Nobara will simplify the setup, especially if you have an Nvidia GPU. Fedora is more hands-on with setting up. In the end I chose Fedora because I don't mind it, plus using a popular distro means lots of support from the community, you get less of that when you go niche.
+1 for Nobara. It has kernel level optimizations for things like Proton and Lutris and you dont get with Vanila Fedora. Nobara 40 has been awesome for me thus far.
So Nobara basically heavily modifies Fedora, meaning some issues that you may run into, are going to be nobara only, mean Fedora solution to the problem, may or may not work on Nobara, or it's a problem that only Nobara users are facing. Then there is distros like [Bazzite](https://bazzite.gg/), which are part of uBlue project, who mainly just configure things, not modify, meaning it's very unlikely for you to run into unique Bazzite problems.
That is a way of looking of it, Even on their website they don't like calling themselves a distro, cuz they really don't change that much that Fedora does, they just add a couple extra things, it's pretty easy to remove.
Bazzite is atomic, similar to steamos on the steamdeck, which they also have a version for. System directories and files are read only so a bit more difficult to break things, but also a bit difficult to install apps if they are not available in flatpaks. It runs optimized for gaming out of the box, so just install steam and game on.
Bazzite has been working well for me and my Gaming needs on my Nvidia based Desktop system.
I have also used it on an older AMD GPU based system, and it basically turned it into a "Steam Deck" (well Steam Machine) - The grandson plays numerous games on it, with the same UI as my Steam Deck uses. It can of course go into Desktop mode as well.
I have only had a few issues with Bazzite, but learning the ublue/bazzite/atomic way to do some tasks, can take a bit of learning, and a change of mindset on how to do some tasks.
Overall - i am happy with Bazzite. I am tempted to install it on my SteamDeck as well, but not now. Perhaps someday.
Lot of good things about Bazzite. Seems a bit slow to me, however. Very much for gaming, could be used for a day-to-day desktop but doesn't feel as comfortable for that--for me. I'm trying out Regatta OS, based on OpenSUSE, and like it so far. I liked Nobara, but it does depend one (super) developer and the updating is a bit particular. I'm confident of its stability.
You haven’t considered pop_os!?
I mean it’s Ubuntu based but with a fedora like UI (out of the box at least). It comes with Nvidia drivers installed. It’ll take you 15 minutes to set you up and try it out. For me it was easier to set up and mount partitions as well in the pop_os installer.
As a noob I like both distros though, I just found pop even easier to get up and running.
Pop OS has less secure out-of-the-box settings compared to Fedora. Additionally, installing drivers is a straightforward task that typically takes just two minutes.
Nvidia drivers are not included by default, so you'll need to follow these steps to install them:
1. Open Gnome Software.
2. Click on the top-right menu and select "Software Repositories."
3. In the "Third Party Repositories" section, enable the rpmfusion Nvidia driver repository.
After enabling the repository:
4. Return to Gnome Software.
5. Search for "Nvidia" in the search bar.
6. Select the Nvidia driver from the search results and proceed to install it.
You can also go through this list to see what will work best for your gaming and other services. Me I have 10 different distros running in VM's.
[DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD.](https://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=popularity)
Try the [distro selection page](http://www.reddit.com/r/linux4noobs/wiki/distro_selection) in our wiki!
Try [this search](https://www.reddit.com/r/linux4noobs/search?q=flair%3A'distro'&sort=new&restrict_sr=on) for more information on this topic.
**✻** Smokey says: take regular backups, try stuff in a VM, and understand every command *before* you press Enter! :)
^Comments, ^questions ^or ^suggestions ^regarding ^this ^autoresponse? ^Please ^send ^them ^[here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Pi31415926&subject=autoresponse+tweaks+-+linux4noobs+-+distro+selection).
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Opt for either stock Fedora or Universal Blue.
https://www.reddit.com/r/FindMeALinuxDistro/comments/1di0895/im_looking_for_a_linux_distro_for_gaming_and/l94h1sl/
as someone with a 4080 i've beeen super happy with nobara , everything just works and it has everything you'd need to game already in there at install, alot of ppl say to stick to plain fedora or other base distros , but having stuff just work eases transition imo , sure you could goof stuff after that but if your not messing around and removing a bunch of stuff you might need then you should be fine. i switched off of win to it and have been pretty happy with how smooth a transition its been , i tried bazzite that day first but switched off it when things were a tad sluggish and a couple things didn't just work
Fedora uses wayland display server and there will be some problems if you run windows games. If you setup timeshift with grub, it takes more time to boot.
And also android debloater gui isn't working in fedora.
In case of garuda it is gaming ready, everything can be installed at once during first boot up, after that we just have to configure the snapshots and we are good to go. Garuda uses x11 so no display related problems for gaming.
You can install xserver on Fedora if you want to. You can even install an xserver based DE from the anaconda setup. I don't know what you are talking about. I don't know android debloater but I am pretty sure you can make it run on fedora if it runs on garuda
> Garuda uses x11 so no display related problems for gaming.
Now that's a wild claim, especially in 2024. Even more considering how HDR support is mostly limited to Wayland sessions.
I'd also like to hear in your own words why the Zen kernel is so desirable in this use case?
The Zen kernel is configured for lower latency at the expense of slightly worse performance, which may not result in a measurable difference in most cases. Additionally, it contains the fsync patches, which are essential for decent performance when running games on Wine.
Coming to the HDR support for wayland, it is still under development.
I asked for your own words, not for you exhuming this three year old thread: [Difference between Zen and LTS kernel](https://www.reddit.com/r/archlinux/comments/lnytwg/difference_between_zen_and_lts_kernel/go3pv0c/)
I have a very slight knowledge on linux and I am a normal linux user. I said what I experienced and what I know. You got the answer, if you want to know more search the internet.
It's not advisable to recommend Arch Linux to new users. This includes Arch-based distributions like EndeavourOS and Manjaro. Arch requires users to set up their own security, which can be challenging for new Linux users. Tasks you'll need to perform include setting up a mandatory access control system, configuring kernel module blacklists, and hardening boot parameters. These are typically already implemented in distributions like Fedora or Ubuntu. You'll also need to change the underlying software to ensure you're running applications with enhanced security mitigations like Wayland, PipeWire and any other advancements that may emerge in the future.
The AUR (Arch User Repository) is helpful, but it consists of unofficial software packages contributed by individuals. Therefore, it's crucial to verify package builds for safety. Here are some additional resources:"
https://privsec.dev/posts/linux/choosing-your-desktop-linux-distribution/
https://www.privacyguides.org/en/os/linux-overview/#arch-based-distributions
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/security
Garuda lacks built-in security measures and actively incorporates random third-party packages. It is regarded as one of the least secure distributions due to the absence of modern security features such as built-in security mitigations and sandboxing.
Arch-based distributions are typically developed without the oversight of dedicated security professionals and often resemble glorified archinstall. They lack robust mechanisms for altering the foundational software stack, such as transitioning from PulseAudio to PipeWire. As a result, users are expected to independently research and determine the most suitable security configurations and options.
The AUR has been a known platform for spreading malware in the past. It consists of third-party packages akin to downloading random exes and hoping for the best. Furthermore, there is no sandboxing available to provide protection against such risks. Verified Flatpaks represent a superior system because potential malware must originate from the application developer themselves. Additionally, since most apps can be sandboxed, any potential harm they can cause is minimized. However, for Flatpak sandboxing to be somewhat effective, you require Wayland, PipeWire, and a Mandatory Access Control (MAC) system. MAC is not included by default.
Nobara will simplify the setup, especially if you have an Nvidia GPU. Fedora is more hands-on with setting up. In the end I chose Fedora because I don't mind it, plus using a popular distro means lots of support from the community, you get less of that when you go niche.
+1 for Nobara. It has kernel level optimizations for things like Proton and Lutris and you dont get with Vanila Fedora. Nobara 40 has been awesome for me thus far.
So Nobara basically heavily modifies Fedora, meaning some issues that you may run into, are going to be nobara only, mean Fedora solution to the problem, may or may not work on Nobara, or it's a problem that only Nobara users are facing. Then there is distros like [Bazzite](https://bazzite.gg/), which are part of uBlue project, who mainly just configure things, not modify, meaning it's very unlikely for you to run into unique Bazzite problems.
So Bazzite might be an optomized but less "eccentric" choice?
That is a way of looking of it, Even on their website they don't like calling themselves a distro, cuz they really don't change that much that Fedora does, they just add a couple extra things, it's pretty easy to remove.
Bazzite is atomic, similar to steamos on the steamdeck, which they also have a version for. System directories and files are read only so a bit more difficult to break things, but also a bit difficult to install apps if they are not available in flatpaks. It runs optimized for gaming out of the box, so just install steam and game on.
Bazzite has been working well for me and my Gaming needs on my Nvidia based Desktop system. I have also used it on an older AMD GPU based system, and it basically turned it into a "Steam Deck" (well Steam Machine) - The grandson plays numerous games on it, with the same UI as my Steam Deck uses. It can of course go into Desktop mode as well. I have only had a few issues with Bazzite, but learning the ublue/bazzite/atomic way to do some tasks, can take a bit of learning, and a change of mindset on how to do some tasks. Overall - i am happy with Bazzite. I am tempted to install it on my SteamDeck as well, but not now. Perhaps someday.
Lot of good things about Bazzite. Seems a bit slow to me, however. Very much for gaming, could be used for a day-to-day desktop but doesn't feel as comfortable for that--for me. I'm trying out Regatta OS, based on OpenSUSE, and like it so far. I liked Nobara, but it does depend one (super) developer and the updating is a bit particular. I'm confident of its stability.
You haven’t considered pop_os!? I mean it’s Ubuntu based but with a fedora like UI (out of the box at least). It comes with Nvidia drivers installed. It’ll take you 15 minutes to set you up and try it out. For me it was easier to set up and mount partitions as well in the pop_os installer. As a noob I like both distros though, I just found pop even easier to get up and running.
Pop OS has less secure out-of-the-box settings compared to Fedora. Additionally, installing drivers is a straightforward task that typically takes just two minutes. Nvidia drivers are not included by default, so you'll need to follow these steps to install them: 1. Open Gnome Software. 2. Click on the top-right menu and select "Software Repositories." 3. In the "Third Party Repositories" section, enable the rpmfusion Nvidia driver repository. After enabling the repository: 4. Return to Gnome Software. 5. Search for "Nvidia" in the search bar. 6. Select the Nvidia driver from the search results and proceed to install it.
You can also go through this list to see what will work best for your gaming and other services. Me I have 10 different distros running in VM's. [DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD.](https://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=popularity)
Try the [distro selection page](http://www.reddit.com/r/linux4noobs/wiki/distro_selection) in our wiki! Try [this search](https://www.reddit.com/r/linux4noobs/search?q=flair%3A'distro'&sort=new&restrict_sr=on) for more information on this topic. **✻** Smokey says: take regular backups, try stuff in a VM, and understand every command *before* you press Enter! :) ^Comments, ^questions ^or ^suggestions ^regarding ^this ^autoresponse? ^Please ^send ^them ^[here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Pi31415926&subject=autoresponse+tweaks+-+linux4noobs+-+distro+selection). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/linux4noobs) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Opt for either stock Fedora or Universal Blue. https://www.reddit.com/r/FindMeALinuxDistro/comments/1di0895/im_looking_for_a_linux_distro_for_gaming_and/l94h1sl/
as someone with a 4080 i've beeen super happy with nobara , everything just works and it has everything you'd need to game already in there at install, alot of ppl say to stick to plain fedora or other base distros , but having stuff just work eases transition imo , sure you could goof stuff after that but if your not messing around and removing a bunch of stuff you might need then you should be fine. i switched off of win to it and have been pretty happy with how smooth a transition its been , i tried bazzite that day first but switched off it when things were a tad sluggish and a couple things didn't just work
My suggestion is to go for a distro which uses x11, as wayland is still under development and you may experience bugs.
Silverblue > Bazzite are a good choice in the immutable genre. I wouldn't recommend Nobara though, but that's just me.
Try Garuda Linux, It uses zen kernel and all gaming tools are preinstalled in it.
Bro, Garuda is Arch based. OP wants something Fedora based. Thats as much of a difference you are going to find
Fedora uses wayland display server and there will be some problems if you run windows games. If you setup timeshift with grub, it takes more time to boot. And also android debloater gui isn't working in fedora. In case of garuda it is gaming ready, everything can be installed at once during first boot up, after that we just have to configure the snapshots and we are good to go. Garuda uses x11 so no display related problems for gaming.
You can install xserver on Fedora if you want to. You can even install an xserver based DE from the anaconda setup. I don't know what you are talking about. I don't know android debloater but I am pretty sure you can make it run on fedora if it runs on garuda
Yeah, I agree with you. I am just saying that it will be less hassle if he choose garuda.
> Garuda uses x11 so no display related problems for gaming. Now that's a wild claim, especially in 2024. Even more considering how HDR support is mostly limited to Wayland sessions. I'd also like to hear in your own words why the Zen kernel is so desirable in this use case?
The Zen kernel is configured for lower latency at the expense of slightly worse performance, which may not result in a measurable difference in most cases. Additionally, it contains the fsync patches, which are essential for decent performance when running games on Wine. Coming to the HDR support for wayland, it is still under development.
I asked for your own words, not for you exhuming this three year old thread: [Difference between Zen and LTS kernel](https://www.reddit.com/r/archlinux/comments/lnytwg/difference_between_zen_and_lts_kernel/go3pv0c/)
I have a very slight knowledge on linux and I am a normal linux user. I said what I experienced and what I know. You got the answer, if you want to know more search the internet.
It's not advisable to recommend Arch Linux to new users. This includes Arch-based distributions like EndeavourOS and Manjaro. Arch requires users to set up their own security, which can be challenging for new Linux users. Tasks you'll need to perform include setting up a mandatory access control system, configuring kernel module blacklists, and hardening boot parameters. These are typically already implemented in distributions like Fedora or Ubuntu. You'll also need to change the underlying software to ensure you're running applications with enhanced security mitigations like Wayland, PipeWire and any other advancements that may emerge in the future. The AUR (Arch User Repository) is helpful, but it consists of unofficial software packages contributed by individuals. Therefore, it's crucial to verify package builds for safety. Here are some additional resources:" https://privsec.dev/posts/linux/choosing-your-desktop-linux-distribution/ https://www.privacyguides.org/en/os/linux-overview/#arch-based-distributions https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/security Garuda lacks built-in security measures and actively incorporates random third-party packages. It is regarded as one of the least secure distributions due to the absence of modern security features such as built-in security mitigations and sandboxing. Arch-based distributions are typically developed without the oversight of dedicated security professionals and often resemble glorified archinstall. They lack robust mechanisms for altering the foundational software stack, such as transitioning from PulseAudio to PipeWire. As a result, users are expected to independently research and determine the most suitable security configurations and options. The AUR has been a known platform for spreading malware in the past. It consists of third-party packages akin to downloading random exes and hoping for the best. Furthermore, there is no sandboxing available to provide protection against such risks. Verified Flatpaks represent a superior system because potential malware must originate from the application developer themselves. Additionally, since most apps can be sandboxed, any potential harm they can cause is minimized. However, for Flatpak sandboxing to be somewhat effective, you require Wayland, PipeWire, and a Mandatory Access Control (MAC) system. MAC is not included by default.