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_edge ,

Yes, it’s called Linux. Just boot any live usb and you’ll see.

I get what you are asking: Why try hundred distros, just tell me the one that works, but I’m not aware of any such tool. If an open-source driver exists the kernel is really good at auto-detecting everything and make it work.

DasFaultier ,

Yes, such a program is called an installer. /s

Sorry, I don’t have an answer for you that’s more helpful than the rest of the comments here, they all did well. I second booting a live system.

MentalEdge , (edited )
@MentalEdge@sopuli.xyz avatar

What works/doesn’t work is mostly down to what version of the kernel a distro ships. Most hardware drivers will be compiled into the kernel, or if not, shipped with the distro as kernel modules which get loaded as needed. Either way, the kernel version determines what is and isn’t possible on a given install.

DualSense 5 support for example was introduced in Linux Kernel 5.15, IIRC.

Most distros ship a relatively up-to-date kernel, and hence, the actual hardware support is essentially identical. When it isn’t, it’s down to excluded/included kernel modules, which is usually something you can change if needed.

Others have already commented on the actual ways to find out what will and won’t work, but in general, a newer Linux kernel means better hardware support.

If you try something, and some things don’t work, you’ll either have to figure out how to install and load the appropriate kernel module to get the appropriate driver working, or simply swap out the whole kernel for a newer version.

This is tricky on some installs, like Ubuntu based distros, very impractical on immutable systems, and super easy on distros like arch.

The real complications come when configuring things that Linux doesn’t just automatically figure out sometimes. Fingerprint sensors, fan curves… If that stuff isn’t a known and implemented standard on a given device, getting it to work isn’t a matter of finding the right distro or kernel version.

boredsquirrel ,
@boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net avatar

Second hwtest suite.

Distros just ship packages, some rare drivers may be missing, distros have different versions of drivers, some are external and packagers just take proprietary code and make it compatible, like with NVIDIA on Fedora.

ryannathans ,

Nvidia? Install pop os

Melatonin OP ,

I just looked at pop os, doesn’t seem like a bad option, what are the downvotes about?

I do have Nvidia btw, does that=problems?

jrgd ,

Generally, yes. It’s not nearly as bad as say 2015 but NVidia has a long standing history of being difficult to deal with, and users having to make constant compromises. For instance, NVidia hasn’t had properly working Wayland support on most environments until recently due to the awful flickering that many users experienced. Things like power saving, dual GPU handoff, general OpenGL performance, frame stability and tearing (X.Org), etc. have been either historical and/or current pain points for using NVidia GPUs vs AMD or Intel GPUs.

sunzu ,

FAFO is always the ol' reliable

live distro usbs will help with that as others said.

originalucifer ,
@originalucifer@moist.catsweat.com avatar

you could also just boot to a live distro and test your hardware. id recommend mint

Telorand ,

Second this idea. I did exactly this and found out that MX Linux’s default DE config doesn’t work correctly OotB for my setup.

skullgiver ,
@skullgiver@popplesburger.hilciferous.nl avatar

In my experience, online websites can help find a distro with minimal support, but they’re quickly out of date. Best way I’ve found is to flash a live USB, boot, and check if all hardware is recognised.

Stuff like Linux-hardware and Arch Wiki’s hardware support pages are a nice place to start, but if the last update was a while back you may find your hardware to be supported better than online documentation may suggest.

Deckweiss , (edited )

There is a website to check which hardware is supported (on which distro). You can look up your laptop there, but beware that it is crowdsourced, so there might have been tinkering involved before submitting the results or the results may be outdated.

Click on “probe your computer” then check the results to see what your current setup supports.

linux-hardware.org

Late2TheParty ,
@Late2TheParty@lemmy.world avatar

Of course Linux has something helpful like this! I freakin’ adore Linux!

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