Solved New to Linux and getting started- which OS for gaming/art?

[nightowl-aurora]

Hello!

I'm new to the Linux community. After many years of using Windows, I'm sick of it and I want a new OS entirely; one that I can still play games (including World of Warcraft), artwork (Clip Studios currently) and something with more data protection.

I've heard of Linux before and have taken more interest in the past year while still learning more about it. I plan on switching my computer from Windows 11 to one of the Linux OS in the next month. Due to the current prices of computer parts, I'll have to install over MS OS.

Which Distro would be best for me? I assume I'l have to install Wine or Proton with whatever OS I choose due to the game I mainly play.

My computer specs (at least the ones that I can see):
Z370 AORUS Gaming 5
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8700 CPU @ 3.20GHz (3.19 GHz)
32.0 GB RAM
1TB SSD
NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1070 Ti
1050 Watt power supply

It was custom built (by a relative in IT who only does Windows) in 2018- the RAM was replaced in 2024 while the power supply was replaced in March 2025. I'm not the most tech savvy person but I can learn.

Thanks!

 

[wizardfromoz]

G'day from DownUnder @nightowl-aurora and welcome to linux.org

There is no best Linux, there are hundreds of distros available, and it depends on what you like and your usage patterns.

If you still are running Windows 10/11, and have spare USB stick with 16 - 32 GB capacity, I would download Ventoy, and install it, then go to Distrowatch.com and have a browse and download a few .iso and try them live.

I have to sign off in a few minutes for my Saturday night, others will be along.

On the Games issue, have a look through our Gaming subforum.

One of our Moderators is a keen gamer, and will likely have some ideas.

I'll watch with interest, and lend assistance if i can.

Cheers

Chris Turner
wizardfromoz

 

[f33dm3bits]

One of our Moderators is a keen gamer, and will likely have some ideas.

NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1070 Ti

You will need a distribution that still has the 580 driver in the repos for your gpu because the 900 and 1000 series aren't supported anymore in the 590 driver. For the rest in shouldn't matter much which distribution you use. I would recommend PikaOS, it's an up-to-date distribution, also als the 580 driver(nvidia-driver-580) available in the repos and good package availability because it's based on Debian. It has a driver manager as well so it should detect automatically which driver your gpu needs.

PikaOS Linux

PikaOS - Your new Linux distro for gaming and beyond!

wiki.pika-os.com

They have a Gnome ISO, Gnome being the user interface and people say it looks more like MAC and then they also have a KDE Plasma ISO which is more Windows like as in how use the desktop. In my experience all games that don't have kernel anti-cheat work, but I personally don't care for those anyways because I don't like having rootkits on my system.

 

[Brickwizard]

Welcome to the forums, see links below,
you may have problems with games that have ant-cheat as Linux will not allow third party applications to be inserted in the core [a part of its inbuilt security]

 

[tpkusr]

I would recommend:

Bazzite (specially for gaming)

Bazzite - The operating system for the next generation of gamers

Bazzite makes gaming and everyday use smoother and simpler across desktop PCs, handhelds, tablets, and home theater PCs.

bazzite.gg

Or

Pop!_OS (gaming+art work)

Pop!_OS by System76

Imagine an OS for the software developer, maker and computer science professional who uses their computer as a tool to discover and create. Welcome to Pop!_OS

system76.com

 

[MikeWalsh]

@nightowl-aurora :-

Welcome to Linux.org.....the friendliest general Linux forum online.

Thee and me are fairly similar. I (occasionally) play games, though I AM a keen graphic artist.

Hardware's very similar, too:-

• Core i7-8700 (recently upgraded from a Pentium G5400)
• 32 GB Crucial DDR4
• 1 TB primary SSD (mine's SATA3, though.....a Crucial MX-500; you're probably Nvme, I would guess?)
• Inno3D GeForce GT 1030
• 400w PSU (sounds low, I know, but this is an HP Pavilion, with custom HP components. Original was just 180W, and not many folks do upgrades for these slimline PSUs)

I don't need a hyperfast SSD anyway; my daily-driver, "Puppy" Linux, only loads from the main drive at boot, and saves back to it again at session's end; the rest of the time, she runs entirely in RAM. And she's tiny, too, so I get more of my RAM for MY use.

I prefer Linux-native, indie games on the occasions when I indulge (not into AAA+ titles), but from what I understand WoW should run fine under the Steam/Proton combo. Maarten (@f33dm3bits ) will know more about this stuff than I, since I only "tinker" with games; it's NOT a 'serious' thing for me.

Clip-Studios? Hm; not heard of that one, and know nothing about it. May be Windows-only, so it might run OK under WINE, and there again it might not. There's probably a Linux-native equivalent, though it'll have a different name, a different layout, and a different work-flow....

I won't recommend specific distros, since most will do pretty much want you want.....and I've used ONLY "Puppy" for well over a decade, so I don't know enough about most others to be able to offer advice.

We'll get ya sorted one way or another. Hang in there; we have some very knowledgeable folks here, and between us we know enough to advise with most aspects of Linux.

(We're spread out all around the globe, too, so taking into account the time-zone thing you'll be getting replies to this thread for at least the next few days!)


Mike.

 

[kc1di]

Hello @nightowl-aurora
Welcome to the Linux.org forum, enjoy!
You've received some good advice already I would only add try a few distros live usb and choose the one that best meets your needs.

 

[KGIII]

Bazzite (specially for gaming)

I bought an SSD that came with Bazzite and maybe a bunch of ROMs gathered from the high seas. It was horribly confusing

You can make it work, but it's just a horrible UI.

However, it was still a fairly new solution for retro gaming. I strongly suspect that it has improved since then.

 

[theLegionWithin]

I switched over from using microsoft products my entire life to linux last year in late 2024 - I run kde on vanilla arch and have yet to run into an issue with any of the games I play (steam/proton mainly). just about any of the popular distros will work for you, some better than others. if you run into an issue with one distro, switch to another. I've got not a clue about the art side of things though.

there's a great community here, lots of very knowledgeable people. good luck!

 

[tpkusr]

I bought an SSD that came with Bazzite and maybe a bunch of ROMs gathered from the high seas. It was horribly confusing

You can make it work, but it's just a horrible UI.

However, it was still a fairly new solution for retro gaming. I strongly suspect that it has improved since then.

I have suggested based on this two:

11 Best Linux Gaming Distributions in 2025

Wondering which Linux distro is best for gaming? We got a list of 11 gaming Linux OS for you here.

itsfoss.com

And

DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD.

News and feature lists of Linux and BSD distributions.

distrowatch.com

 

[f33dm3bits]

Nobara could be another good choice.

Nobara Linux | The Nobara Project

Nobara is a Fedora-based experience tuned for gaming, streaming, and content creation — with everything ready out of the box.

nobaraproject.org

 

[nightowl-aurora]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions so far. I'm still looking as to which OS is the best for me. All of them seem like they'll work for what I do (I'm hoping to eventually replace my GPU with a newer one- can't currently due to prices).

Currently, I'm having issues when trying to install Ventoy on the spare USB (I got a 32GB)- it doesn't install and the USB drive disappears from my computer. I've had to wipe the USB drive and reformat it twice now. I've heard it's due to Security Boot on Windows 11 and I'll have to go into the BIOS to fully disable it since it can't be done on Command Prompt. Is this the case? I'm not the most tech savvy person but I'm trying to learn.

 

[Brickwizard]

I've heard it's due to Security Boot on Windows 11

to be polite, secure boot [which some distributions still will not work with] and windows fast-boot/quick-start are flies in the ointment of Linux, I always recommend you disable both whilst installing, you can re-enable secure boot once your up and running,[if your distribution will allow its use] quick-start on the other hand must stay disabled or it will override your Linux at every possible occasion, and be aware if you are keeping windows, some security updates will re-enable quick-start without asking you, so if Linux fails after such an update, its back to the UEFI and turn it off again.

 

[nightowl-aurora]

Thanks. I had to disable Secure Boot, Fast Boot, CSM and Windows Security to download it and get it working.

I have PikaOS (Cosmic) installed on my computer as of now, no more windows on my computer. Earlier than first planned but Microsoft was interfering with my computer too much. So far, it's better than windows but I'm still learning.

 

[wizardfromoz]

....to download it and get it working.

@nightowl-aurora if you have solved the problem now, you can mark this as solved by going to your first post, and do as follows

Near bottom left of the post click Edit - (No Prefix) - Solved

Cheers

Wizard

 

[Pretty Boy Floyd]

Hello!

I'm new to the Linux community. After many years of using Windows, I'm sick of it and I want a new OS entirely; one that I can still play games (including World of Warcraft), artwork (Clip Studios currently) and something with more data protection.

I've heard of Linux before and have taken more interest in the past year while still learning more about it. I plan on switching my computer from Windows 11 to one of the Linux OS in the next month. Due to the current prices of computer parts, I'll have to install over MS OS.

Which Distro would be best for me? I assume I'l have to install Wine or Proton with whatever OS I choose due to the game I mainly play.

My computer specs (at least the ones that I can see):
Z370 AORUS Gaming 5
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8700 CPU @ 3.20GHz (3.19 GHz)
32.0 GB RAM
1TB SSD
NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1070 Ti
1050 Watt power supply

It was custom built (by a relative in IT who only does Windows) in 2018- the RAM was replaced in 2024 while the power supply was replaced in March 2025. I'm not the most tech savvy person but I can learn.

Thanks!

Nobara Project – A „tiszta gaming” élmény
Ezt a disztribúciót a GloriousEggroll néven ismert fejlesztő készíti (aki a Proton-GE-t is jegyzi). Ez egy módosított Fedora, amelyben alapból benne van minden játékosoknak szánt javítás, kodek és optimalizáció, amit egyébként kézzel kellene beállítanod.

 

[Pretty Boy Floyd]

Nobara Project – A „tiszta gaming” élmény
Ezt a disztribúciót a GloriousEggroll néven ismert fejlesztő készíti (aki a Proton-GE-t is jegyzi). Ez egy módosított Fedora, amelyben alapból benne van minden játékosoknak szánt javítás, kodek és optimalizáció, amit egyébként kézzel kellene beállítanod.

 

[Brickwizard]

@Pretty Boy Floyd

Welcome to the forum
this is an international site as such the chosen language is ENGLISH [American will do] PLEASE make post in English or they will be deleted.