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What budget gaming laptops work well with Linux? (lemmy.ca)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by someguy3@lemmy.ca to c/linux_gaming@lemmy.ml

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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.

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[–] ulu_mulu@lemm.ee 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (4 children)

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.

[–] 0mega@social.c-r-t.tk 4 points 1 year ago

@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.

[–] someguy3@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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.

[–] flashgnash@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

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

[–] Kangie@lemmy.srcfiles.zip 1 points 1 year ago

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.

[–] zingo@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago

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.