I'm using a HP Pavilion Game Laptop (15-ec0xxx) with 16GB RAM, 64 Bit, AMD Ryzen 5 35504 Processor with Radeon Vega Mobile Gfx 2.10 GHz and two SSD drives. The first drive is 256GB and runs Windows. The second SSD drive is 1TB and is partitioned for MX Linux 19.3 and a data partition.

I tried Ubuntu (20.04 and 20.10) but the AMD Ryzen seemed to prevent it from working. I then tried MX Linux on a suggestion and it both works and is very fast. But when I try to use the xbox contoller (using Steam games) it is very slow in onscreen movements and then it freezes.

The xbox controller works fine on another laptop using Ubuntu (that does not use an AMD Ryzen processor) and on Windows.

Is there a Linux distribution that will both support the AMD Ryzen and the xbox controller? Or is there a fix in MX Linux for this?

For your information, the Ryzen is an X86_64 pc, same as intel.

Do not use the phrases 'does not work' 'do not work' 'fails,' etc. If it pukes with an error, give us the error. Check logs. Try things. Generally speaking there's few clairvoyants on LQ so you have to tell us stuff if you want us to diagnose & fix it.

Interesting. Ubuntu would not install on the AMD where MX Linux did and proved to be quite fast. I thought I was being specific (it is very slow in onscreen movements and then it freezes.) rather than the "does not work" you referenced.

Which brings me back to my question: Is there a Linux distribution that will both support the AMD Ryzen and the xbox controller? Or is there a fix in MX Linux for this?

I don't know about the xbox controller part since I don't game a lot, but I mostly use fedora on a Ryzen 5 3600. I have never seen a problem with the Ryzen on either fedora or ubuntu. Have not tried mint.

Mint = Ubuuntu with go-faster stripes. It only has one repo of it's own, supplying a faster GUI, or parts thereof.

Any suggestion on this? "Which brings me back to my question: Is there a Linux distribution that will both support the AMD Ryzen and the xbox controller? Or is there a fix in MX Linux for this?"

Let me say a word about this

How do you know it's objecting to the Ryzen? How do you know it's objecting to the xbox? It could easily be the video card, the disk, the ram, your install technique, missing dependencies, etc.

If you want to run linux on this box, follow this,
How_To_Ask_a_Question
and describe fully your box and fault symptoms, look for them in the logs, and list the things you tried.

My suggestion:
Remove the xbox controller and see if everything works except that. If problems continue then you know the problem is not specifically related to the controller and you can continue to narrow it down, one thing at a time.

If problems disappear then it is likely the controller and supporting software so now you have something specific to troubleshoot.

Arbitrarily blaming the CPU, which cannot be replicated by >99.99% of us is acting like Don Quixote and tilting at windmills.

Troubleshooting techniques involve ruling out one thing at a time as you narrow in on the cause. Blaming the CPU without troubleshooting is similar to saying you need a new engine in your car cause you can't drive it when you have a flat tire.

Good practices when asking for help is be specific in 1. What you have done & 2. What the errors are. None of us are clairvoyant and able to see what your situation is without details. Generalities get you nowhere.