Gaming On Linux?

[Brapson]

Hey guys,

 

I'm starting to think about designing my next rig and one of the thoughts that has crossed my mind is the possibility of installing a Linux Distro on it rather than Windows. I was wondering if this is a good decision or wither I should dual boot Windows and Linux and use Windows for Gaming or if I should just throw the idea of Linux out of my head and stick with Windows. I know there are a number of Steam Games now available on Linux and that they are likely to increase in number due to the introduction of Steam OS but I'm wondering if I'm going to have any issues with drivers or anything or the sort which is also putting me off a little. The Linux distros I am currently considering are: Unbuntu, Linux Mint and Elementary OS. (All of which I have used before for short periods of time when I was checking out Linux Distros fell in love with the three of them, especially Elementary.)

 

If anyone has any experience with gaming on Linux I'd be grateful to hear some feedback on their experience and overall wither people recommend doing so or not. Keep in mind my next build probably wont be until early 2015 and I'm guessing that Steam OS will be a little more cooked by then. So yeah, once again I'd be grateful for any feedback.

[SAV1OUR]

there's plenty of linux games check under the steam section. steams been expanding comparability allot lately  

[Vitalius]

there's plenty of linux games check under the steam section. steams been expanding comparability allot lately  

There are or will be over 400 games compatible with either Linux or Steam OS (I forget which) soon. 

I think one means the other anyway. Not sure.

[RelentlessAF]

From my experience with gaming on Ubuntu I haven't had issues with Drivers at all so far and I even get much better performance in things like Minecraft and Dungeon Defenders. My Linux library is pretty limited. I mostly just have all Valve games and a few others. Metro: LL works well but there are no graphical options just one slider.

[Stephen Chou]

Well.... SteamOS is all the advice I can give you.

[Brapson]

there's plenty of linux games check under the steam section. steams been expanding comparability allot lately  

 

Yeah I noticed, had a little look at games for Linux last night, nice selection. Gotta love Gaben and his hate for Windows 8. 

 

 

There are or will be over 400 games compatible with either Linux or Steam OS (I forget which) soon. 

I think one means the other anyway. Not sure.

 

If I remember rightly the section for Linux games is Linux/SteamOS because SteamOS runs on Linux.

[Bonsai99]

or if I should just throw the idea of Linux out of my head and stick with Windows

^ That, no point in being severely restricted.

[Brapson]

From my experience with gaming on Ubuntu I haven't had issues with Drivers at all so far and I even get much better performance in things like Minecraft and Dungeon Defenders. My Linux library is pretty limited. I mostly just have all Valve games and a few others. Metro: LL works well but there are no graphical options just one slider.

 

That's interesting I hadn't actually considered the fact that the options in games would be different. I wonder if this is down to drivers or something...

[RelentlessAF]

That's interesting I hadn't actually considered the fact that the options in games would be different. I wonder if this is down to drivers or something...

Nah it's the lazyness of Deep Silver. The Linux version was an after thought and wasn't really all too well done. The game runs fine but the lack of options can make a non high end PC chug pretty bad. Many games keep their in depth options alive. Dungeon Defenders actually has more including a RAM allocation option the last time I played.

[Jack.EXE]

yes, it's a great idea.

 

The only thing holding me back from linux is SOE with their planetside 2.

 

Also, the fact that windows 7 is still working fine, and I have a valid license that I dont want to waste. (I already spent the $100, may as well use it)

[unraw]

For me, Linux is not quite mature enough for me to switch to it full time... It has come SUCH a long way though and I can't wait to see where it will go in a few years! 

[lutzee]

As someone who does actually game on linux 95% of the time, it is maturing, its slow but it will get there, the games that run natively run very well, the games that don't normally run well enough under wine.

 

If you are unsure, dual boot with windows, its common practice, no reason not to. I do still have a copy of windows installed on my desktop, it just rarely ever gets used.

[Brapson]

As someone who does actually game on linux 95% of the time, it is maturing, its slow but it will get there, the games that run natively run very well, the games that don't normally run well enough under wine.

 

If you are unsure, dual boot with windows, its common practice, no reason not to. I do still have a copy of windows installed on my desktop, it just rarely ever gets used.

 

Thanks for the feedback, I'm starting to think that dual booting might be a good idea. In fact I might start dual booting on my current PC to get a feel for it and then decide when I build my new rig wither or not to just switch to Linux or keep dual booting.

[NaftaLord]

It's getting better, but linux needs more triple-A games and in some case better gpu drivers (amd any way)

Most linux games i've played via steam worked well exept Metro (seems to be amd gpu driver issue).

Linux is my main os and i got a minimal win7 partition to play some games on that dont have linux support.

So for now dual boot is the way to when it comes to games.