CobaltX vs Omarchy
CobaltX: Arch and KDE Plasma, ready to game from the first boot. Omarchy: An opinionated, keyboard-driven Arch setup for developers. Here is how they differ, and which one suits you.
CobaltX or Omarchy: the short answer
CobaltX and Omarchy have a lot in common: both build on Arch Linux, both use a rolling release model, both install software with Pacman · AUR (community). Pick CobaltX if you care most about gaming.
Quick verdict
- GamingCobaltXCobaltX ships gaming-oriented defaults or current drivers.
Scored from our catalog data (experience level, release model, suggested RAM, intended uses), not from benchmarks. How we build the catalog
Specs compared
Memory figures are editorial planning suggestions, not measured consumption or official minimums. Popularity measures attention, not quality. Missing data is shown as a dash.
| Feature | CobaltX | Omarchy |
|---|---|---|
| Popularity rank (30d) | Not ranked | #9 |
| Popularity trend (30d) | — | Down 39% |
| Based on | Arch Linux | Arch Linux |
| Release model | Rolling | Rolling |
| Desktop | KDE Plasma | Hyprland |
| Package management | Pacman · AUR (community) | Pacman · AUR (community) |
| Init system | systemd | systemd |
| Experience level | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| Suggested RAM | 8 GB+ | 8 GB+ |
| Architectures | x86_64 | x86_64 |
| First released | 2026 | 2025 |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Good for | Gaming | Development |
Key differences
- CobaltX ships KDE Plasma; Omarchy ships Hyprland.
CobaltX: strengths and tradeoffs
- game launchers, Wine and performance overlays preinstalled
- linux-zen kernel tuned for desktop responsiveness
- one-click NVIDIA driver install from the Welcome app
Very new, pre-1.0 project with a single maintainer
Full CobaltX profileOmarchy: strengths and tradeoffs
- hyprland preconfigured and themed out of the box
- developer tools set up during installation
- fast installer that asks only a few questions
Keyboard-driven tiling workflow has a learning curve
Full Omarchy profileSwitching between CobaltX and Omarchy
From CobaltX to Omarchy
- Both use Pacman, so the install commands you know carry over; Omarchy also uses AUR (community).
- The desktop changes from KDE Plasma to Hyprland; expect a different layout, settings app and shortcuts.
From Omarchy to CobaltX
- Both use Pacman, so the install commands you know carry over; CobaltX also uses AUR (community).
- The desktop changes from Hyprland to KDE Plasma; expect a different layout, settings app and shortcuts.
Either way, back up your home folder, then do a clean install; reusing a separate /home partition works but can bring old settings that clash.
CobaltX vs Omarchy: FAQ
Is CobaltX better than Omarchy?
Neither is better for everyone. CobaltX is the stronger pick for gaming; Omarchy for a different set of needs.
Which uses less RAM, CobaltX or Omarchy?
Both need about 8 GB of RAM for a comfortable desktop. The desktop environment affects memory use more than the distribution.
Is CobaltX based on Omarchy?
No. CobaltX is based on Arch Linux; Omarchy is based on Arch Linux.