this post was submitted on 16 Aug 2023
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So I have a situation. I really want to switch to Linux as my main gaming/production OS but need the Adobe suite as I am a graphic designer. Adobe is the golden standard for this industry (and likely to always be) so while Gimp and Inkscape might work, they are not feasible for my career. I also know that there will be situations where games just don't run well or at all on Linux.

Dualbooting works but is not really worth it for me as I would have to stop what I'm doing and restart my PC. I heard that you can set up a single GPU passthrough for games and software but it seems complicated. How difficult would that be to set up for a new user to Linux? I would consider myself a tech savvy person but I know very little about the ins and outs of Linux. I have a massive GPU (XFX RX 6900 XT) with a big support bracket that covers the second PCIE slot so buying another GPU isn't really feasible either.

I do have an Unraid server with decent specs that I use for a hosting Minecraft servers and Jellyfin so setting up a VM on that might be a good option.

What would you guys recommend me to do?

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[–] OmltCat 1 points 10 months ago (6 children)

I guess a better question to ask is: WHY do you want to switch to Linux. Is there a compelling yet specific reason. Abstract things like “better privacy” is not that valid for regular folks. You can tweak enough things in windows with group policy/registry to make it just okay. Surely it’s not out of the box but you only need to do it once, and I imagine this will only take a fraction of the time you would otherwise spend troubleshooting Linux.

If there are specific Linux things you need to run, why not use your server or even WSL?

As much as I love Linux, my main gaming/video production PC will always be windows.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Yeah, I'll go with name people here and say such with Windows.

If work provide you a machine, then use separate machines for work and home needs. If you're freelance, when you need to upgrade, plan it well and buy a second machine that is better for gaming/productivity. Now you have two machines and can separate your life.

[–] gaiussabinus 1 points 10 months ago

I have a 6900xt as well and it works fine. I use linux mint. I have not been back to windows except for VR and i am looking at getting that running as well. Mint tends to run packages made for ubuntu and debian with minimal hassle. I do not use photo shop but blender gets a performance uplift from being on linux. Ai workloads do well on this setup with the caveat that the support for the 6900xt involves tracking down obscure forum posts to get torch to recognize the gpu.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Earlier I left a comment that maybe Zorin OS could make it work... nevermind, I found their own page where they provide suggestions for alternates:

https://help.zorin.com/docs/apps-games/alternatives-to-windows-apps/

which may be helpful in it's own way, even if Adobe apps still won't work.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

I would basically setup a windows Server with Remoteapp then use freeRDP on linux to run Adobe software. But note that some software need a GPU or it will be slow. Photoshop will be fine. But aftereffect and premiere may need a GPU. Best option would be a separate work and private computer for security this will separate a little work and private stuff.

https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/wiki/RemoteApp

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

If you like to switch to linux but use windows software you can dual boot or even better setup an Virtual Machine for windows with second GPU and have two in one pc.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Get a Mac for Adobe related stuff, install Linux on your other machine. /thread

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Have you looked at Krita and Blender?

[–] mrvictory1 1 points 10 months ago

Can you get away with old versions of Adoba suite? Latest versions typically don't work but you may be able to get old versions running without dual boot by using Wine.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (3 children)

buy a used m1 Mac book with 16GB ram or a janky garage sale (x64) laptop and install puppy Linux.

Also, a rasberry pie is like $40; an intel nuc is <$200. Inexpensive ways to learn without killing your breadbasket.

Why run one when you can run two?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I really want to find a decent laptop that I can tinker on. I have a raspberry pi laying around too. I might do that.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Doesn’t need to be decent fwiw.

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Best option: Use Linux and alternatives to Adobe stuff, if possible. These programs continue to evolve, at some point you might not need the Adobe stuff anymore.

Second best option: Use Linux and run the Adobe stuff inside a Windows VM. GPU passthrough is not that difficult to configure if you need it. You can run your Windows games on Linux in many cases, so it's most likely not needed to run a Windows VM with GPU passthrough just for gaming.

Third best option: Use OS X instead of Windows or Linux, and run the Adobe stuff on OS X (it's also natively supported there)

Worst option: Continue to use Windows

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

You're ignoring that adobe software also evolves. FOSS alternatives have never caught up.

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[–] [email protected] -5 points 10 months ago (2 children)

they are not feasible for my career

LOL I know a number of professional designers who use free software. Just because you (clearly) don't know any, doesn't mean they don't exist.

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