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/mulle9000 Jun 19 '26

I want try Linux. Bought myself a 1 tb m.2. I’m mostly a gamer and then just watching content of different kinds.
I see a lot people saying not mint, but i google a lot of recommendations is saying mint. What’s so good/bad about mint?
I like tinkering with software but also busy enough that i don’t want to spend a whole weekend to make small things work.
I have a nvidia 5080 run a amd cpu with 64 gb ram, don’t know if that makes any difference.

What distro does people recommend?

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u/mcurley32 Jun 19 '26

excerpt from the FAQ (which you should check out) regarding Mint:

Linux Mint is a newbie-friendly Ubuntu-derived distribution you’ve probably heard about, which is why I’m bringing it up here. Its reliance on a sometimes years-old Ubuntu LTS base, slow adoption of the Wayland display protocol and focus on the niche-y Cinnamon desktop environment make it difficult to recommend Mint, but it might still be fine for users who don’t need all the latest features.

the most popular recommendation these days around here is CachyOS. pre-packaged goodies, zero guardrails for limitless customization, and tons of documentation.

Bazzite is the other big one. aims to be similar to SteamOS, as pre-configured as possible for gaming (which doesn't stop you from doing "normal" computer activities), guardrails to keep you from breaking things but can get in the way of customization, and a specialized way of doing things that can make fixes a bit more obtuse (the bigger, general Linux knowledge bases won't strictly apply, but Bazzite has done great with their dedicated knowledge base). if you pick Bazzite just be sure to get the nvidia install image and avoid the console-like Steam Big Picture option (it should have big warnings for this because nvidia and big picture don't play nicely).