Debian stretch/stable, but with Mesa and the Linux kernel from stretch-backports/stable-backports?

Some relevant links:
https://www.debian.org/distrib/

https://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=libegl1-mesa&searchon=names&suite=all&section=all&sourceid=mozilla-search

https://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=linux-image-amd64&searchon=names&suite=all&section=all&sourceid=mozilla-search

Edit:
I read your post more carefully. I guess just Debian stable with its regular kernel and maybe nvidia-driver from stretch-backports/stable-backports, but a long time ago, when I used to use Nvidia, the proprietary driver from the stable repositories gave me no problems. I think needing bleeding-edge or bleeding-edge-ish drivers is an AMD "problem".

Relevant link:
https://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=nvidia-driver&searchon=names&suite=all&section=all&sourceid=mozilla-search

These days I only use Arch, Manjaro and Bunsenlabs (debian), so maybe wait for someone else to give opinion.

Debian is absolutely stable, maybe too stable for gaming.

I would probably suggest go to Manjaro or Ubuntu (although I hate ubuntu with passion).

Sparky Linux (also debian) is very nice too.

Quoting: s8as8aDebian stretch/stable, but with Mesa and the Linux kernel from stretch-backports/stable-backports?

Some relevant links:
https://www.debian.org/distrib/

https://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=libegl1-mesa&searchon=names&suite=all&section=all&sourceid=mozilla-search

https://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=linux-image-amd64&searchon=names&suite=all&section=all&sourceid=mozilla-search

Edit:
I read your post more carefully. I guess just Debian stable with its regular kernel and maybe nvidia-driver from stretch-backports/stable-backports.

Relevant link:
https://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=nvidia-driver&searchon=names&suite=all&section=all&sourceid=mozilla-search

Hmm , interesting , thank you.
I realize based on your PC info you use AMD , but , how much of a PITA is it to install Nvidia ?
On Arch it is just one command. Curios if Debian is more or less painful.

Quoting: lucinosThese days I only use Arch, Manjaro and Bunsenlabs (debian), so maybe wait for someone else to give opinion.

Debian is absolutely stable, maybe too stable for gaming.

I would probably suggest go to Manjaro or Ubuntu (although I hate ubuntu with passion).

Sparky Linux (also debian) is very nice too.

I don;t like Ubuntu either tbh , that's why I would opt for Mint.
Have not considered Sparky. Does it have good docs/repos ?

Quoting: razing32

Quoting: s8as8aDebian stretch/stable, but with Mesa and the Linux kernel from stretch-backports/stable-backports?

Some relevant links:
https://www.debian.org/distrib/

https://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=libegl1-mesa&searchon=names&suite=all&section=all&sourceid=mozilla-search

https://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=linux-image-amd64&searchon=names&suite=all&section=all&sourceid=mozilla-search

Edit:
I read your post more carefully. I guess just Debian stable with its regular kernel and maybe nvidia-driver from stretch-backports/stable-backports.

Relevant link:
https://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=nvidia-driver&searchon=names&suite=all&section=all&sourceid=mozilla-search

Hmm , interesting , thank you.
I realize based on your PC info you use AMD , but , how much of a PITA is it to install Nvidia ?
On Arch it is just one command. Curios if Debian is more or less painful.

As "painful" as apt-get install -y nvidia-driver (as root) (so, one command, like you say is the case with Arch). (With AMD, you don't even have to run any command whatsoever.) ;P

Quoting: s8as8a

Quoting: razing32

Quoting: s8as8aDebian stretch/stable, but with Mesa and the Linux kernel from stretch-backports/stable-backports?

Some relevant links:
https://www.debian.org/distrib/

https://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=libegl1-mesa&searchon=names&suite=all&section=all&sourceid=mozilla-search

https://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=linux-image-amd64&searchon=names&suite=all&section=all&sourceid=mozilla-search

Edit:
I read your post more carefully. I guess just Debian stable with its regular kernel and maybe nvidia-driver from stretch-backports/stable-backports.

Relevant link:
https://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=nvidia-driver&searchon=names&suite=all&section=all&sourceid=mozilla-search

Hmm , interesting , thank you.
I realize based on your PC info you use AMD , but , how much of a PITA is it to install Nvidia ?
On Arch it is just one command. Curios if Debian is more or less painful.

As "painful" as apt-get install -y nvidia-driver (as root). (With AMD, you don't even have to run any command whatsoever.) ;P

Cool :)

Quoting: razing32Have not considered Sparky. Does it have good docs/repos ?

It is Debian. It is to debian about what Antergos is to Arch (that close not the Manjaro-Arch relation, manjaro remains compatible in every way to Arch but is also independent, while Antergos is not independent).

Oh, about which ISO to use, net install is a small iso that relies mostly on an Internet connection, the CD 1 and DVD 1 are less reliant on an Internet connection, and those two should be the same in practice, where numbers 2 and above are just extra packages, so that you can still use the repositories without having an Internet connection, but if you have an Internet connection, the first iso should be enough, even if you need some packages it doesn't provide (because it can get them, if you allow the installer to use your Internet connection).

Quoting: s8as8aOh, about which ISO to use, net install is a small iso that relies mostly on an Internet connection, the CD 1 and DVD 1 are less reliant on an Internet connection, and those two should be the same in practice, where numbers 2 and above are just extra packages, so that you can still use the repositories without having an Internet connection, but if you have an Internet connection, the first iso should be enough, even if you need some packages it doesn't provide (because it can get them, if you allow the installer to use your Internet connection).

Would one of these work for my needs :
https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/unofficial/non-free/cd-including-firmware/9.5.0-live+nonfree/amd64/iso-hybrid/
?

Quoting: razing32

Quoting: s8as8aOh, about which ISO to use, net install is a small iso that relies mostly on an Internet connection, the CD 1 and DVD 1 are less reliant on an Internet connection, and those two should be the same in practice, where numbers 2 and above are just extra packages, so that you can still use the repositories without having an Internet connection, but if you have an Internet connection, the first iso should be enough, even if you need some packages it doesn't provide (because it can get them, if you allow the installer to use your Internet connection).

Would one of these work for my needs :
https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/unofficial/non-free/cd-including-firmware/9.5.0-live+nonfree/amd64/iso-hybrid/
?

If I'm correct, the link you gave is just for proprietary firmware (since Debian strips out anything proprietary by default, but makes it easy to re-install it/them).

Here's a direct link to what you want.:
https://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/current/amd64/bt-cd/debian-9.5.0-amd64-xfce-CD-1.iso.torrent

(The link I gave says "xfce", but it can install other desktop environments, instead of or in addition to Xfce, if you allow the installer to have access to the Internet. Also, the link I gave is the torrent version, which helps reduce the load on the Debian project's servers, as compared to the regular HTTPS download.)

Actually, from the link you gave, you can find ISOs that include the proprietary stuff by default.:
https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/unofficial/non-free/cd-including-firmware/9.5.0-live+nonfree/amd64/iso-hybrid/

(Personally, I'd rather have all the proprietary stuff stripped out and then choose which proprietary software, if any, to install, but some hardware, including network hardware may need such firmware to work.)

Oops! You pasted that same URL, but for some reason, right clicking and choosing to open the link in a new tab didn't point to that exact location.

You want a .iso file, the amd64 architecture, and then you choose which desktop environment you want.

So, if you want Cinanamon, then you'd choose.:
debian-live-9.5.0-amd64-cinnamon+nonfree.iso

The live ISOs are like Ubuntu's non-server installers, if I'm correct.

I find Debian 9 (Stable) rock solid for my needs, the software isn't bleeding edge but it's modern enough and it has a large repo. My typical usage is for compiling (mainly Wine and some open source games), music/video editing (Audacity/Kdenlive) and of course gaming, I'm also running VMWare Player with Debian 9 32bit for compiling.

The Nvidia drivers from the official website's .run packages can be installed without problems, I'm currently using 396.54.06.

I like it because of the flexibility and it's easy to create a full offline repo from the ISO's (The PC it's installed on isn't always connected to internet). It's currently installed on system with an Intel G4560 with GT1030 GPU.

Some things are a bit more complicated to setup when compared to Ubuntu/Mint, personally I see it as a good thing as it pushed me to learn more.

Quoting: s8as8aOops! You pasted that same URL, but for some reason, right clicking and choosing to open the link in a new tab didn't point to that exact location.

You want a .iso file, the amd64 architecture, and then you choose which desktop environment you want.

So, if you want Cinanamon, then you'd choose.:
debian-live-9.5.0-amd64-cinnamon+nonfree.iso

The live ISOs are like Ubuntu's non-server installers, if I'm correct.

Sure.
Will give them a look.
BTW , any issues with steam or gog games on debian ? or do they just "work" ?
Any issues running wine with steam or older games ?
EDIT:
Also discord ? how is that ?

Quoting: Avehicle7887I find Debian 9 (Stable) rock solid for my needs, the software isn't bleeding edge but it's modern enough and it has a large repo. My typical usage is for compiling (mainly Wine and some open source games), music/video editing (Audacity/Kdenlive) and of course gaming, I'm also running VMWare Player with Debian 9 32bit for compiling.

The Nvidia drivers from the official website's .run packages can be installed without problems, I'm currently using 396.54.06.

I like it because of the flexibility and it's easy to create a full offline repo from the ISO's (The PC it's installed on isn't always connected to internet). It's currently installed on system with an Intel G4560 with GT1030 GPU.

Some things are a bit more complicated to setup when compared to Ubuntu/Mint, personally I see it as a good thing as it pushed me to learn more.

Bleeding edge is not something I need tbh. I just liked Arch as I could customize my system from the ground up and install only what I needed.

So what do you recommend ? Nvidia from repo or official site ?

I don't mind complicated as long as I can do it once and forget about it. The last thing I want is a library update breaking my games when I am in the least mood to troubleshoot it.

If wine works good I am happy , have some Wine games I play with my windows friends.

I haven't used Gog, but Steam works well, without any issues that I have noticed. (Steam is available via the repositories.)

I'd recommend the nvidia-driver package from stable, and if that's not good enough (which it should be), I recommend the nvidia-driver package from stable-backports; I personally don't recommend installing drivers from upstream. (My recommendation is not based on it being easier to install via the repositories, which it is that too, I believe.)

One problem I had encountered that may still not have been fixed is the steam-devices package (software for making Steam Controller work - as well as the HTC Vice, I think, but I'm not sure) not making the Steam Controller working properly without one modifying udev rules. (Linux 4.18 and newer may change that, though, but I haven't tested anything (on my second Debian installation, which runs Debian testing) because I'm too busy.)

My Xbox 360 controller works perfectly, though.

Wine also works really well, at least in my experience. (I don't use Wine a lot.)

I don't use Discord, so I can't really give you any good information regarding that.

Quoting: razing32Will give them a look.
BTW , any issues with steam or gog games on debian ? or do they just "work" ?
Any issues running wine with steam or older games ?
EDIT:
Also discord ? how is that ?

I don't know about Steam but any GOG game I tried works perfectly for me. Wine gaming also works great. Discord works too.

As for nvidia drivers I usually go like this:

Switch to TTY#
sudo service lightdm stop
sudo ./nvidia_xxx.run
Installation is a straightforward ok > yes > yes > yes...etc.
sudo reboot

With Debian distros I've used this procedure for almost 5 years now, no issues.

Quoting: Avehicle7887

Quoting: razing32Will give them a look.
BTW , any issues with steam or gog games on debian ? or do they just "work" ?
Any issues running wine with steam or older games ?
EDIT:
Also discord ? how is that ?

I don't know about Steam but any GOG game I tried works perfectly for me. Wine gaming also works great. Discord works too.

As for nvidia drivers I usually go like this:

Switch to TTY#
sudo service lightdm stop
sudo ./nvidia_xxx.run
Installation is a straightforward ok > yes > yes > yes...etc.
sudo reboot

With Debian distros I've used this procedure for almost 5 years now, no issues.

About the run file method for installing the nvidia driver, if I'm correct, that doesn't automatically update itself, right? Also, there may be issues with "cruft" accumulating over the years from updating.

If one insists on using the run file method, perhaps it can be combined with checkinstall (to have the benefits of both, except for the automatic updating)?

Also, to razing32, I recall having to have an /etc/X11/xorg.conf file with the following text in it (or something similar to it, but the exact text below should work).:
Section "Device"
Identifier "MyNvidiaGpu"
Driver "nvidia"
EndSection

Sorry for not having mentioned this before; I had forgotten about it. (Also, for what it's worth, for AMD, I need to install firmware-amd-graphics for it to work properly; I had also forgotten about that, so sorry about that too.)

Quoting: s8as8aAlso, to razing32, I recall having to have an /etc/X11/xorg.conf file with the following text in it (or something similar to it, but the exact text below should work).:
Section "Device"
Identifier "MyNvidiaGpu"
Driver "nvidia"
EndSection

Sorry for not having mentioned this before; I had forgotten about it. (Also, for what it's worth, for AMD, I need to install firmware-amd-graphics for it to work properly; I had also forgotten about that, so sorry about that too.)

Thanks for the heads up.
I will probably do the install during the weekend or early next week so not urgent.
Wanted to gather as much info as possible before.