Linux has a reputation as the operating system for old and weak hardware, but did you know it can supercharge your high-end PCs and Laptops as well? Here are five Linux distributions (distros) that are designed to take full advantage of modern hardware to deliver stellar performance.
The world of Linux is brimming with hundreds if not thousands of distributions. The benefit of having this many options is that you have different operating systems specifically designed for different users and use cases. However, the clear disadvantage is that it leads to analysis paralysis! Luckily you have me, and if you’re looking for a distro for your new PC or laptop, then I’ve got you! Here is a list of five distros optimized for modern hardware which, in fact, might lag if run on older and weaker systems.
5Ubuntu Studio
Ubuntu Studiois anofficial flavor of Ubuntuspecifically designed for creative professionals. It uses Ubuntu’s rock-solid foundation as its base but applies some tweaks and optimizations to make creative workflows much smoother and more responsive.
The distro also overhauls Ubuntu’s default look with a Windows XP-style design, but with the task bar up top. You also get the same XP-style start menu that perfectly categorizes and organizes all your creative apps. That being said, it’s using theKDE Plasma desktop, giving you access to tons of customization options which should instantly appeal to the creative in you.
There is a tool calledUbuntu Studio Installerthat you may run on any Ubuntu-based distro to get these specific optimizations and apps installed on that system.
Download Ubuntu Studio
4Pop!_OS
Similar to Ubuntu Studio,Pop!_OSis based on Ubuntu,butit’s not one of its official flavors. Instead, it’s developed by System76, a computer hardware manufacturer selling laptops, desktops, and servers. Since they sell modern high-end hardware, they have taken a lot of care and effort in building their own distro that takes full advantage of this raw power.
Of course, even if you don’t buy System76 hardware, you’re able to download the Pop!_OS ISO and install it on your existing hardware. There’s an ISO file withproprietary NVIDIA driversbuilt-in which is recommended if you own an NVIDIA GPU. In fact, in my experience, it’s one of the best Linux distros that run smoothly on NVIDIA hardware without much manual tinkering.
At the time of writing, Pop!_OS is actively developing a new desktop experience calledCOSMIC, which will replace their current implementation of theGNOME desktop environment. Once released, I expect an overhauled user experience, but it should still remain an excellent distro for high-end hardware.
Download Pop!_OS
3Garuda Linux
Garuda Linuxis an Arch-basedrolling release distrotargeting power users looking for a unique-looking desktop that feels nice and polished to use. It supports a number ofpopular desktop environmentsandwindow managers, but its flagship editions—Mokka and Dragonized—give you a re-imagined take on theKDE Plasma desktop environmentwith special animations and desktop effects that make it look absolutely stunning.
Apart from looks, the main highlight would be Garuda Rani, a system maintenance app that allows you to manage the distro from a graphical interfacewithout needing to open the terminal. Other than this, being an Arch-based distro, you have access to theArch User Repository (AUR), which packs tens of thousands of apps. You also get theChaotic-AUR, which is maintained by the Garuda team and offers many more useful apps.
Download Garuda Linux
2Nobara
Nobara, in my opinion, is the definitive distro for Linux gaming and what you should use if you’re building a system specifically for gaming. It is based on Fedora, which is known for offering a stable yet cutting-edge experience, loved by many Linux power users. However, the main issue with Fedora is that it ships with open-source packages only, whereas most gaming-specific drivers and tools are proprietary, thereby requiring you to do a lot of manual tinkering before you may play games on it.
This is what Nobara solves by coming pre-configured with all the popular gaming tools,multimedia codecs, and proprietary drivers necessary for playing games or content creation out of the box. This means all you have to do is install the distro, and you have a system to start playing games on,provided that it runs on Linux. In fact, the distro even has a version torun on the Steam Deckas well as Home Theater PCs, making it one of the best console-class distributions.
Nobara is developed by Glorious Eggroll, the guy who created Proton-GE—a popularcompatibility layer used to run Windows games on Linux.
(Same as Fedora)
Download Nobara
1CachyOS
CachyOSis another Arch-based rolling release distro with a laser focus on performance optimization for modern hardware. To me, it feels likeManjaro Linux, but on steroids, where the focus is still on making Arch more user-friendly with graphical apps, so you don’t have to use the terminal too often. CachyOS is also much more feature-rich than Manjaro, making it a more appealing option for power users.
To give you an idea, CachyOS natively supports all the popular Linux desktop environments and window managers. Not just that, but it also supports most of the popular and performance-orientedLinux file systems. And, of course, as an Arch-based distro, you get access to the AUR. Also, if you own a handheld PC, CachyOS has got a dedicated installation ISO version.
Download CachyOS
Which Distro Should You Choose?
The right distro for your modern high-end PC (or laptop) depends on your specific use case. If you want a system primarily for content creation, go with Ubuntu Studio. However, if you want something specialized for gaming, pick Nobara!
That said, if you want a general-purpose distro that’s great for work and play, I’d recommend Pop!_OS. It’s stable, reliable, and doesn’t demand too much upkeep from you. However, if you prefer access to cutting-edge software and feel comfortable with the routine system maintenance, then go with CachyOS over Pop!_OS.
That leaves us with Garuda Linux, which is what I use as my daily driver! Performance-wise, it’s on par with CachyOS even though both distros approach system optimization in different ways. The unique strengths Garuda has going for it are its awesome system management tools—Garuda Rani, and the bold default look, which can take a long time to replicate on another distro.
How to Get Started
Now that you know which distros are better for your modern high-end PCs and laptops, it’s time to make your pick. Once you do, I’d recommend youtry it outto get a sense of its user experience before directlyinstalling it on your system. You cantry VirtualBoxto get an idea of how things work, but do note the performance can be a bit choppy since these distros are intended to run on bare metal.
