?
If it is younger than 10 years, any desktop oriented distro will work equally well.
In that case, I'd recommend Mint, just because it is the best beginner distro overall.
If you have less than 4GB of RAM, Debian with Xfce would run faster.
If it's older, then there's a (small, but getting larger with age) chance it is limited to 32bit architecture or 32bit UEFI.
Then your choice of distros becomes slim, but MX Linux would be a good choice.
Just want to point out that Linux Mint also has 32bit versions available.
That's actually kinda awesome.
I put the 32bit Linux Mint Debian Edition on a very old solo core laptop with only 1.5GB RAM just for kicks, and it actually works pretty well.
edit: though I should probably switch it out for something lighter for practicality
Let that be a lesson: don't throw away your old computers
Absolutely, this thing has been sitting around for ages because it was barely powerful enough for WindowsXP when it first came out. Now has a new purpose!
Windows XP: when you buy your computer yesterday it's still too old for Vista.
Can't do a lot wrong with Linux mint I suppose. Stable software so support should be good, cinnamon doesn't have too much fancy stuff that would use up ressources iirc.
It's my top recommendation for beginners, might switch back to it some time.
Thanks! I should note, I did use Ubuntu for a few years quite a while ago, so not quite a beginner but still gonna have to relearn a lot of things.
In that case, Pop!_OS might be a good option to try. It's built on Ubuntu and doesn't have snapd garbage on it. I've been using it as a daily driver for 2 years now and I've had zero problems.
Mint is also Ubuntu based with no snaps crap
Mint is an awesome option too. For me it came down to the UI as the primary decision factor. I prefer MacOS aesthetics to Windows.
There are a host of other issues I have with how Microsoft (and Apple!!) do things, and really, the GUI is the least of those problems. But it is also the most obvious problem because I'm looking at it all day at work.
I hope am not too late for this. If you’re looking for a consolized PC experience with Steam and all of its quality of life features, check out ChimeraOS.
It is based on SteamOS3 and adds a lot of extra features such as GOG and EGS integrations and built in emulators.
It also has a desktop mode for a full featured Linux experience. Keep in mind it’s an immutable distro.
Also, it uses Arch btw. Sorry just wanted to say it for such a long time now 🤣
Can't go wrong with Debian and some ligthweight desktop environment, like xfce, as someone also mentioned here
Which game do you play ?
Lots, mostly older ones.
Edit
Why downvote? Am I supposed to give a list of every game I play? What does it matter to you?
Yes you have to give the list of your game because a lot of game (specialy multiplayer) doesn't work on linux. See : https://www.protondb.com/ and https://areweanticheatyet.com/
Look, this is gonna sound rude and maybe it is, but I am not a fucking moron and I know that's how it works. I specifically stated that I have used linux in the past, and I can easily google any specific game and find out if it does or doesn't work.
I was asking what distro is best for people to give current opinions on the subject, not because I cannot google very basic cut and dry info. I appreciate that you are trying to help but I am not about to sit here for hours typing the name of every game I might be interested in playing, so that someone else can read it and check it for me, were you about to spend your entire night checking games I listed for me? Of course you weren't, and the entire idea of either of us doing that is insane.
With all due respect, if you have any opinion on which distro is currently the best for gaming feel free to share it, don't waste both our times with useless basic linux info that I already knew about.
Maybe Garuda?