I was shopping around for a new Arch based distro as I was having some issues with Manjaro and Garuda. Yes, I could install Arch. I have done this, and it was as annoying as Slackware back in the nineties. I suppose I could use the install script, basically how Omarchy does it, but why not check out something I have not tried?
No Arch manual install? My problem is that I like playing with new things and putting that much work into something to likely replace it seems silly, especially after installing and configuring Niri, Sway, and Hypeland on Arch. Niri is the best, btw. After configuring all that mess I just wanted to get up and running fast on my new laptop.
While I was looking at distros I saw CachyOS. I had not heard of it or ignored it. It seemed to be in the same vein as Garuda, which I really liked. I installed CachyOS on my old Dell and System 76 laptops and everything worked so well I was impressed enough to install on my new laptop. I really didn’t have to do much to get it doing what I want. Personally, I think it’s the best Linux experience I have had since Mandrake back in the mid 2ks.
Desktop Environment
When it comes to desktop environments I have stuck with Gnome for many years. I have tried others of course, but I kind of avoided KDE, which was my favorite DE during my Mandrake days. When I installed CachyOS I decided to give KDE a go. Wow! I must say I was floored at how good it is and how well it works in CachyOS. I think I am going to be running this for a long time.
System 76 (Clevo) Laptop Hardware
System 76 drivers on an old Oynx Pro and a new Serval WS are flawless! Cooling, power, backlights, everything is solid. I have occasional issues on other distros, mostly getting things setup or working regardless. CachyOS I had zero issues and everything runs great. I didn’t even install thermald.
Gaming
I have had 3DO, Mame, and most of my favorite games configured in Lutris for a long time and the GOG installs tend to work out of the box for most games I want to play. I mostly copy all the configs and files over with very little trouble. Like Garuda, the gaming installs make things quick to get setup for installs. I used the CachyOS gaming install for Wine, Lutris, etc. and everything just runs great. I have had some issues in Garuda on occasion, but on CachyOS I have had none. I am not sure if it is the better hardware or the latest kernel and Nvidia drivers with the new hardware, but I have had zero issues gaming with anything from new Windows games to my older classics on the Dell, older System 76, and the new one.
Software
Like with games I copy all my configs over from backups and everything works as expected. Nothing new there, but making music on this is a dream. I copied all my VST plugins over and installed Bitwig, Ardour (I like it sometimes), and Muse4 (I like it sometimes too) and everything works perfectly. Pipewire is just awesome. I did need to setup real time priority on the new laptop.
To setup real-time priority if Ardour complains
sudo pack -S realtime-privileges
Add your user to the real-time group: sudo usermod -aG realtime your_username
reboot
I have not setup Windows VSTs with Yabridge. I have not been using them as there are plenty of open source plugins and with Atlas 2 and U-He I don’t think I care. Hell, with Bitwig, you get can everything done without VSTs.
The driver for my XP-Pen Tablet installed with no issues and the tablet works as expected.
Performance
On all three laptops I think it feels snappier than Gnome on Manjaro. Garuda I don’t notice much difference. I thought KDE would be heavy, but it doesn’t seem to be. Theming on Plasma KDE is fast since it is done though GUIs and the Plasmoids (desktop widgets) are mostly good too.
Stability
So far after weeks everything is still awesome. Everything just works and I have not had to fix, tweak, or change anything. I am hard on my systems doing a ton of different things and installing tons of software so only time will tell. Like I said earlier, this is the best Linux I have run in a long time.
In closing
I honestly think people switching from Windows should take a good look at CachyOS or Garuda or even Manjaro for that matter. I think Arch works very well and KDE makes the transition pretty seamless. I am tired of hearing Windows users should go to Mint. Mint is good, but Arch based distros are not any more complicated then Mint or Ubuntu. Anyway, I think CachyOS is bad ass!
You can’t leave without screenshots!
