Help! Is Linux right for gaming?

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teddy baltz

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Feb 16, 2014
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Hi,
I'm doing my first pc build and have run into a HUGE problem: windows 7 is very expensive, and Linux seems to not be for gaming. Do you guys know whether Linux is good for gaming? I mostly want high fps. Also, what version is best? and if Linux isn't for gaming, where can I get windows 7 cheap, without it being a free trial or weird deal?
Thanks!
 
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RandomUs3er

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Jan 22, 2014
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No, linux is not great for gaming. 70% of good games will only be playable on windows (bf4, ac4, cod, etc)
Windows 7 is on sale for 64 dollars from snagstuff, but if you can, buy it from a trusted dealer (cannot guarantee same price) Also, if it ends up being 90-100 dollars, buy windows 8.1 oem instead. You will not find a cheap version of windows, unless u pirate and crack a copy, but DO NOT DO that.
 
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Veske

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teddy baltz wrote:
Hi,
I'm doing my first pc build and have run into a HUGE problem: windows 7 is very expensive, and Linux seems to not be for gaming. Do you guys know whether Linux is good for gaming? I mostly want high fps. Also, what version is best? and if Linux isn't for gaming, where can I get windows 7 cheap, without it being a free trial or weird deal?
Thanks!
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This really bothers me so I would јuѕt lіkе tο іntеrјесt fοr а mοmеnt. Wһаt уοu'rе rеfеrrіng tο аѕ Lіnux, іѕ іn fасt, GΝU/Lіnux, οr аѕ Ι'vе rесеntlу tаkеn tο саllіng іt, GΝU рluѕ Lіnux. Lіnux іѕ nοt аn οреrаtіng ѕуѕtеm untο іtѕеlf, but rаtһеr аnοtһеr frее сοmрοnеnt οf а fullу funсtіοnіng GΝU ѕуѕtеm mаdе uѕеful bу tһе GΝU сοrеlіbѕ, ѕһеll utіlіtіеѕ аnd vіtаl ѕуѕtеm сοmрοnеntѕ сοmрrіѕіng а full OS аѕ dеfіnеd bу ΡOSΙX.

Mаnу сοmрutеr uѕеrѕ run а mοdіfіеd vеrѕіοn οf tһе GΝU ѕуѕtеm еvеrу dау, wіtһοut rеаlіzіng іt. Τһrοugһ а ресulіаr turn οf еvеntѕ, tһе vеrѕіοn οf GΝU wһісһ іѕ wіdеlу uѕеd tοdау іѕ οftеn саllеd "Lіnux", аnd mаnу οf іtѕ uѕеrѕ аrе nοt аwаrе tһаt іt іѕ bаѕісаllу tһе GΝU ѕуѕtеm, dеvеlοреd bу tһе GΝU Ρrοјесt.

Τһеrе rеаllу іѕ а Lіnux, аnd tһеѕе реοрlе аrе uѕіng іt, but іt іѕ јuѕt а раrt οf tһе ѕуѕtеm tһеу uѕе. Lіnux іѕ tһе kеrnеl: tһе рrοgrаm іn tһе ѕуѕtеm tһаt аllοсаtеѕ tһе mасһіnе'ѕ rеѕοurсеѕ tο tһе οtһеr рrοgrаmѕ tһаt уοu run. Τһе kеrnеl іѕ аn еѕѕеntіаl раrt οf аn οреrаtіng ѕуѕtеm, but uѕеlеѕѕ bу іtѕеlf; іt саn οnlу funсtіοn іn tһе сοntеxt οf а сοmрlеtе οреrаtіng ѕуѕtеm. Lіnux іѕ nοrmаllу uѕеd іn сοmbіnаtіοn wіtһ tһе GΝU οреrаtіng ѕуѕtеm: tһе wһοlе ѕуѕtеm іѕ bаѕісаllу GΝU wіtһ Lіnux аddеd, οr GΝU/Lіnux. All tһе ѕο-саllеd "Lіnux" dіѕtrіbutіοnѕ аrе rеаllу dіѕtrіbutіοnѕ οf GΝU/Lіnux.


Also, to answer to you question - yes, GNU/Linux is a very modest system to use for playing video games. In fact, many companies like Valve for instance are all ready pushing all their efforts into GNU/Linux systems.
This basically means that you can expect a very big amount of video games ported into the GNU/Linux systems and also you can expect the graphics card vendors to start contributing more to the GNU/Linux video drivers.
 
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Ijack

Ijack

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Do you refer to GNU / OS X and GNU / FreeBSD? If not, why not?

Only the most picky pedants have any objection to the term Linux being used to cover the totallity of a distribution. If it really bothers you then I would suggest that you get out a bit more - there are far more important things in the world to bother you than that.

@OP - I'm afraid that Linux doesn't really cut it as a games system unless you want to restrict yourself to the limited selection of games that have native Linux versions. Compared to the rest of the costs of a decent computer a copy of Windows is not a huge outlay.
 
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ex_bubblehead

ex_bubblehead

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Although, what with WINE getting better, and the recent opening up of Steam to Linux, the gaming situation is looking up somewhat.

 
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dmroeder

dmroeder

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Jan 15, 2005
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Indeed. Maybe he's hoping to get a hug from Richard Stallman.

As other said, "Linux" is not the OS of choice for gaming unless you only like the Valve titles that are available. You could of course try out Wine, but my guess is that if you are not already familiar with "Linux", then you will most likely be disappointed.

The nice thing about "Linux", is you are out nothing other than time if you want to try it out. Worst case is you won't like it and you can just switch to Windows. I'd encourage you to try Linux Mint (I prefer KDE edition).

I'd avoid putting a lot of effort into finding the cheapest deals on Windows 7. Most likely you will end up getting it from a questionable source. I'm not sure where you are from but I'd get an OEM copy from somewhere like Newegg. It will be a reasonable price and will be legit.
 
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Veske

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I am afraid I have to disagree here. It is very important to acknowledge the existence of GNU system, as it is the symbol of our technological freedom. Not using GNU in front of Linux is disrespectful for everything Richard Matthew Stallman and the free software movement has been working for.
Also the tone with which you called me was very disturbing. Are you really implying that anyone for fights for freedom is sort of a autistic? That is a very serious generalization!


EDIT:

Also as it seems many users here like to suggest the proprietary OS by MicroSoft - I would suggest to look at the Dreamspak program if you are a student. You can have free copies legally if the school you are going to takes part of it.
 
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teddy baltz

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Alright, from all these posts I have decided to take it that Linux(/GNU) is not best for gaming. since I have a computer that has windows 7 on it, could i use it's key and an ISO image on a disk?
 
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dmroeder

dmroeder

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As much as I don't like to recommend Windows, it is most likely the tool for the job for you. What games do you play? The valve titles that I have play really well in my distribution.

You can only use a Windows key one time. So if it is in use on a machine already, then you need to buy another key.

If you want to take a look at a distribution, I suggest that you install VMWare Player or VirtualBox (both free) on your Windows machine and try a couple of distributions in a virtual machine. This would be far from ideal for playing games, but at least you could get a look.
 
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dmroeder

dmroeder

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You are only allowed to use the license on one machine. If you have the full retail version, you can install it on a new machine as long as you don't have the license on your old machine. If you have an OEM version (usually comes with pre-built machines) then it is for the machine that it came with and that machine only. No installing it on a new machine
 
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