Is CachyOS really one of the fastest Linux distributions available right now? In this video, I take a detailed look at CachyOS, an Arch-based Linux distribution that focuses heavily on performance, responsiveness, and modern hardware optimization.
I start by explaining what CachyOS is and who it’s designed for, then talk about the installation process so you know what to expect if you’re thinking about trying it yourself. From there, we dive into how software management works in CachyOS, and I also highlight other key areas where CachyOS stands out, including its performance-oriented defaults, system tweaks, and overall desktop experience.
If you’re curious about high-performance Linux desktops, wondering how CachyOS compares to other popular distributions, or considering switching from Arch, Fedora, or another distro, this review will help you decide whether CachyOS is worth your time.
CachyOS Review
Intro
Hello, and welcome back to Learn Linux TV!
In this article, we’re taking a look at CachyOS—a Linux distribution that’s become increasingly popular thanks to its focus on performance. It includes a variety of optimizations aimed at getting the most out of modern desktop and laptop hardware.
I’ve actually wanted to test CachyOS for quite some time, but between moving and setting up a new studio, a few planned videos had to be put on hold. Now that things are mostly back on track, it’s time to start checking items off that list—and today, that brings us to CachyOS. I’m genuinely excited to finally dive into it.
Here you’ll get a chance to see CachyOS in action. I’ll be explaining what sets it apart from other distributions, walk through some of its key features, and share my first impressions. By the end, you should have a good idea of whether CachyOS is something worth trying for yourself.
With that out of the way, let’s take a closer look at CachyOS.
What is CachyOS?
First, let’s take a moment to talk about what CachyOS actually is, what it’s trying to accomplish, and who it’s really for. With so many Linux distributions available today, it’s important to understand what makes CachyOS different and why someone might choose it over the alternatives.
At its core, CachyOS is based on Arch Linux. For those who may not already be familiar, Arch is a rolling-release distribution. That means you install it once, and from that point forward, you simply keep the system up to date—there are no major version upgrades to wait for. One of the main benefits of a rolling release is that you get very recent versions of applications, kernels, and drivers without long delays.
That said, Arch Linux itself can be challenging to install, especially for newer users. The installation process is very hands-on, and it’s not uncommon for people to struggle the first time they try it. That’s actually why I created a complete getting-started guide for Arch Linux, which ended up becoming one of the most-watched videos on this channel.
Over time, a number of Arch-based distributions have appeared, most of them aiming to simplify the installation process and improve usability while still keeping Arch’s rolling-release nature. Examples include Manjaro and EndeavourOS—and CachyOS is another entry in that growing ecosystem.
However, CachyOS isn’t just Arch with an easier installer. In addition to simplifying installation, CachyOS places a strong emphasis on performance. The distribution includes a variety of system-level optimizations designed to improve responsiveness and make better use of modern hardware. This includes custom kernels, tuned system defaults, and optimized packages built to take advantage of newer CPU features when possible. As a result, CachyOS can feel faster and more responsive than many general-purpose distributions, especially on newer systems.
Another strong point of CachyOS is its wide selection of desktop environments and window managers. Popular desktops like GNOME, KDE Plasma, and Xfce are available, along with options like Cinnamon, MATE, Budgie, and even the COSMIC desktop. If you prefer a more minimal setup, window managers such as i3, Sway, and Openbox are also offered. No matter what kind of desktop experience you’re looking for, CachyOS likely has you covered.
The installation process itself is straightforward and familiar. After creating your installation media, you’ll boot into a live environment where you can test hardware compatibility. From there, launching the installer walks you through a short series of questions, and within a few minutes, the system is installed and ready to use.
During installation, you’ll also choose your desktop environment or window manager. Each option comes preconfigured with sensible tweaks that fit CachyOS’s performance-focused approach, but without heavily altering the look or behavior of the desktop. Each environment still feels like itself—just tuned to work well within CachyOS.
More differences
Continuing on, there are a few other important differences between CachyOS and many mainstream distributions—one of the biggest being how software is managed.
If you’re coming from distributions like Ubuntu or Fedora, you’re probably used to relying on a single graphical software center to install applications and manage system updates. Ubuntu has the Ubuntu App Center, while Debian and Fedora typically rely on GNOME Software. CachyOS does include similar tools, but the overall workflow is a bit different.
Depending on which desktop environment you choose during installation, you’ll still have access to graphical application managers—but their role is more limited. For example, if you choose the GNOME desktop, GNOME Software is included. However, unlike on other distributions, it’s not used for managing regular system packages or performing system updates. Instead, GNOME Software in CachyOS is focused on Flatpak applications from Flathub, as well as firmware updates via fwupd.
That doesn’t mean CachyOS lacks user-friendly tooling, though. You’ll still receive notifications when system updates are available, and for those who prefer a graphical interface, CachyOS includes tools like Octopi. Octopi provides a GUI frontend for pacman, allowing you to browse, install, and update repository packages independently of whatever app store your desktop environment might include.
So while CachyOS approaches software management a bit differently, you’re not losing any functionality. Everything you’d expect to be able to do—install applications, update the system, and manage packages—is still available. It may just require a slight adjustment to your workflow. Nothing drastic, but it is different from what Ubuntu or Fedora users may be used to.
Beyond software management, CachyOS includes a number of smaller tweaks throughout the system—far too many to cover in a single video or article. Some notable examples include using the Fish shell by default instead of Bash, Btrfs as the default filesystem, and ZRAM enabled out of the box. ZRAM uses compressed memory to help the system handle memory pressure more efficiently, which can improve responsiveness under heavier workloads.
Taken together, these tweaks and optimizations add up. While results will vary depending on hardware and workload, there’s a good chance you’ll notice improved responsiveness and overall performance when compared to more general-purpose distributions.
Downsides
That said, there are a few potential trade-offs to be aware of with CachyOS. Nothing particularly alarming, but there are some considerations worth keeping in mind before deciding whether it’s right for you.
First, CachyOS follows a rolling-release model. This means software is updated continuously, rather than being locked to specific versions like you’d see with fixed-release distributions such as Debian or Ubuntu. As a result, you’ll receive updates more frequently, and your system will evolve over time as new versions of software are released.
For many users, this is a major advantage. With fixed-release distros, updating your entire software stack often means performing a full distribution upgrade. Rolling releases, on the other hand, deliver updates incrementally as they become available. However, this also means more frequent changes, and that can require a slightly more hands-on approach. It’s not difficult to manage, but it does represent a mindset shift for users who are used to slower-moving distributions.
Another thing to keep in mind is that CachyOS is heavily optimized for modern CPUs. While this helps deliver excellent performance on newer systems, it can be less forgiving on older hardware. Most systems from the past several years should work just fine, but if you’re running truly legacy hardware, compatibility may be hit or miss. The good news is that you can easily test CachyOS in live mode before installing it, which allows you to confirm that your hardware is fully supported ahead of time.
Finally, CachyOS tends to appeal more to intermediate and advanced Linux users. That doesn’t mean beginners can’t use it, nor does it mean the learning curve is dramatically steeper than other distributions. However, if you’re coming from a fixed-release distro, the rolling-release nature of CachyOS—and its focus on newer software—may occasionally introduce changes in behavior, regressions, or workflow adjustments as applications are updated. These situations are relatively uncommon, but they are part of the trade-off that comes with running bleeding-edge software.
In the end, none of these are deal-breakers for most users, but they’re important factors to consider so you know what to expect going in.
Overall Opinion
As for whether or not I recommend checking out CachyOS—yes, I absolutely do. One of the nice things about CachyOS is that it includes a live demo mode, so you can test it without making any commitment. If everything works well in the live environment, there’s a very good chance it’ll work just as well once installed.
While the rolling-release model may feel different if you’re coming from a fixed-release distribution, the learning curve is fairly gentle. CachyOS does offer a bit less hand-holding than some other distros, but not to the point where it becomes frustrating or difficult to use. It simply expects you to be a little more involved in how your system is managed.
That said, being a rolling release isn’t what truly sets CachyOS apart—there are plenty of rolling-release distributions available today. What really makes CachyOS stand out is its strong focus on performance. The developers have put a lot of thought into system-level tweaks and optimizations designed to get the most out of modern hardware. Applications launch quickly, the desktop feels responsive, and the system as a whole feels noticeably snappy.
On my system, I could definitely feel a performance improvement. Everything felt fast and responsive, and CachyOS made excellent use of the available hardware. Of course, this is only my initial experience, and opinions can evolve over time—but even so, my first impression is very positive.
At the end of the day, CachyOS is absolutely worth checking out. Since you can try it in live mode, there’s really nothing to lose by giving it a shot. Who knows—you might even end up loving it.
