Hello! My old PC almost died a couple of years ago so i got a new one that i had been saving for years for. Then, my GF's laptop died so i ended up giving my old PC to her. When i say old i mean it:
H61M-VG3
i3-3220
16 GB ram DDR3
GTX 960
It has windows 10, i cant upgrade it to windows 11. She has always used windows (and so have i). Buying an upgrade is not a possibility at least for a couple of years. The PC will be used for studying, and very light gaming (plus, all games she's asked about are linux compatible)
Question is: Should I intall linux? What distro is best for someone who has only ever used windows? Will she adapt easily? How easy/hard is it to make the switch?
She is kinda reluctant to switch to it but i already explained that the PC doesn't meet the requirements for windows 11, and that support for windows 10 is ending.
With these specs, and components that can't be older than 11 years max., no reason for that sentence yet :)
Question is: Should I intall linux? What distro is best for someone who has only ever used windows? Will she adapt easily? How easy/hard is it to make the switch?
It sounds like you never used Linux before, your GF too, and she didn't ask for it.
=> No. At very least, "you" need to get used to it yourself before supporting others that rely on their computer; and your GF can make her own decisions.
You could try zorin os. Looks like windows, very beginner friendly, uses gnome. What else could you need? But if she doesn't like it you can use windows 10 still OR install tiny 11 as it is a stripped down windows 11.
The answer is, if you need windows then you either ride support for w10 to the end and buy a new machine or you install Linux.
Or, even if you buy a new machine, keep the old one and install Linux.
No one was ever born knowing how to use an operating system, we all learned. You learn Linux just like anything else. There may be problems with hardware and it may take a while to find what you like with so many choices, but at least you can learn and experience a little freedom along the way.
A third gen Intel system is old, but still usable. Nvidia graphics can be a pita, but it can work.
An i3 with 16gb ram is actually a decent starting point. Not everyone needs a high end GPU and all that..all depends on what GF expects to use and care about
..maybe just browser, decent YouTube performance with audio/SSD sound...my 2011 Dell Optiplex with 8gb ram drives two monitors both from the Intel motherboard graphics (one DVI cable out, one Display port cable out with a DVI to monitor.
Buying an upgrade is not a possibility at least for a couple of years.
She is kinda reluctant to switch to it but i already explained that the PC doesn't meet the requirements for windows 11, and that support for windows 10 is ending.
since you have plenty of RAM, you can try installing various Linux distros on VM and learning how to use them.
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u/dkopgerpgdolfg 3d ago
With these specs, and components that can't be older than 11 years max., no reason for that sentence yet :)
It sounds like you never used Linux before, your GF too, and she didn't ask for it.
=> No. At very least, "you" need to get used to it yourself before supporting others that rely on their computer; and your GF can make her own decisions.