What budget gaming laptops work well with Linux?

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 02:30:41 +0200 zuletzt bearbeitet: Sun, 03 Sep 2023 22:04:10 +0200

someguy3@lemmy.ca

I’ve seen stuff about Nvidia ~~cards~~ not working well with Linux, is that true?

If one was in the market for a new laptop anyway, would you recommend not getting nvidia and going with AMD?

I’m currently intrigued by the Lenovo LOQ line (full size numpad). Not buying anytime soon, just scoping out good brands and ideas.

*Primary role is laptop productivity, secondary role is maybe patient gaming, so I’m ok with budget gaming. Going Linux is not guaranteed, but maybe in the future because windows keeps getting more nuts. So I’m looking for info to make sure Linux is possible.

*I want this to last a long time, 10 years should be easy.

show all 29 comments

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 02:32:24 +0200

simple

simple@lemm.ee

AMD does tend to have better support but Nvidia GPUs work fine nowadays. Pretty much any laptop you buy should work fine out of the box, so just get something that has decent specs.

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 03:19:00 +0200

sugar_in_your_tea

sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works

I generally recommend looking for something with Intel Wi-Fi, and it’s not just because Intel Wi-Fi works better on Linux, but because companies that include Intel Wi-Fi generally seem to have better hardware across the board.

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 03:24:42 +0200

Drew Belloc

drew_belloc@programming.dev

I have a pc with a old nvidia gpu (gt 635), i have only had 2 problems with it, wayland runs really slow and plasma not even open in wayland, the other problem only happens on arch linux where most of my steam games don’t work or don’t work well on the native steam client, but works fine in the flatpak version, but i don’t have that problem in pop os. So i would say that old nvidia gpus may have some problems, but it don’t seem to be a real problem, but if you can go with amd it will be a better option

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 04:34:22 +0200

s20

s20@lemmy.ml

I’d recommend AMD over Nvidia for a linux laptop, but it’s not as big a deal as it used to be. Most distros have good Nvidia support, although you often have to install the proprietary drivers after installing the OS. Even distros like Nobara that have Nvidia images to DL have to install and update the drivers at first launch.

So either will work, but if you’ve got a choice, go with AMD. It’s just a smoother experience.

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 08:09:49 +0200

nik282000

nik282000@lemmy.ml

/cries in Debian

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 08:25:55 +0200

Helix 🧬

Helix@feddit.de

There is no such thing as a budget gaming laptop. Usually you’re better off getting a Steam Deck or a PC and a laptop.

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 08:45:20 +0200

Privatepower42

Privatepower42@fosstodon.org

@Helix @someguy3 what do you mean? Wouldn’t a budget gaming laptop get more FPS at higher settings? What kind of gaming laptop should one get? What’s mid range?

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 10:30:41 +0200 zuletzt bearbeitet: Fri, 01 Sep 2023 10:31:56 +0200

Ulu-Mulu-no-die

ulu_mulu@lemm.ee

Nvidia cards on desktops work very well, you just need to install proprietary drivers.

The problem with laptops is that they’re not dedicated cards anymore but an hybrid intel/nvidia that can give you a lot of headaches on Linux, I advise against it. No idea how AMD is on laptops.

If being cheap is a priority, I suggest getting a Steam Deck, it’s designed for gaming (unlike budget laptops) and it’s a PC. You can get a docking and connect whatever peripheral you want (mouse/keyboard/monitor/TV/whatever) and it has a desktop mode to be used as a “regular” PC if you need other things besides gaming.

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 11:08:15 +0200

0mega ☣ [hz]

0mega@social.c-r-t.tk

@Ulu-Mulu-no-die Just for the sake of completeness, AMD runs smooth even on laptops thanks to open source drivers but nowadays I'd also rather recommend getting a steam deck. My ASUS GL702ZC is more or less becoming a dust catcher since I have one.

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 12:03:56 +0200

Sonalder

sonalder@lemmy.ml

I will rather go with a second hand 2-3 years old premium laptop from a Linux manufacturer such as System76 or Tuxedo.

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 12:11:30 +0200

0mega ☣ [hz]

0mega@social.c-r-t.tk

/me runs Debian on his gaming laptop

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 12:25:48 +0200

nik282000

nik282000@lemmy.ml

So do I, it just hurts sometimes.

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 15:09:47 +0200

someguy3

someguy3@lemmy.ca

Thanks but I’m looking for a laptop for laptop functionality. Productivity is primary role, gaming secondary, that’s why I’m ok with budget gaming.

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 16:01:47 +0200

flashgnash

flashgnash@lemm.ee

There is also a company that makes shell laptops designed to plug into phones with USB c that you could use that I think go for around 100, plug that into a steam deck and it’s a fully fledged laptop

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 16:33:42 +0200

zingo

zingo@lemmy.ca

If being cheap is a priority, I suggest getting a Steam Deck, it’s designed for gaming (unlike budget laptops) and it’s a PC.

You can get a Legion 5 Pro with a 3060 and SSD 512GB for cheaper than a Steam Deck 512GB in my country, so I can’t say its a cheaper than a gaming laptop.

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 20:36:47 +0200

someguy3

someguy3@lemmy.ca

Another guy says that long term Nvidia is a problem with Linux. That support is dropped after some years. Thoughts?

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 20:41:42 +0200

simple

simple@lemm.ee

Some years? Maybe if you have a 10+ year old GPU. They’re supported for a really long time. The GTX 10xx series are still fully supported despite releasing in 2016 for example.

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 20:50:44 +0200 zuletzt bearbeitet: Fri, 01 Sep 2023 20:52:51 +0200

someguy3

someguy3@lemmy.ca

Here’s his exact comment:

When you buy Nvidia for Linux, you’re buying obsolescence. It will work fine for a while and then they’ll hard-drop driver support at a certain kernel version. Your 3d acceleration will last as long as you can run an LTS kernel compatible with it. You may have moved on by then, but I currently have 3 Nvidia laptops that have between limited and zero 3D support in Linux. If I cared to run Windows or MacOS, 3D would still work. MacOS would also be outdated, though. In the future, I’m going AMD only.

I am looking to keep laptops for a long long time.

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 20:55:26 +0200

simple

simple@lemm.ee

I’m not sure what GPUs he has but they must be very old. You don’t have to worry about this unless you really care about keeping your laptop for around 10 years or more.

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 20:58:49 +0200

someguy3

someguy3@lemmy.ca

Well I do. Is 10 years a hard line?

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 21:11:31 +0200

simple

simple@lemm.ee

Not really, but it’s a rough estimate. If you want something to be supported for a much longer time then an AMD gpu is probably s good idea since their drivers are open source.

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 21:41:30 +0200

someguy3

someguy3@lemmy.ca

Any brands you recommend?

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 21:45:25 +0200

simple

simple@lemm.ee

Lenovo and ASUS are pretty good. Avoid some of the lower end gaming laptops, they usually have heating issues. Avoid MSI and Dell, I’ve heard nothing but complaints. In general just do research before buying the laptop and you’ll be fine.

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 22:29:58 +0200

Kangie

Kangie@lemmy.srcfiles.zip

hybrid intel/nvidia that can give you a lot of headaches on Linux

Nah, nowadays we just use PRIME render offload via prime-run and things “just work”.

The whole hybrid Optimus/Bumblebee graphics switcheroo was a terrible idea and I’m glad it died an ignoble death.

Sat, 02 Sep 2023 06:38:21 +0200

droopy4096

droopy4096@lemmy.ca

I’ve got Acer Nitro5 this year on sale ($800) and love it. Hidden perk: memory can be bumped to 64G. I do play slightly older titles so can’t say for newer ones.

Sat, 02 Sep 2023 09:51:07 +0200

TheAnonymouseJoker

TheAnonymouseJoker@lemmy.ml

Any AMD dGPU laptop. If you are not running some of the high end games, you can get away with just the iGPU on 5th gen and above Ryzen CPUs with either medium settings or 720p resolution. GTA V included.

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 21:24:46 +0200

Xoa Gray

xoagray@pawb.social

I bought a Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3 for $600 US and use it with Garuda Linux. Everything works as expected and the onboard GTX1650 MaxQ handles gaming just fine. The hybrid graphics even work just fine with no fiddling around at all.

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 08:03:17 +0200

Helix 🧬

Helix@feddit.de

Good “budget” gaming laptops are still about $2000. If you buy a good used laptop and a low range gaming PC you pay the same but don’t have to lug around a 3kg laptop with loud fans and lots of heat output, bad battery life and next to no repairability, just to still have less FPS than a similarly priced PC+laptop combo.

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 08:04:36 +0200

Helix 🧬

Helix@feddit.de

*I want this to last a long time, 10 years should be easy.

LOL.