From watching the Tek over a period of time now, Logan has convinced me to move over to Linux.
I read the sticky in this forum but it seems to be a lot to take in, so im here to ask for some recommendations on which version to download.
I use my machine for general internet use and gaming. Im currently running Windows 8.1, which i paid for and i cant stand it. It crashes fairly often and isnt very stable, and dont even get me started with the new start button layout. I was going to put Windows 7 back on but im keen to check out linux.
My specs
i7 4790k, Z97 gaming 7, 16gb memory, R9 290, 70GB kingston SSD with a couple of standard hard drives for storage.
Thanks for the help
EDIT also can i keep my windows OS installed in case i need it for anything?
I dont have enough experience to tell you what to do for the gaming side of Linux (although it does exist).
I had a lot of fun with openSUSE, and Ubuntu when I was starting out. I am now using Fedora, and trying to get Arch to work.
For a beginner, openSUSE, Ubuntu, and Linux Mint are good distros to look at.
It is possible to keep your Windows install as well, although I cant remember exactly how, last time I installed windows and linux on the same drive I had to edit a config file for GRUB. Hopefully your installer recognizes that there is a windows copy installed and everything will be fine. If you have a second drive it would be better to put Linux on that because it is easier to set up things.
Im downloading it now. Ill install it through USB. Maybe i will just wipe windows off the SSD. All my main files are on the storage hard drives anyway.
Yeah, I have a 1TB drive just to keep all my essential windows files separate, then a 120GB ssd for my windows boot drive. I dont allow myself to ever mount my 1TB drive, if I ever need to transfer files I put them on my freeNAS server and then onto my linux box.
Yes you can dual boot Windows and Linux if you want to. This may actually be a good way to transition so you can see what program alternatives you can use and make sure the results you are getting are good enough.
OpenSUSE is a good place to start, as is Ubuntu, Mint, Sabayon or Fedora.
As for gaming, you will need WINE and PlayOnLinux - there should be documentation to help you out for each program - but bear in mind not everything will work, and support for more stuff is added over time.
So if i put OpenSUSE im downloading now on a USB and boot to install it, will it give me the option to install it and keep windows on my SSD as well? Iv never ran two OS before on the same HD im not quite sure how it works.
The piece of software that loads the operating system is called a bootloader. OpenSUSE will install a bootloader that can boot both openSUSE and Windows. The bootloader is called GRUB and it will automatically detect and adjust to booting both of your operating systems.
You can have as many operating systems as you want, the bootloader only needs to know where they are located (generally speaking).
Fix your Windows first! Why? Because 99% of all regularily crashing Haswells, don't have a software issue, but have a CPU cooling issue (even when sensor reading suggest otherwise)!
Why is it so important to make sure that you don't have a CPU cooling issue? Because in Linux, your CPU will idle in a higher state if you use an older kernel, so that the base temp will rise, and under load, your CPU will actually get hotter in linux, because linux is more efficient and really makes CPU's deliver all of their performance. You won't ever fry an Intel chip, because they're set for very early thermal throttling, and unlike Windows, Linux will not crash when the CPU has severe cooling issues, but you won't get the performance you paid for by paying premium for that CPU.
After that, go to opensuse.org, read their materials (should take you about an hour of reading to really absorb all the info you need to know to thoroughly understand the full installation process and basic operation). I would definitely recommend that, because you'll learn faster and more efficiently that way.