So I've mentioned before but was waiting on an SSD upgrade, but I'm finally taking the plunge into Linux gaming now. Those of you that are using Linux for gaming, is Garuda the best distro? Should I try something else?
Main concerns are being able to run as much of my games as possible, with the biggest portion of my library being from GoG, the rest with Steam. I'd prefer to not have to spend hours on config files for every game. I do intend to keep a Windows partition to dual-boot, but for me to consider this a success, the vast majority of my single player games and emulation needs to be in Linux. I don't plan to share installs on an NTFS drive so I can play on one or the other or anything, if it's to run in Linux it will be on a proper Linux partition.
My Linux experience and knowledge is well above average, it's been my "productivity" desktop for about 4 years now. I've done some small-scale server administration going back 20 years. Command line doesn't scare me, but I'm pretty bad at getting things to work that I have to compile myself.
I know Trump is the hot topic right now, but no reason to be the only topic.
Use SteamOS. It works with non-Deck hardware and Proton is genuinely one of the most important innovations in gaming of the past decade. It's also a fully functional distro that does anything a normal distro can.
If you go this route, absolutely download Proton-GE. Certain games run way better with it. Sticking with standard Proton is usually the way to go, but the GE build will save you more than once.
I'll have to look into that, I didn't realize it was viable for non Steam Deck
where can you get it? as far as I can tell it's only the OS that comes with the steam deck.
Here's the official guide complete with download link. I'm strongly considering doing this myself, but Windows is super annoying about dual booting these days and I can't uninstall it for work reasons.
I assume this. (I'm a Windows pleb but this is the first result on Brave search)