Best Linux Distribution

[PlayerReview]

So, the main thing that has kept me from being a true computer nerd is that I don't know much about Linux.

My next PC build, I plan on swithing to Linux. I don't need any real debate, but because I trust the Linux users here, what distribution would you suggest when I am dedicating it almost completely to gaming?

I know this question is rather vague and I apologize. Thank you for any replies.

Very good decision to switch to Linux.
I tried in the past a lot of Distributions, it's a hard decision to choose one because most of the time it's a matter of taste.

Ubuntu is one of the most used Desktop Distributions. Ubuntu is based on Debian. The most games I played on Ubuntu worked fine with no problems. Also Steam works very good on Ubuntu Another advantage is that the most games are easily to install as .deb file. (A executable file like .exe on Windows) Actually Ubuntu 12.10 have the Unity surface, but Ubuntu 13.04 will be available with Unity or with Gnome surface. Unity is not bad, I personally like it, but it needs more ressources than Gnome (I think so). And not everbody likes Unity.

Debian is another famous Distribution. Debian have the Gnome surface. Also as Ubuntu the most games are easily to install as .deb file. I didn't played a lot of games on Debian so I can't tell a lot about the performance. Maybe other users can tell more.

Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu. The surface is a bit Windows like and I think it's easy for migrators to use it. (that don't means that the other Distribution are more difficult to use) Also here I didn't played a lot of games.

Maybe some other users can tell more about their experiences.

But good decision to switch to Linux. Linux is a lot of better as Windows. I'm working as an IT specialist and a lot of other colleagues says the same about Linux.

[canj]

I love Linux, and it is never too late to learn. Ubuntu is a great way to go, there is one called Mageia that is quite popular as well.

Personally I don't use linux as much as I would like to, as 90% of what I use is either support in only Windows/Mac - and running in a VM just won't cut it. The laptop that I have it on usually sits there - and I rarely ever boot to it on my MacBook.


Ubuntu / Mageia

I agree with everybody else: if you want if for gaming, go for Ubuntu (any of its flavours), eve if only because it's the only Linux distro officially suported by Steam at the moment.

As matze404 point out Unity, the default desktop environment in the standard Ubuntu, is not very popular and it's got a bad reputation of hogging to many resources (which is true, but it's not the only one in giving a bad performance, and in many cases not by thaaaat much, see: http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=a ... tops&num=1). But anyway if you don't like it you can always install another one and switch over right away (there are many tutorials out there on how to do this), without waiting for the next release.

But beware! There's been some talk lately about Canonical (the company behind Ubuntu) wanting to abandon the X Window graphical server Ubuntu (and all the other Linux distros) runs on in favor of a new one called Mir. I'm not into all the technical issues at all but, as I understand it, the main problem would be losing compatibility between Ubuntu and the rest of the distros. And, most importantly from the remaining X Window-based-distros point of view, there's a real danger that hardware manufacturers (and Valve/Steam!) opt to give exclusive support to Ubuntu's new graphical server and ditch the old X Window, relegating that distros' users to use open source drivers, which generally give a lower performance than the proprietary ones (more info on this).
But again, if your only/main concern is gaming, then Ubuntu seems your safest bet in the medium/long run.