Arch Linux
You build it, you read the wiki, you get exactly what you asked for. The wiki is the real product.
Facts
- Family
- arch
- Based on
- independent
- Release model
- Rolling
- Current
- rolling
- Init system
- systemd
- Default desktop
- None, you choose
- NVIDIA
- The nvidia packages; legacy cards need the AUR 580 branch.
- Systemd-free
- No
- 32-bit support
- No
- As of
- 2026-10-09
How the chooser scores it
Scores run from 1 to 5, and 5 is best for the user. They are opinion with a spreadsheet.
- StabilityStability: 3 out of 5
- Easy installEasy install: 2 out of 5
- Daily comfortDaily comfort: 3 out of 5
- Docs and helpDocs and help: 3 out of 5
- Fresh softwareFresh software: 5 out of 5
- GamingGaming: 4 out of 5
- DevelopmentDevelopment: 5 out of 5
- Old hardwareOld hardware: 4 out of 5
- ControlControl: 5 out of 5
- LightnessLightness: 5 out of 5
- NVIDIA, recent cardsNVIDIA, recent cards: 4 out of 5
- NVIDIA, older cardsNVIDIA, older cards: 2 out of 5
Caveats
- There is no handholding installer by default. Every decision is yours.
- Rolling updates: read the news page before big upgrades.
- NVIDIA 590 dropped Pascal, Maxwell and Volta cards. Those need the legacy 580 branch (AUR nvidia-580xx-dkms), which gets security fixes only until October 2028.
Community
Rate this distro and read what other people think of it.
Fetching opinions from the void...