Question: Would I still struggle to get games working on a desktop using Linux as I have in the past (always some driver issue for some crucial bit of hardware; either the GPU can’t do 3D or the NIC doesn’t function, etc) or would they work as well as on a Steam Deck, that doesn’t have to account for a variety of hardware differences? Almost every single person I have seen lately saying gaming on Linux is awesome now, is using a literal device designed for it. But what about my hardware? Is getting wrappers for nVidia drivers still a fucking PITA with a 50/50 chance of actually working correctly?
I love Linux for just basic computing needs or running servers. But I’ve always had a bad time when trying to play games.
in my experience unless the company has blocked off linux, i works better on linux. Games that don’t work on win11 work on linux, eg old games. MHW doesn’t crash or bsod on linux and gets more frames.
Nvidia drivers is just going to rpm fusion, copy pasting some commands and pressing enter. I reccomend reading up what those commands mean and “scary hax0r only linux” becomes “oh that makes so much sense linux”.
My only issues were my steam library drive was on wrong file system so I had to reformat it (imagine if you put wrong file system on windows, you wouldn’t expect it to work either) and having to disable secureboot so you don’t have to restart and sign keys.
Simracing wheels work fine but only issue is huge hotases like winwing since the creator of the driver doesn’t understand that “lmao just build it” is not sufficient set of instructions for people who want to play games.
Question: Would I still struggle to get games working on a desktop using Linux as I have in the past
Maybe.
The Linux side problems are long since fixed. Games developed with modern engines just work on Linux.
The vast majority of older “this is for Windows only and we fucking mean it” games work perfectly on Linux with Proton anyway. Some require 3 minutes with a search engine to pick a preferred version.
nVidia is still going to nVidia.
Weird DRM bullshit is still going to weird DRM bullshit.
would they work as well as on a Steam Deck, that doesn’t have to account for a variety of hardware differences?
Hell no. There’s a reason we love the SteamDeck so much, and want to see the Steam Machine return.
Almost every single person I have seen lately saying gaming on Linux is awesome now, is using a literal device designed for it.
Yes. It’s fucking amazing. Lol.
But what about my hardware? Is getting wrappers for nVidia drivers still a fucking PITA with a 50/50 chance of actually working correctly?
nVidia hasn’t improved, to the best of my “fuck those guys” knowledge.
But the entire SteamDeck costs less than most graphics chips. It’s not equivalent, but that’s where my “fuck it, life is short” energy currently is.
I’ve heard nice things about other graphics chip makers, but I’m waiting with my SteamDeck docked for a Steam Machine console, myself.
PopOS has been running great for me with my RTX 2070 SUPER. I installed it maybe 3-ish years ago and haven’t had an issue upgrading driver versions.
Would recommend if you’re not opposed to trying different distributions.
I’m using a fairly modern 4060 rtx, every game I’m trying to play are either playable, or unplayable because of anticheats. If youre primarily using steam, more often than not you can just enable proton (compatibility) and run it. Just search protondb before purchasing and go to lutris if you want to know recipes to run offline games.
Depends on the exact Nvidia card you’re using. The newer parts all have good drivers, but as you get older things get more fiddly.
But most of the improvement is in Steam’s compatibility mode. Proton allows you to run so many games with one click that use to be a whole project to configure.
I’m using Pop!_OS, and it’s pretty much made with gamers in mind. Steam works well enough for me in it. It has Lutris already installed, and I’m playing ESO through it. These are just my experiences, though.
Using a 4090 on Kubuntu works well for my gaming so far. Wayland can be a bit buggy with NVIDIA, but nothing severe.
Admittedly, I don’t play anti-cheat games which don’t really work well and I tend to play older games more than not (though I did just get Stray, which looks great).
Question: Would I still struggle to get games working on a desktop using Linux as I have in the past (always some driver issue for some crucial bit of hardware; either the GPU can’t do 3D or the NIC doesn’t function, etc) or would they work as well as on a Steam Deck, that doesn’t have to account for a variety of hardware differences? Almost every single person I have seen lately saying gaming on Linux is awesome now, is using a literal device designed for it. But what about my hardware? Is getting wrappers for nVidia drivers still a fucking PITA with a 50/50 chance of actually working correctly?
I love Linux for just basic computing needs or running servers. But I’ve always had a bad time when trying to play games.
in my experience unless the company has blocked off linux, i works better on linux. Games that don’t work on win11 work on linux, eg old games. MHW doesn’t crash or bsod on linux and gets more frames.
Nvidia drivers is just going to rpm fusion, copy pasting some commands and pressing enter. I reccomend reading up what those commands mean and “scary hax0r only linux” becomes “oh that makes so much sense linux”. My only issues were my steam library drive was on wrong file system so I had to reformat it (imagine if you put wrong file system on windows, you wouldn’t expect it to work either) and having to disable secureboot so you don’t have to restart and sign keys. Simracing wheels work fine but only issue is huge hotases like winwing since the creator of the driver doesn’t understand that “lmao just build it” is not sufficient set of instructions for people who want to play games.
Maybe.
Hell no. There’s a reason we love the SteamDeck so much, and want to see the Steam Machine return.
Yes. It’s fucking amazing. Lol.
nVidia hasn’t improved, to the best of my “fuck those guys” knowledge.
But the entire SteamDeck costs less than most graphics chips. It’s not equivalent, but that’s where my “fuck it, life is short” energy currently is.
I’ve heard nice things about other graphics chip makers, but I’m waiting with my SteamDeck docked for a Steam Machine console, myself.
PopOS has been running great for me with my RTX 2070 SUPER. I installed it maybe 3-ish years ago and haven’t had an issue upgrading driver versions. Would recommend if you’re not opposed to trying different distributions.
I’m using a fairly modern 4060 rtx, every game I’m trying to play are either playable, or unplayable because of anticheats. If youre primarily using steam, more often than not you can just enable proton (compatibility) and run it. Just search protondb before purchasing and go to lutris if you want to know recipes to run offline games.
Yeah, Linux gaming may not be for you if you play a ton of anti-cheat games.
Depends on the exact Nvidia card you’re using. The newer parts all have good drivers, but as you get older things get more fiddly.
But most of the improvement is in Steam’s compatibility mode. Proton allows you to run so many games with one click that use to be a whole project to configure.
I’m using Pop!_OS, and it’s pretty much made with gamers in mind. Steam works well enough for me in it. It has Lutris already installed, and I’m playing ESO through it. These are just my experiences, though.
Using a 4090 on Kubuntu works well for my gaming so far. Wayland can be a bit buggy with NVIDIA, but nothing severe.
Admittedly, I don’t play anti-cheat games which don’t really work well and I tend to play older games more than not (though I did just get Stray, which looks great).
Plug and play, that easy.
Nobara would fit your needs perfectly.