Gamers like you and I sometimes wonder about what is the best OS for gaming. Knowing that the best OS for the gaming PC will give gamers like us a huge advantage and I have done some research to find out the answer.
So what is the best OS for gaming PC? The best OS for gaming PC is Windows OS as it gives you high performance in gaming, future proof compatibility with games, user friendly for beginners, and has a huge gaming library to choose from as compared to other operating systems such as Linux or Apple macOS.
Choosing the best OS is a very complicated process for the gaming PC. I would suggest you understand the functions of each operating system as it will help you to decide the best one that fits you well. I have shared some good ways below in this article to check out before you decide on your OS for gaming.
Ways to find what is the best OS for gaming
I found a very long list of operating systems that you can choose from but there is only three major OS that has a big market share. These major operating systems are Windows, Linux, and Apple macOS. There are many other operating systems that I have seen that some gamers use such as Ubuntu, SteamOS, and Recalbox.
Here’s what I want you to do: Keep in mind the following factors that you want the most and based on the majority of the number you will be able to decide easily. Make sure you also know what factors from the following tables are important to your experience.
| Factors | Windows | Linux | Apple macOS |
| Gaming Performance | High | Medium | Low |
| Game Library | Huge | Limited | Very Limited |
| Game Compatibility | Future-proof | Low | Low (Only Apple) |
| User Friendly | Yes | Hard | Very Good |
| Cost | Normal | Free (Open Source) | High |
| Security | Poor | Medium | Very Strong |
| Stability | Poor | Medium | High |
Let’s take a deep dive into each factor so that you will get a complete understanding of each operating system. We will discuss these factors for only major operating systems such as Windows, Linux, and Apple macOS.
What is the best OS for PC gaming performance?
The best OS for gaming performance is Windows OS. Since the manufacturer of windows, OS Microsoft is in the market for decades and they have 88.29% market share than any other operating system. All major game developers launch their PC games on WIndows to make sure their game is published on a major operating system.
Windows and Linux operating systems have somewhat matched the performance when Linux is not distributed elsewhere. Apple macOS is bad at performance as a gaming PC but can be effective if added with external GPU which will come at additional cost.
Which OS is user-friendly for beginner gamers?
The best OS with user-friendliness is Apple macOS for beginner gamers. Second, best is Windows as it is less user-friendly as compared to Apple macOS. If you are a beginner gamer then I would recommend the Windows OS as it is the best OS where you can get the list of games and is also user-friendly.
The hardest in user-friendliness is Linux OS. I have purchased a Linux laptop for my daily work and found that the OS is very difficult to navigate an alien sometimes. I have to install Windows on that laptop and that’s where I found myself comfortable.
Which OS has the biggest gaming library?
Windows OS has the biggest gaming library as compared to Linux and Apple macOS. Windows OS has a major market share and most of the famous game developers publish their games on the Windows platform. You can play android games on Windows OS just by installing a software called Bluestack. Most popular games are available on any platform such as Minecraft, Fortnite, PUBG, Overwatch, World of Warcraft, GTA, and Counter-Strike: GO.
Linux OS is gradually growing in the number of games supported by Steam. Apple macOS is also has a list of games available on Steam. Though this will be compared if you have a Steam account. Windows 10 can be synced with your Xbox console and you can play the games available for PC by the membership they provide as the ultimate Xbox game pass.
The OS with future proof compatible for upcoming games
The best OS with future-proof compatibility for all your games is Windows OS. All game developers know that game compatibility on old operating systems is a big issue. They will add updates to the games only if those games have good concurrent users on a daily basis.
Apart from the game compatibility, OS like Linux and Apple macOS is limited to game compatibility. Though the majority of the big games will be compatible with these operating systems as they don’t want to lose any gaming users.
Which is the best cost-effective OS for gaming?
Linux is free as it is an open-source operating system. To install it properly for your computer you better know all the steps so that you won’t have any issues in the future. You have to buy Windows OS as a licensed version so that you don’t have to worry about piracy issues.
Apple macOS, on the other hand, is very costly as compared to Windows OS such as Windows 10, Windows XP, or any other OS. If you can afford to buy the latest Apple macOS then it would be the best investment in terms of the long-term gaming PC.
Which OS offers the best security while gaming?
Apple macOS offers the best security while gaming. Since Apple macOS has the best security overall as compared to Windows and Linx operating systems. If you play online gaming or buy games online, do micro-transactions then you should have a good PC with high security. Apple macOS gives you the best security.
Linux also has pretty good security but since it is open-source you should not trust it as much as with the Apple macOS. Windows OS, on the other hand, is poor with security as it can get malware and you become venerable to any fraudulent attacks.
The best stability in OS for the gaming experience
In terms of stable gaming experience, the best OS is Apple macOS as compared to Linux and Windows operating systems. There are many occasions where games get crashed at some point in time in a gamer’s life. But, it can happen less if you have a good OS with you for the gaming experience.
Windows OS is widely used for PC gaming and it has been found that games tend to get crashed most of the time. I am using Windows OS and found that some of my games get crashed once in a week for sure.
Does the operating system affect gaming?
Yes, the operating system affects gaming at many levels such as performance, stability, security, compatibility, and cost. Every OS has its level of user experience and it will play a crucial role if you are a beginner gamer.
Not all operating systems have the same amount of games available. Windows OS has a huge gaming library to choose from but it has poor security and stability. Linux OS has grown in recent years in terms of game availability on Steam but has hard user-friendliness.
Here’s what I would recommend that you have to choose the OS which has a good performance, compatibility, and game availability. Windows OS is what I would recommend and I also use the same for my gaming experience.
Also Read: Why are Gaming Laptops more Expensive than Desktops
Is Windows 10 good for gaming?
Yes, Windows 10 is good for gaming because it has the largest gaming library of other operating systems. Windows 10 and other Windows operating system has support for every game that is available in the library. Windows 10 is currently compatible with all future gaming updates and will be compatible till the next Windows OS upgrade.
I personally use Windows 10 for my gaming experience. I have not got troubled in the past few years of gaming. I have played games like PUBG, Age of Empires, Halo Combat Evolved, Axis and Allies, Counter-Strike, Call of Duty, Fifa, and GTA San Andreas. I hope this post has answered the question of what is the best OS for gaming PC. I would be happy to see your suggestions and feedback in the comment below.
