Recently, I switched from Windows to Linux, tried many distros, and ended up with the Ubuntu rolling-release. Things went well for some days, but I started facing some issues like printer issues, gaming performance issues, and overall Ubuntu performance issues. So, I switched to where it all started, which is Windows 10. Now I’m on Windows, but the likeness and pleasure of using Linux are still with me.
So, what I wanted was a faster, rolling-release, easy-to-use distro with easy installation of Nvidia proprietary drivers.
What I have now planned is Fedora, because I like it. The issue with Fedora is that I can easily install the Nvidia driver, unlike Ubuntu. Can I search for the driver in the store or something else?
Or anything better than a fedora.
Graphics card: GT 730. I quit gaming, so gaming was not an issue anymore.
So, what I wanted was a faster, rolling-release, easy-to-use with easy installation of Nvidia proprietary drivers
EndeavourOS. It’s Arch-based, so it’s a rolling release, the install Nvidea driver option is right on the boot menu when you first install, it’s easy to use (and easy to install) and has a Wecome tool to help you navigate if you’re not used to Arch. And, at least in my experience, it’s fast
There’s some drawbacks tho. It’s on the lighter side: good if you wanna pick and choose what you wanna have on your system, not so good if you want something that’s ready to go OOTB. Another thing is most of the action takes place in the Terminal, hence the “terminal-centric distro” thing. That’s easily fixable tho, since you can either re-enable your Discover shop (KDE), the Gnome software center’s already good to go, or just install Octopi or Pamac if you really don’t wanna use the terminal for stuff.
Give it a go if you. It cured my distrohopping and basically ensured I’ll never go back to Windows (long term anyways. Temporarily, well, sometimes you gotta).
Recently switched to #EndeavourOS after using #LinuxMint for 9 months. Love it.
I scrolled to find this. EndeavourOS has done a great job at making Arch easy to install, and you get the best of both worlds.
I ran base Arch for years on a laptop, then went to Artix to lighten the load when systemd started misbehaving in odd ways. But I’m really liking the EndeavourOS experience.
Good choice!
What is a Ubuntu rolling release? You mean Rhino Linux? Thats unofficial AF, not recommended at all.
Rolling: Opensuse Tumbleweed, Fedora, EndeavorOS, etc.
Fedora isn’t rolling release.
Semi rolling something
Check out Nobara, it’s basically Fedora with tweaks and automatically installs the Nvidia drivers for you.
Maybe give Pop_OS a try. It’s Debian/Ubuntu based and works well. It’s tiling extension makes gnome usable for me (and it’s optional/off by default).
Nvidia is a breeze (included with the image iirc).
I don’t know what is Ubuntu rolling-release and I’ve been using Linux for twenty years.
If you’re a beginner, just stick to Linux Mint. If you really need a rolling-release distro, use OpenSUSE Tumbleweed and learn how to install, whatever your choice, the Nvidia drivers from your distro wiki/forums.
You never really said what you like about linux or why you even want to use it. You want an ‘easy-to-use’ distro, but I’ve never really run into a ‘difficult-to-use’ distro, and that’s going back to the Slackware/RedHat 4.2 days. PopOS!, Ubuntu, EndeavourOS, Slack, Debian, they’re all ‘easy-to-use’ when you don’t specify a use case.
Personally I love the challenge, and that nothing is forced on me. It took me a good 30 minutes yesterday researching and trying to figure out how to get spell checking working in qutebrowser, and I got a little dopamine hit when I was finished.
Windows doesn’t make me excited to use a computer. Linux does, because it’s challenging.
Some people don’t want their computer to be a challenge. They don’t want to be able to notice the operating system at all. For most people, the operating system is a means to an end.
I completely agree, though in that case I can’t see what the advantage would be if you already have Windows, to switch to Linux. It’s a challenge, you’re going to be constantly looking for alternatives to software you’ve used for years. Let’s face it, the software world is still primarily focused on Windows, and while there are a lot of developer and server packages that Just Work Better™ on Linux, but if you’re an end user who’s only interested in gaming, why bother?
That’s the reason why the people who switch from the default operating system are a small minority.
@NateNate60 @BaconIsAVeg i learned Linux 22 years ago because if work. I enjoy operating systems and don’t really get the zealotry of some. I run Arch on my main machine and manage Centos and Debian server farm. In my opinion, Mac run best on OSX. If you want to run Linux, just get a Dell or HP or any of the many Intel manufacturers. These are all tools nothing more.
Pop!os and mint are the usual go-tos for easy windows-like experiences
I am however physically incapable of not recommending NixOS at any chance I get, it is by far the best experience I’ve had on Linux so far having tried a good number of distros (provided you have some knowledge of how config files work and don’t mind installing software through one)
Simple Fedora, never had a better Linux Expirience ! Theres a new Video from Fedora Flock about State of Gaming on Fedora. It shows how easy it is to use the drivers and get steam up and running (–> activate Non-free Repos in softwarecenter settings and search for nvidia).
If you only need a basic graphics card, why not replace that NVIDIA one with something by another manufacturer that’s better supported driver-wise? Or maybe your CPU has onboard graphics? A basic card won’t need to cost much, and it could remove the headaches with NVIDIA drivers and give you more distro options.
I have the same graphics card as the OP, due to circumstances beyond my control, and I can see where you’re coming from (looking to replace this video card sooner than later with an AMD one–seeing how troublesome NVIDIA is with Linux, I just don’t want to support them). However, this “just buy better hardware, lol!” line of reasoning is counter-productive to convincing someone to make the jump to Linux.
One of the things that convinced me to make the jump is the argument that Linux can run on any junk machine destined for e-waste. Seeing the argument about buying better hardware, or buying the right brand of hardware just pains me (despite being true to some extent).
I agree with you but Linux or any OS won’t make miracles. Some older hardware is so bad(even when was new) that is not suited for something like games. We need to be realistic too.
Agreed. Though in the context of trying to convince someone to commit to Linux, suggesting that they buy new hardware would make them have second thoughts (about Linux, given that their stuff works okay with Windows).
Sure, it’s better for them to have a better idea of what they’re getting into (NVIDIA and Linux mixes like oil and water), but that might be better off stated as “If you’re intending to upgrade your hardware, better stay away from NVIDIA.” (Or something along those lines.)
I’m now way more willing to switch to hardware that’d play nice with Linux now that I’ve made the jump. In fact, if I have the money, I would have already ditched my graphics card for something better (looking at getting an RX 6650 XT).
Yes, I didn’t think OP needed convincing, or I might have been more careful about that. Rather, I was thinking about OP’s particular search for a good rolling release with NVIDIA support. You do make a good point.
Yeah, that GT730 is worse than modern integrated graphics
Your graphics card is literally ewaste at this point. So unless you get something else you might just use integrated graphics by Intel or buy an AMD ryzen G processor with graphics on board.
Anyway, now that NVIDIA isn’t a requirement anymore - use whatever you want.
I’m not going to force you to use Linux, but I’ll never go back to Windows.
Fedora is good, EndeavourOS is great. I think the AUR (ARCH based) repos really adds to the ease of use.
23:59 linux gives life to old hardware.
00:00 your hardware is trash.
No but seriously, the 730 was ewaste at the time it was manufactured. Yet someone still put it in a PC???
It is good to start with something other than a daily driver, so that such problems don’t hold you back as much - e.g. an older machine, or as others mentioned dual booting.
using nvidia with any distro is a headache you don’t need when making your first linux steps. sort that out first and then you’re free to distro hop. it makes sense to endure said pain when you’ve invested truckloads of money into some RTX monstrosity, for the one you got it’s just not worth it.
i have a manjaro install that has been going for 2+ years. with a Nvidia card.
just read the wiki on every update, and follow instructions.
on install select btrfs as the filesystem and than use timeshift to do backups.
You don’t have to switch, you can dualboot if you have some disk space to spare.
Unfortunately the only rolling-release distro I’ve ever used for more than 10 minutes is Arch Linux, which is not “easy to use”; it’s not hard, but you have to tinker with it every now and then (especially in the beginning, since you have to set everything up) - if you run
pacmanupdates without looking at the archlinux.org frontpage beforehand you might find yourself with a malfunctioning bootloader or something on that nature.AL updates are known for breaking things a few times, but in my opinion it offers a good compromise between DIY and … y’know, Ubuntu.
Have you tried Garuda? Best one for gaming. :)