Best linux distro for tf2 + gaming in general?

#1

freakshow

0 Frags – +

I apologize if this isn't the right place to ask for OS advice, but it's worth a shot.

I'm upgrading my pc and I decided that this is a great opportunity to finally transition to linux, I have everything prepared and the only thing I need is what OS to use. I really just want something to play tf2 on with better performance, maybe other games too, with nothing intrusive. Now I don't mind having to manually download external shit like Wine or Proton or whatever installer or driver I need, but it would be nice if stuff was preinstalled right out the box.

So far the best contenders seem to be Drauger, Garuda, Nobara, and Pop!OS. But as I researched more about these gaming linux distros, people online seem to have really strong opinions on operating systems lol. Like Pop! apparently being dogshit to use as an everyday operating system, Garuda and Drauger being too overwhelming and cluttered, Nobara being unstable, etc.

Which one should I use? If I end up not making my mind I'll probably just use some beginner friendly os that everyone talks about like linux Mint and Fedora.

I apologize if this isn't the right place to ask for OS advice, but it's worth a shot.

I'm upgrading my pc and I decided that this is a great opportunity to finally transition to linux, I have everything prepared and the only thing I need is what OS to use. I really just want something to play tf2 on with better performance, maybe other games too, with nothing intrusive. Now I don't mind having to manually download external shit like Wine or Proton or whatever installer or driver I need, but it would be nice if stuff was preinstalled right out the box.

So far the best contenders seem to be Drauger, Garuda, Nobara, and Pop!OS. But as I researched more about these gaming linux distros, people online seem to have really strong opinions on operating systems lol. Like Pop! apparently being dogshit to use as an everyday operating system, Garuda and Drauger being too overwhelming and cluttered, Nobara being unstable, etc.

Which one should I use? If I end up not making my mind I'll probably just use some beginner friendly os that everyone talks about like linux Mint and Fedora.

#2

Arie

serveme.tf

12 Frags – +

I suggest going for something boring, old and reasonably user friendly instead, e.g. Ubuntu. Most of these new ones are Ubuntu with extra steps.

Has been around for ages, will be around for ages, loads of people use it which makes troubleshooting and googling easier.

I suggest going for something boring, old and reasonably user friendly instead, e.g. Ubuntu. Most of these new ones are Ubuntu with extra steps.

Has been around for ages, will be around for ages, loads of people use it which makes troubleshooting and googling easier.

#3

Richarrrrd

10 Frags – +

the best linux distro for gaming is one that the biggest amount of people use so that you have something at least resembling a thriving community to help you if something breaks, doesn't work or bugs out

#4

apa3

3 Frags – +

lots of people seem to hate on snaps in ubuntu so i'd just go with mint or fedora like you said. i used nobara briefly and didn't have any issues but i doubt it's much of an improvement from fedora and there's always a small chance you'll get some bullshit nobara-only issue that will cause a mental health episode

#5

LukAE

2 Frags – +

Would suggest trying CachyOS or Bazzite.

#6

Rockz

1 Frags – +

go with cachyos

also checkout this dude https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJEWcPNeBPtP8zX2k9lS-iA he does gaming reviews on distros (but mind you, has a french accent)

go with cachyos

also checkout this dude https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJEWcPNeBPtP8zX2k9lS-iA he does gaming reviews on distros (but mind you, has a french accent)

#7

kawa

0 Frags – +

gentoo https://youtu.be/KwnBZZ7_FGg

#8

freakshow

4 Frags – +

Hey guys, I'm talking to you all through linux!

Thank you for the responses. I thought through long and hard and I decided upon Bazzite. I need to move my tf2 config and general passwords over but aside from that, I'm done!

So far, there have definitely been some headaches but there seems to always be a solution for linux, even if it takes a little while to find it. For example, the bazzite installation wouldn't open until I learned that apparently you need to turn off secure boot while rebooting. Steam's store page for some reason just wouldn't appear until I installed something called steam linux runtime. Logitech's G hub doesn't support linux and wine was really stubborn and refused to open it, so my dpi was just stuck on 3200, but thankfully theres a linux manager for logitech products called Solaar that does the G hub's job perfectly fine. Linux seems to be full of this stuff, tiny problems that prop up everywhere that get resolved after one search online.

I can't wait to play tf2 now, thank you guys!

Hey guys, I'm talking to you all through linux!

Thank you for the responses. I thought through long and hard and I decided upon Bazzite. I need to move my tf2 config and general passwords over but aside from that, I'm done!

So far, there have definitely been some headaches but there seems to always be a solution for linux, even if it takes a little while to find it. For example, the bazzite installation wouldn't open until I learned that apparently you need to turn off secure boot while rebooting. Steam's store page for some reason just wouldn't appear until I installed something called steam linux runtime. Logitech's G hub doesn't support linux and wine was really stubborn and refused to open it, so my dpi was just stuck on 3200, but thankfully theres a linux manager for logitech products called Solaar that does the G hub's job perfectly fine. Linux seems to be full of this stuff, tiny problems that prop up everywhere that get resolved after one search online.

I can't wait to play tf2 now, thank you guys!