Like perhaps many others I am debating what to do with my PC at the end of support for windows 10 later this year. I have read a lot of discussions here about switching to Linux, and a lot of commentary that though it has gotten a lot more plug and play it maybe still has some weaknesses. I just want to know what those are, and if it can support what I currently do with my computer.

Basically my computer is just for gaming. I play a plethora of games both major titles and small indy games. I also use mods on my games sometimes. Beyond gaming it’s just basic web browsing.

More specific questions:

  1. I think I need to pick a “distro”, right? Based on the above, which distro may work best for me?

  2. what am I most likely to NOT be able to do, if anything? I have heard modding in particular can be challenging with Linux. Like Skyrim mods that use a script extender or rely on various Windows programs. Is that true? Are there some smaller indy games that don’t have Linux support (thinking back to the early mac days)?

  3. I would rate my computer technical ability at like… A 4/10. I haven’t done anything too crazy but can Google most issues and willing to learn. Is this realistically enough to get me up and running with Linux? I don’t have any programming experience or anything of the sort.

  4. if the final answer here involves running a windows partition, is it possible to safely still use a windows 10 partition, even after the end of support? Or does it need to be a windows 11 partition? Best case is no partition, but curious if it comes to that.

  5. anything else I might run into that I’m not expecting? Words of encouragement?

  • redlemace@lemmy.world
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    13 days ago

    Long time ago I left Windows and went to linux. Yes, there is a learning curve, but once past that (digital)life became so much faster/better. I even changed my wife’s pc to linux. She knows nothing about pc’s and only said 'it looks different now" but she has much less issues on linux (elementary OS) then she had with micro$oft.

    So, as I read it, you feel like you have some time left to decide. I suggest to take a live-distro, put it on an USB stick and boot from that. Yes, it’s sometimes slow/sluggish but it works and you can get an impression of the distro. Take an other one, try that too, and one more and… Ah well, just play with a couple and see which one you like best.

    Once you have chosen (remember, it’s not a life-time decision (!), switching distro’s is relatively easy) install it by making your PC dual boot. That way you can have windows as a sort of back-up in case you need it.

    hint: take a look at https://distrowatch.com/

    • Ekpu@lemmy.world
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      13 days ago

      If you can install Windows and Linux in separate harddrives / SSD. That makes live easier compared to duelboot from the same harddrive.

      For some time I had Linux on a USB-C ssd. I even run starcitizen from that without much problems. After some time i just installed the external SSD as second hardrive.

      • jwiggler@sh.itjust.works
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        13 days ago

        I second this – I think installing linux on another hard drive is best. It can be frustrating to jump straight into linux and realize a particular thing doesnt work, not knowing why, and realizing you can’t play games at all before doing work to fix things. Saying this as a linux sysadmin.

        For a long time I had a dual boot setup for this reason. I wasn’t sure why Ubuntu always felt so sluggish gaming (especially Rocket League, which requires a very low amount of input lag)

        Eventually I found two things that massively MASSIVELY improved my perception of the performance. First, the kernel I was running. Switching to the liquorix kernel with my NVIDIA card made a huge difference in my perceived input latency (please, if someone could correct my verbiage here. Input latency may not be technically correct.) Secondly but almost as important – my desktop compositor. I switched to KDE Plasma so I could manually turn it off and make sure that it was off. I never was certain with Gnome, even though I am more comfortable in that environment. Smooth sailing since then. But it was important for me to be able to reboot into Windows if I wanted to play with friends without running into technical difficulties.

        Now, I’m fully off of Windows for gaming and, well, everything. It’s sick.

  • neidu3@sh.itjust.works
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    12 days ago

    I generally recommend linux mint for beginners, mostly because it’s pretty great at working out of the box, and it pretty general purpose.

  • urata@lemmy.world
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    13 days ago

    It’s really easy to try out most linux distributions by running them live from a USB drive. You’ll need to be able to tell your computer to boot from the drive by entering your BIOS setup.

    Once you’ve done that you’ve probably done the most technical thing you’ll have to do to try linux. If you have a separate SSD to install linux on you’ll have a pretty easy time actually installing linux. If not you’ll have to learn to partition your drive which can feel a little scary.

    I think if you are playing a lot of different games it’s likely you will find some that won’t run on linux so you’ll likely still need to run some form of windows for some games. I’d hope to see that change in the future but I’m not holding my breath. I personally still do most of my gaming on windows because some of my favorite games don’t run on linux but it really depends on your preferences.

  • sylver_dragon@lemmy.world
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    13 days ago

    I made the jump about a year ago at this point and have been happy with the choice. That said, there is a learning curve and everything isn’t sunshine and roses. I’d still rate it as fully worth it.

    I think I need to pick a “distro”, right? Based on the above, which distro may work best for me?

    Yes, though this is less of a “gotcha” than it might seem. Different distros will have advantages and disadvantages for different things. However, most distros are going to do most things at a reasonable level. It sounds like you are prioritizing ease of use and gaming; so, you may want to go for one of the more gaming focused distros such as PopOS or SteamOS. But, I would echo what @redlemace said, “take a live-distro, put it on an USB stick and boot from that. Yes, it’s sometimes slow/sluggish but it works and you can get an impression of the distro”. I ran my chosen distro from a USB stick for a bit over a month before committing.

    what am I most likely to NOT be able to do, if anything?

    Very little. However, you will need to relearn how to do some things. And you’ll probably have to get comfortable with using the terminal for some stuff. This can be a bit jarring for someone who grew up with Windows, as there are some things which just don’t have a GUI to configure. And some applications will need to be replaced. For example, you’re probably not going to be able to use Microsoft Office, but Libre Office is a good replacement. Photoshop will get replaces with Gimp, and so on.

    Lastly, there are some games which just don’t work on Linux. A lot of that is around Anti-cheat software. For example, I wasn’t able to join my work team in playing Call of Duty 6. The EA Anti-Cheat is a complete “fuck you” to Linux users. So, check out ProtonDB for games you care about. Most games run just fine; but, there is the odd hole. Anymore, I’m more surprised that a game doesn’t work on Linux than when it does.

    I have heard modding in particular can be challenging with Linux.

    I’ve not run into this; however, I don’t use any of the mod managers (e.g. Vortex) and so I’m used to moving files around manually. I’ve also not run Skyrim on my Linux setup, and that does seem to require a bit of work to get going. So, this may be an issue, depending on the game. This is yet another reason to give the whole “install on a USB stick” recommendation a go. Spin up Linux, give modding Skyrim a shot. If it’s too heavy a lift, then maybe don’t do it. As much as I think Linux has been a good idea, it may not be right for everyone.

    Are there some smaller indy games that don’t have Linux support (thinking back to the early mac days)?

    Funny enough, I find the smaller indie stuff usually has better Linux support, but YMMV. For example, my son introduced me to Dome Keeper. It’s a small game, but it just worked and is one of my favorite casual games. Though again, checking ProtonDB is a good thing to do.

    I would rate my computer technical ability at like… A 4/10. I haven’t done anything too crazy but can Google most issues and willing to learn. Is this realistically enough to get me up and running with Linux?

    I’d think so. There’s lots of good info out there now to help you get up and running. Though this links back to the question about distros. If you don’t want to have to get super technical, pick a distro which is more aimed towards “just working”. And again, the USB “try before you buy” idea is really, really useful.

    if the final answer here involves running a windows partition, is it possible to safely still use a windows 10 partition, even after the end of support?

    Depending on how you plan to use it, the risk may be reasonable enough. For example, let’s say you have one or two games which just don’t run on Linux and you keep a Windows 10 partition around to run those games. You boot to Windows, play those games and then jump back to Linux for your normal computer use (web browsing, email, etc.). Then ya, that’s probably fine. The real risks start to show up when you use Windows for stuff which exposes it to the internet. If you are downloading and running random applications on it, you’re gonna have a bad time. Over time, even basic web browsing may start to be a risk, as vulnerabilities could be found which allow a malicious web page to run code. You also want to be sure you don’t have the device completely exposed to the internet (this is bad, even with an up to date Windows). Though, most home routers already prevent this; so, this is unlikely to be an issue. Just don’t hook your Windows 10 partition up to public WiFi (e.g. coffee shop, library or conference).

    Just having the partition isn’t a risk. So long as Windows isn’t running, it isn’t available for attackers to attack. It’s just data on a disk. It’s only when it’s running and exposed to attackers that it becomes a problem. And you can control that and manage the risk.

    anything else I might run into that I’m not expecting? Words of encouragement?

    Be patient with it and it can be a worthwhile change. Also, don’t be afraid to come back and ask questions. There’s lot of folks here who can help you along. Getting away from Windows feels good and it’s great to actually own your system, rather than renting it from Microsoft. Best of luck.

  • Takapapatapaka@lemmy.world
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    13 days ago
    1. Distros : as others said, Mint is a solid choice. I personally use ZorinOS because it’s very close to the Windows interface and I really enjoy it, i installed it on every computer in the house x). I saw Pop_OS recommended for gaming too.
    2. Hard incompatibilities : as others said, some big games with kernel level anti cheat might not work (Fortnite, Apex Legends, Valorant, Rust, etc.). Along ProtonDB, a great site to keep track of that is https://areweanticheatyet.com/. Other than that, I ended up being able to run approximately anything, from old indies to modern big games without major problems, though it may involve tinkering.
    3. Tinkering with linux : if you are used in googling issues and browsing a bit through old forums posts, in my experience you’re good to go. I found a solution to every of my problems but one : it’s caused by Nvidia drivers. As you asked in another comments, AMDs and Intel’s drivers are open source, and so it’s easier for linux devs to adapt to them. Nvidia are proprietary, though they are going half-open-source and there is an attempt at building an open source driver from scratch, but their basic drivers options may clash with linux sometimes (in my case, the driver wont let linux turn off the screen when i’m inactive for too long, so not that a big issue).
    4. Windows compatibility : On 2 of the 3 computers i tried, having a windows 10 partition on the side is easy to setup and does not generate much trouble. My main computer is ZorinOS/Windows 11, and this one had more issues : each time i switch, i have to go in BIOS to set a setting that is made for Windows off, otherwise i can’t have multiple screens in linux. I also experienced some troubles which are probably linked to the partitioning process (i had to defrag data to create partitions) : if you can, i’d recommend making a clean multi partition drive, installing windows from scratch first, then installing Linux.
    5. Good luck in your process ! I was a bit reluctant at first, but now i’m really glad i did it. If you have access to another device, maybe try to install linux there first, so you can try it out and go through the installation process a first time.
  • BlackLaZoR@fedia.io
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    13 days ago

    I think I need to pick a “distro”, right? Based on the above, which distro may work best for me?

    Noone will tell you the major differences, so I’ll do it:

    Debian: So called “Stable distribution” They have twisted concept of “Stability” which is “If it’s broken it stays broken” - their libraries tend to be extremely outdated causing issues for normal users.

    Ubuntu: Debian based distro. Somewhat less outdated. Had bad experience with it. Very popular for some reason. Ubuntu LTS basically follows the debian philosophy - broken stuff stays broken, only security fixes are applied.

    PopOS: Debian based, but optimised for gaming. Graphics drivers are updated more often + other tweaks

    Arch Linux: Power user oriented rolling distro, meaning Everything is updated to the most recent version as quickly as reasonably possible. Rolling distros are recommended if you update your hardware often. Patches tend to be huge

    Manjaro: Arch based rolling distro (using it since few years myself), tuned more towards mainstream user - less terminal more GUI.

    Gentoo: Compile everything from source code. EVREYTHING

    Fedora: Linux by large corpo - REDhat. Well supported and sane maintenance schedule.

    Now, while in Windows you get always the same user interface, in linux you can install whatever you want - systems are modular, and usually distro intaller will ask what desktop environment you want.

    Two most popular ones are KDE and GNOME. I Really, really recommend KDE because it follows user experience philosophy from windows 7. Gnome reinvented the wheel, and you’ll have a bad time readjusting to it coming from windows.

    Two more tips at the end:

    • Almost none of linux distros mount non system drives by default at the system startup. Which is stupid as fuck, you can change it via KDE settings without editing config files or terminal (look for drives and cameras in settings)
    • Remove Plymouth package. it provides pretty loading screen during system startup but on some configurations it interferes with display detection - the issue surfaces gradually over the years and noone will ever help you fix it. It’s unfixed bug since many years. Save yourself time, life and frustration

    Also, if you’re looking for file explorer to open your drive and look at the files, it’s called “Dolphin” or “Nautilus”. Obviously… /s

  • jumle@lemmy.world
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    12 days ago

    If you own a pc to game on it, I cannot recommend Linux compared to Windows 10 LTSC IOT

    massgrave.dev have a wonderful comparison of the LTSC (Long Term Support Channel) & IOT (I don’t know this one) IOT gets security updates until 2032 and comes without bloatware (OneDrive, Office, Xbox, Candy Crush, etc.)

    • You can manually install the ones you want (Candy Crush)

    I’d recommend you check it out if your main usage of your computer is gaming: https://massgrave.dev/windows_ltsc_links

    Edit: Formatting

    • TrousersMcPants@lemmy.world
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      12 days ago

      My main usage of my PC is gaming and I have been happily using Linux Mint for a while now, Proton can do a lot for you. However you do have to write off certain games because of their anti-cheat and be willing to do a bit of fiddling sometimes.

    • gonzo-rand19@moist.catsweat.com
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      12 days ago

      IoT means Internet of Things and it’s mostly for purpose-built commercial applications, like running a computer as a kiosk or industrial controller. You could maybe put it on a Raspberry Pi or something.

      If you want to run a gym, homelab, or office, Windows IoT may be for you. Otherwise, it’s not for you. The reason there’s no bloatware is to make your hardware run as smooth as possible so it can fulfill its fixed purpose.

      https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/iot/product-family/windows-iot

  • moody@lemmings.world
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    12 days ago

    If the games you’re looking to play are competitive multiplayer games, those usually actively fight Linux users. Games like Valorant, Apex Legends, and Fortnite are all broken on Linux due to their invasive anti-cheat software. There are exceptions to this, of course. The devs of Marvel Rivals, for example, have said that they don’t have a problem with players on Linux.

    For.anything else, odds are it will work fine. You can always check protondb.com to see if, and how well, your games work under Linux.

    I’ve been Linux-only for a few years now, and I haven’t had issues playing anything yet, besides maybe some minor tweaks.

    Mods can be more complicated, but I don’t have much experience with that. I do believe Nexus Mods are working of a project to simplify game mods under Linux, so hopefully that works out well.

  • andrewta@lemmy.world
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    12 days ago

    Here’s what I did. I got an external USB drive and I installed Linux mint on it. That way the windows drive inside the computer was left alone. Worst case scenario I just reboot the computer go back to windows. I was I was up and running.

    Once I had Linux Installed on the external drive, I then installed steam on the external drive.

    I play Guild wars 2. I did not buy the game through steam. I bought it directly from the maker of the game. So what I did was, I went Guild wars two website. Downloaded the executable, which is obviously Windows executable to my Linux computer. And told Steam to run it as a non-steam game. I just had to make sure I went into the settings for steam and turn the compatibility for the game on. Once the game was installed into Linux . I then just ran the game under steam in Linux no big deal. Works flawlessly.

    I had to copy all of my music MP3 files over to Linux, That’s not hard to do.

    Linux meant as others have said is very friendly for new users. It’s basically plug-in play. I have a printer made by brother that worked out ofthe box. The only thing I’ve never been able to get to work on that printer is on the physical printer itself there is a button called scan. It doesn’t work under Linux for me. I even went through the brother company to get tech-support. They said the drivers are installed and everything is set up correctly, but the button still doesn’t work. They say it’s something to do with my firewall, but I’ve pretty much given up on that.

    I ran it that way for better part of seven months. Seven months being from when I first install Lennox to the external drive to now. Over the weekend I actually formatted the drive on the inside the computer and just installed Linux there.

    You see the problem running on an external drive is it runs slow as hell. I mean to bring up a web browser. Can take you a minute and half. But I did it that way just so I could test Linux without destroying the windows install in case I did something wrong. But everything works fine. I can do what I want so there is no point in running on the slower system.

    Linux mint has a package manager, Think of it like add remove programs. Only this package Manager has a ton of programs that you can add to the system. It goes out to the Internet and find these programsand then categorize them under games, music graphics, etc. And all you have to do is just click on the program then click install and it just takes care of it.

    Strongly recommend trying mint as your first step into Linux.

  • OK so you want something simple that just works and will give you minimal headaches.

    I see from ur comments ur running nvidia which is a pain to get drivers working for on some distros but some have a graphical installer to get then going.

    I would defiantly recommend mint as its based on one of the most common disros giving u extremely transferable knowlege and very simmillar to windows.

    As people have said check protondb u will only really have issues with anti cheat games. Indie games I find often have better Linux support but check protondb.

    If u wanna duel boot so u can still use windows then I reccommend a separate drive. Windows on a separate partition but the same drive is unhappy and its known that windows will sometimes purposely blow up Linux cos Microsoft hates you.

    If you are going to duelboot then for security u will want windows 11 but its shit so I recommend tiny11 or cristitis’s debloater to uninstall all the crap.

  • zxqwas@lemmy.world
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    12 days ago

    First step is to check protondb if your favorite games are somewhat reasonably easy to get working.

    Most work fine. There are some that are outright broken.

  • sixty@sh.itjust.works
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    12 days ago

    Based on my own experience and critisism I’ve read of Linux(which is rare on here): Nothing is plug and play. You will have to troubleshoot the simplest things. You will have to like it.

      • Ayumu Tsukasa @lemm.ee
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        12 days ago

        Not who you replied to but I recently put mint mate on my laptop and you can’t even change the color of the cursor or have the trail effect on it. Every program that’s not in the app selector thing I’ve had to go into terminal to install. I thought I was decently good at computer stuff but it’s like everything I try to do on Linux I’m hit with some weird roadblock that takes forever to look up because I don’t know what I don’t know and all the help forums are so full of jargon they may as well be in a foreign language. That said I am going to stick with it and learn because fuck Microsoft.

        • asudox@lemmy.asudox.dev
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          12 days ago

          What did you expect? You should not assume that Linux works like Windows or whatever OS you previously were using. They work very differently.

          It also depends on which DE you are using. Since you’re using Mint with Mate, which is not really something that provides customization GUIs out of the box and as popular as something like GNOME or KDE Plasma. I suggest you try KDE Plasma as it is known to be very customizable and one of the more used DEs. I don’t know about cursor trails, but you can change your cursor by installing cursor skins from the page in the settings or make your own skins to get the color you want. It’s really simple.

          You’ll also need to get over your fear of the terminal if you’re going to use Linux. I’m not telling you to use terminal for everything, but some types of customization requires you to use the terminal and it is a good thing to know anyway.

  • Thoven@lemdro.id
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    12 days ago

    I’ve done a lot of this research recently. I’m out of town rn, but if you want to DM me sometime next week when I have access to my computer I’d be happy to put together a summary of my findings.