Got a shiny new PC? These 5 Linux distros are built for speed and power - and they're free

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ZDNET key takeaways

• There are specific Linux distributions for newer hardware.
• These offer modern kernels and bleeding-edge software.
• Each of these distributions is free to download and install.

For the longest time, it was assumed that Linux was only meant for older PCs and various hardware (GPU, sound, networking, etc.). Over the years, Linux developers have caught up and proved that assumption wrong.

Now, there are several Linux distributions that function perfectly with newer hardware, and there's certain to be one that would suit your needs.

Also: My 10 favorite Linux distributions of all time, ranked

But what makes a Linux distribution work well with modern hardware? First off, the kernel. Even with the standard kernel reaching the point where it's very good at hardware detection, there are kernels specifically geared toward ...