Nobara Project vs Solus
Nobara Project: Fedora, pre-tuned for gaming and streaming. Solus: An independent desktop with a curated rolling model. Here is how they differ, and which one suits you.
Quick verdict
- BeginnersTieBoth are a similar fit here.
- GamingSolusSolus ships gaming-oriented defaults or current drivers.
- Older hardwareSolusSolus needs about 4 GB of RAM versus 8 GB.
- Latest softwareSolusSolus uses a rolling model; Nobara Project is stable.
- Long-term stabilityNobara ProjectNobara Project changes less between upgrades.
Specs compared
| Feature | Nobara Project | Solus |
|---|---|---|
| Popularity rank (30d) | #20 | #43 |
| Latest version | — | — |
| Based on | Fedora | Independent |
| Release model | Stable | Rolling |
| Desktop | KDE Plasma, GNOME | Budgie, KDE Plasma, GNOME, Xfce |
| Package management | DNF · Flatpak | eopkg · Flatpak |
| Init system | systemd | systemd |
| Experience level | Beginner | Beginner |
| Suggested RAM | 8 GB+ | 4 GB+ |
| Architectures | x86_64 | x86_64 |
| First released | 2022 | 2015 |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Good for | Gaming, Everyday use | Everyday use, Gaming |
Key differences
- Nobara Project is based on Fedora, while Solus is based on Independent.
- Nobara Project follows a stable release model; Solus is rolling.
- Nobara Project ships KDE Plasma, GNOME; Solus ships Budgie, KDE Plasma, GNOME, Xfce.
- Software comes from DNF · Flatpak on Nobara Project and eopkg · Flatpak on Solus.
- We suggest about 8 GB of RAM for Nobara Project and 4 GB for Solus.
Choose Nobara Project if…
- codecs and NVIDIA drivers included
- gaming and OBS tweaks out of the box
- recent Fedora base
Small maintainer team
Full Nobara Project profileChoose Solus if…
- weekly, curated rolling updates
- desktop-focused package selection
- independent base with its own tooling
Smaller repository than major distributions
Full Solus profileNobara Project vs Solus: FAQ
Is Nobara Project better than Solus?
Neither is better for everyone. Nobara Project is the stronger pick for long-term stability; Solus for gaming, older hardware, latest software.
Which uses less RAM, Nobara Project or Solus?
Solus is lighter: we suggest about 4 GB versus 8 GB. The desktop you choose affects memory use more than the distribution itself.
Is Nobara Project based on Solus?
No. Nobara Project is based on Fedora; Solus is based on Independent.
Can I switch from Nobara Project to Solus without losing files?
Back up your home folder first. If /home is on a separate partition you can reinstall without formatting it, but a clean install with restored backups is safest.