This seems like a question as old as Linux, but what is the current state of the art to run Linux and Windows on the same system. I have done some searching on the forum and see mostly how-tos and some opinions in the threads. I am posting this because I want to know if I am missing something and aggregate the options.
option 1: Duel boot
This is something I have done for years. Windows does not like this and gets confused. Eventually, I end up just favoring one OS on the box for convenience sake.
option 2: VM + passthrough
This has become more accessible, but I have always found this flaky. I need something more stable I am starting to migrate some projects to Windows and need it to be stable. I am also worried because this will be building projects with LLVM, and I want it to be stable and reproducible on other machines.
options 3: KVM
If I could build two computers in a box with a KVM switch, I would. This is my new consideration. I have a full tower now as my main computer, but with the advent of ITX cases, I am considering two node 202 stacked with a KVM switch. I would be massively heat constrained, but I think I could work with that.
I am leaning option 3 but don’t know anyone else that has done it. Has anyone built a desktop rig that needs both operating systems and how has it gone? Also, am I missing any big pros or cons in these options or a whole other option entirely?
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Basic Dual: Use to HDDs, put MS Windows on one and put your favorite GNU/Linux Distro on the other. IF you are using an EFI capable system, make sure to turn off secure boot.
As an added safety, install grub 2 on the Linux disk and if MS Windows boot loader goes out to lunch, you have the ability to still boot to it.
If you do not need a full desktop on either of them, run one in a VM using KVM. It is pretty rare to actually build two boxes for what you need now, unless you need a dedicated box for reasons.
If you want to do VM+passthrough, be prepared to do the research and put in the work to get everything working correctly. I’m learning as I go, and running Manjaro I have great performance for gaming. I think a lot of it came down to proper CPU pinning (the VM gets 6 cores/12 threads), passthrough of a dedicated SSD and 1080Ti, and it has 12GB of RAM. I have had to use many guides from different sources, and combine information I find between them to get my setup to the point it is currently at. My primary issue at the moment, is that my mouse and keyboard inputs are glitchy when using my primary mouse/kb and passing it back and forth. If I pass them as raw USB devices it is fine.
You did not seem to specify your use case. But I will tell you about gaming anyway, since that is my main use case for PC, apart from some light office-type work.
Single player is mostly functional thanks to advances in Proton (Valve’s implementation of Wine) which you could see the status of the many games it can play here.
Otherwise, Lutris and PlayOnLinux are pretty much competent as well from what I can hear but needs more fiddling (vs Steam’s works out of the box experience). This is recommended for non-Steam game launchers and clients, which I have significantly less experience with.
For Office type of work, your main concern would be file compatibility between suites. Nothing still beats Office, but I would argue for simple documents, LibreOffice is more than sufficient. Your main concern of course would be familiarization, and that just needs more time. The Excel’s LibreOffice - Calc is also sufficient, at least for my use case of simple income/expenses usage. I have yet to dable on graphs and complex equations. My suggestion would be to . ndo a full dive especially if amid this global quarantine/lockdown we have now.
I want to be able to develop a programming language on windows and to do some gaming. I am looking into playing COD and I dont want to get banned for some library that didnt get the APIs correct. So my goals right now are to get LLVM to work on windows and to get COD running.
Stay Dual booting to keep your sanity (and EA account). Seems best if you really have to keep online multiplayer gaming.