this post was submitted on 02 Mar 2026
36 points (97.4% liked)

Linux Gaming

25226 readers
294 users here now

Discussions and news about gaming on the GNU/Linux family of operating systems (including the Steam Deck). Potentially a $HOME away from home for disgruntled /r/linux_gaming denizens of the redditarian demesne.

This page can be subscribed to via RSS.

Original /r/linux_gaming pengwing by uoou.

No memes/shitposts/low-effort posts, please.

Resources

Help:

Launchers/Game Library Managers:

General:

Discord:

IRC:

Matrix:

Telegram:

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Hey everyone, I'm looking for a cheap, old laptop to put Linux on and mess around with. I mainly want to see if I can find replacement software for some of the stuff I do on my Windows desktop, but maybe also some light gaming with Steam and Heroic launcher. I'd like to get some opinions on what brands/models I should be looking for on Craiglist/Ebay/etc.? Thanks!

all 16 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Skullgrid@lemmy.world 22 points 1 month ago (1 children)

tell you want you DON'T want : two graphics processors/cards. Especially not nvidia/intel.

[–] Klanky@sopuli.xyz 2 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Ha and I'm looking at an AMD Radeon R5 M330 and Intel® HD Graphics 620 combo Lenovo right now I found on Craigslist. Why do you say to avoid it?

[–] Skullgrid@lemmy.world 3 points 4 weeks ago

because it's a pain to set up offloading "muxing"

https://lemmy.world/post/43248486/22192675

https://lemmy.world/post/43208560/22173597

Do some research into how well they play together with muxing. It's AMD, but I'm not sure if it's more on the motherboard or what.

Certain games offload better than others for me, so it's not *exactly* the nvidia graphics card that's to blame for me, but whatever.

[–] President@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 month ago (2 children)

You can always set up dual boot on the windows desktop. Be warned though it is a slippery slope... I did that to test it out and then just didn't log back in to windows.

[–] BladeFederation@piefed.social 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

You'll probably want a second boot drive too. Windows updates like to eat GRUB sometimes.

[–] RichieRich@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Not booting up Windows means no updates. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[–] BladeFederation@piefed.social 1 points 4 weeks ago

Someday... someday.

[–] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

yep, this is how I made my transition into linux

Set up dualbooting windows 7 and Linux.

I think I only booted into 7 once in the following year, to recover some stuff off the drive before nuking it.

[–] tal@lemmy.today 6 points 1 month ago (2 children)

If you're just looking to experiment to see what software's out there, if you can live without 3D acceleration, I'd probably recommend just setting up a VM on the desktop and running Linux in that.

If you're wanting to use it on a semi-serious basis, kind of depends on what price range you're wanting.

In the past, I've tended to use ThinkPads, which are not the cheapest brand out there, and are generally business-oriented rather than gaming -oriented. However, I prefer physical buttons, and they do have a built-in Synaptics trackpad with three physical buttons; Linux makes more use of the third button than does Windows, so this is convenient. They also had a long-running reputation for solid build quality (i.e. not having problems with hinges breaking or similar issues).

In general, I've been less-happy with newer ThinkPads, and last I looked, many no longer have physical buttons.

That may not matter to you if you don't care about physical buttons or use a mouse/external trackpad/trackball or similar all the time with laptops.

ThinkPads also don't typically have terribly bright screens, which again, may or may not matter to you.

[–] fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

and last I looked, many no longer have physical buttons.

Physical TrackPoint buttons have been back for over a decade at this point. The *40 series dropped them, but the *50/*41 brought them back. The latest two P1s got rid of them, but those sure aint what OP is goin for.

[–] BladeFederation@piefed.social 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The what? goes to DuckDuckGo

Ohhhh. You mean the clit.

[–] PetteriPano@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Trackpoint, nipple or clit. Depending on the company you keep.

[–] BladeFederation@piefed.social 4 points 1 month ago

I've got a beaut for you in my closet. A whole gigabyte of RAM and a whole gigahertz. $2, no low balling, I know what I have.

[–] BlackLaZoR@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

Basically anything with AMD GPU or Intel GPU. You should avoid dual GPU systems as they're known to have issues with Linux.