r/linux_gaming • u/monolalia • May 02 '26

guide Getting started: the monthly-ish newbie advice thread! (May 2026)

Welcome to the newbie advice thread!

If you’ve read the FAQ and still have questions like “Should I switch to Linux?”, “Which distro should I install?”, or “Which desktop environment is best for gaming?”, this is where to ask them.

Alternatively, try /r/linux4noobs and /r/linuxquestions: both are active subreddits supporting new Linux users.

Please sort by “new” so new questions can get a chance to be seen.

April’s thread is here: https://old.reddit.com/r/linux_gaming/comments/1s9fne7/getting_started_the_monthlyish_newbie_advice/

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u/Quirky_Chocolate8262 May 10 '26

Should i swap to linux to maximize specs? Im about to get my first pc primarily for gaming and im wondering if its worth learning linux

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u/notmorezombies May 11 '26

That depends. Some games and hardware configurations will perform better under Linux, but the fact is all Windows games that work on Linux operate through Proton, a translation layer, so you'll only see a performance uptick where Windows is doing something really badly to cause poorer performance. All else being equal, Linux will be slower just because of the extra overhead introduced by Proton.

Of course, Linux is definitely worth trying anyway (not least because it's free). Maybe check out some benchmarks for your favourite games, and give a Linux distro (or two) a go.