Shortly after retiring seven years ago, I decided it was time to get a new desktop computer. Armed with the encouragement of my adult son, I began researching options for building a Windows 10 pc. This is what I came up with.
Amazingly, this machine has worked amazingly well. No issues, just does its thing. All is well. I’ve pretty much ignored the Windows 11 upgrade, secure boot and TPM require me to install a new motherboard.
However, after reading a series of articles starting with this one, I will either continue to ignore everything until I can’t, run Windows on an unsupported machine, or switch to Linux. I have no platform loyalty having installed and run Linux, Mac OS, and Windows for decades. What do you think?
I also have a desktop computer from about 7 years ago that performs satisfactorily. But I’ve kind of already replaced it with a Chromebook that I picked up with a broken display for $75. Since I’m not a gamer I don’t really need much, just enough performance to browse and run Office 365.
Love the $75 Chromebook. Respect.
I recently switched away from Windows 11 to Nobara Linux after reading about the privacy nightmare recall was going to be. (and I don’t want AI shoved down my throat). It’s been mostly pain-free and I currently would not switch back.
Unless you need Adobe or desktop MS Office I think Linux is a very fine alternative these days. Especially with some very good user friendly options out there like Zorin OS.
If you like Chromebooks Google offers Chrome OS Flex these days as well.
Edit: I also see that you went with an all AMD machine, which has excellent hardware support on Linux.
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Thank you! Nobara or Zorin look great and in alignment with my needs/wants. I was hoping for some recommended Linux flavors!
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I like Nobara a lot so far, it’s a bit rougher around the edges but video games are very easy. They have a discord you can ask for help with issues on as well.
I’ve been running Linux Mint for about 10 years. It has a Windows-like UI, has regular upgrades, works pretty much flawlessly.
The system requirements for Mint are very low, the system you have is more than adequate.
I do run Windows 10 in a virtual machine for a few applications that require Windows.
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I have heard good things about mint, and appreciate that it’s been around for a while.
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If you have particular Windows applications that you just have to use, check out projects like Wine or Bottles to see if your application is supported. These are API mapper projects that allow Windows programs to run under Linux with varying levels of success. The general rule is: The more complicated the application, the less likely it is to work smoothly. The compatibility lists are the best resource since some applications get more work put in than others.
I’ve been running Linux Slackware since the early days of Windows 3.1. Probably not the distribution you want to use if you’re not extremely technical. I have several versions of Windows kicking around in Virtual Machines for those rare occasions when I need it for something. KVM/QEMU if you’re curious.
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I tried Zorin out on a flash drive. It appears to meet my needs. I will also give Mint a try. I can’t think of a MS app that I need or want to use.
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I’ve been curious about Linux for a while and have been following this topic on and off. One dilemma for me has been the relative scarcity of Linux distros for the ARM64 chip architecture.
I’ve owned Mac hardware dating back to 1990. My current Macs are a Mac mini and a MacBook Air. Both are powered by Apple’s M4 Apple Silicon chip. Apple Silicon is based on ARM64. I also have an M1 MacBook Air and an older Intel based MacBook but the battery in that Intel based MacBook is pretty much shot. All in all, I prefer to play with Linux on one of my newer Apple Silicon based Macs.
Unfortunately, to the best of my limited Linux knowledge, none of the distros mentioned here offer ARM64 support. Eventually, I discovered elementary OS. When I first discovered elementary, it too lacked official support for ARM64. elementary is, however, built on Ubuntu, which does support ARM64 and I stumbled across a guide for installing elementary’s Pantheon desktop on top of Ubuntu Server for ARM64 effectively giving me elementary OS for ARM64. More recently - December of 2025 - the developers behind elementary released an official build for ARM64. so installing on top of Ubuntu server is no longer needed.
I should note I’m using elementary via a VM on my M4 MacBook Air. I’ve used both UTM (open source) and Parallels Desktop (commercial) successfully. I’ve owned a license for Parallels dating to when I once needed to use Windows only software for work.
As an aside, the only Linux distro - of which I’m aware - that runs bare metal on Apple Silicon based Macs is Asahi. Even then, only older M1 and M2 chips are currently supported. As time permits, I hope to give Asahi a try on my M1 MacBook Air. Currently, the M1 MacBook Air is running beta releases of Apple’s macOS Tahoe while I wait for Apple to squash a specific bug with the Mac Music app before moving to Tahoe on my daily driver Macs.
I had Macs exclusively until I retired several years ago. That said, it seems like the barriers for a Mac to Linux migration outweigh the potential benefits. Perhaps the best way to play with Linux is with an older, gently used PC desktop (aka super cheap) or full size laptop. I have really liked Zorin, clean interface, frequent updates.
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Good advice, however, cost aside, I prefer not to add another piece of hardware to the collection right now. If anything, I’m trying to reduce clutter - technology and otherwise.
I do have older Intel based Mac laptops that could be repurposed for Linux. The batteries are shot but I’d be no more tethered than using a PC desktop.
As the ARM64 platform matures, I expect additional Linux distros will be ported. Arch, Debian, Fedora, openSUSE, Ubuntu, etc. upon which many derivatives such as the distros mentioned in this topic are based already support ARM64.
I managed to get the Zorin repositories added to an Ubuntu ARM64 install using a VM on my M4 Mac mini, so I can take the Zorin desktop for a spin. At first glance, I don’t see anything that makes me like it better than elementary but there’s always the chance I’ll change my mind. I appreciate your starting the topic. 
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More potential bad news for those still running Windows 10:
Microsoft’s efforts under the umbrella of security remind me of a Helen Keller quote:
Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
Is a digital world more or less secure than analog? How does it matter?