this post was submitted on 11 Nov 2024
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Anyone know where I can buy a gaming PC with linux preinstalled instead of windows?
Pretty much all modern Linux installers offer to wipe the existing drive and overwrite. Just prepare a USB drive and boot from it, then follow the steps in the wizard.
Create bootable media - Linux Mint
Always remember to disable secureboot and remove bitlocker before installing linux on a oem windows machine. They make it hell to remove that malware from newer machines.
Bitlocker doesn't mean anything when you delete its partition.
I would recommend keeping secure boot enabled if your OS supports it, and manually enrolling the key if it doesn't. Boot chain attacks are a real concern.
Some linux installers will refuse to erase the bitlocker partition automatically. Then you have to manually erase it before running the installer.
I get that, and this is likely what I will do for my existing PCs. The reason I ask is three fold: 1) To save time. I don’t have a ton of spare time, so I would rather spend it gaming than messing around with wiping drives and installing stuff. 2) To encourage my friends to switch over, many of whom are less likely to spend time and effort than I am. 3) This is less important, but wouldn’t I be paying for a windows license I won’t even use? Not a fan of wasting the money, not a fan of paying Microsoft for a service I’m actively fighting to get away from.
Nonetheless, thanks, I will try to find some time to fiddle with installing on an older machine I have and see how that goes.
Maybe one of these?
https://system76.com/desktops/
https://www.dell.com/en-us/search/linux
https://www.tuxedocomputers.com/
And for those on the other side of the Atlantic, there are several computer shops that will just put a computed together for you without an OS.
Here's a random example "configure your own computer" from a computer shop in France. In this one the OS (Système d'exploitation) is not included and you have to pay extra for it.
In my experience with custom assemblies like this the OS is never included.
When I live in the UK at some point I've even used of these kind of stores there to get a custom notebook.
It's basically an "assemble your own computer" for people who don't know how to do it and aren't confident enough to try (understandable given that the parts value of a whole desktop PC adds up to at least €1000 so there generally is some fear of fucking it up if you've never done it before).
Writing this on a Tuxedo Pulse 14 gen 3 - great laptop, flawless Linux support and a coding workstation. Perfect for a bit of eg. Disco Elysium or Crusader Kings 3 on the go, but it's no gaming machine; it has a lot of pixels for a Radeon 780M to push. They do have a list of gaming laptops, though, if you wanted a speciality machine?
I have a system76 machine. It's been really good with steam. Or a steam deck, it's just a PC.
Their laptops are not worth it if I'm honest. They have issues with the hinges. I had two of them give out. They use a very cheap plastic. But you are guaranteed no driver issues if you use PoPOS on their own machines.
Just build one, cheaper to boot.
Ew and buy components? No thank you, just mine, smelt, and build them, cheaper to boot.
Well...you're not wrong.
It's the specialized tools you'll also need to do all of that that'll get you, though.
Easy peasy just 3D print the tools. CPU and GPU fabrication in your garage. 😁
TSMC hates this one easy trick!
At least when it came to a laptop, I bought mine without a preinstalled OS - that is far more common than preinstalled Linux.
Build one!
I built one — took about 4 hours once all the parts arrived. My first build. Installed Linux Mint from a flash drive and it worked perfectly. Ended up switching to Zorin OS later — also works fine.
I have been able to play every game I wanted, except one requiring a VR headset.
Were you able to play other games requiring a VR headet?
Didn’t really try. Couldn’t get SteamVR working without lots of hacking. I ended up buying a smaller second hard drive and installing windows just for that use. Once I was done with that game, I haven’t booted into Windows since, as there is no reason to.
System76, Dell, HP.
That said, I feel it's very worth taking an evening to backup and install yourself
Steam deck maybe
Yeah, you buy a gaming PC with Windows and you insert a USB stick and install Linux. Otherwise, you'll be paying a high premium for a company that does basically the same thing. Things to look out for are try to find a PC with Intel networking and bluetooth adapters. Realtek is relatively well supported, but has been known to have issues.
If gaming is top priority. Go all amd, disregard Nvidia. AMD has extraordinary linux support and if it runs on the steam deck it will run on any all AMD machine.
if your work involving CUDA then nvidia is the only option.
True, but Nvidia has come a long way and I believe announced support in the recent months, but don't quote me on the last part. I have a desk and laptop both with Nvidia GPUs, and I don't have any issues. Wayland did not work until 4-6 months ago, but everything is pretty stable now.
My biggest fear is that so far Nvidia has a track record of introducing regressions and new bugs with each new driver version. Just a week ago all my flatpaks weren't working on Wayland, again. It happens almost with every single update. Some games that are native or platinum randomly stop working and it takes several updates before they start working again. While on AMD everything just works all the time and regressions are solved in a day not weeks. It's just annoying.
That's fair. My next build will be AMD. I only switched to Linux the past December, and I already had my gear, so it is what it is for now. Further, my case is too small for new GPUs, so I'm riding my 2080ti to the end.
System76, tuxedo computers or for handheld a steam deck
As others have mentioned, it's incredibly easy to install yourself. You just need a flash drive and another device with internet access.
If you're gaming, I'm using Garuda Dragonized, which is set up for gaming. I've liked it and seen many others like it too. Regardless, KDE is probably the DE you want if you're coming from Windows, but there are plenty of others you may prefer.
You probably can't get it pre-installed, which I think is probably monopolistic if the only OS choice presented to customers is Windows. That's how it's spread so far, not because it's easier. The issue with pre-installing is they'd either have to let you choose from a ton of options or just limit your choices. It's easier to let the customer handle it.
System76 desktop is not gaming per se but it will game
They develop PopOS which is one of the better "normie" linux distros and supports nvidia gpus if you cuda is ur thing.
I'm sure if you searched for stuff nearby you could find a small local shop who could help you out.