Nvidia Updates Its Linux Graphics Driver
After a few beta versions and months of news blackout, Nvidia has now released a robust version of its proprietary graphics card driver for Linux. Driver version 177.80 is to include 25 enhancements, among them the highly awaited support for GeForce GTX series cards.
The Nvidia enhancements to the Render X extension that, among other things, accelerates various graphic manipulations, have already been known since the last beta release of the Display Driver. The performance improvements should be especially noticeable for KDE4. The desktop environment previously suffered in connection with certain Nvidia graphics cards and the display of 2D graphics. Thanks to the new drivers the problems seem to be a thing of the past, as a few end users report in various forums. For one thing, Plasma applets can be more easily dragged to the desktop. 3D graphics effects also benefit from a reworked and more efficient memory management coordination between the X driver and OpenGL compositing manager.
Text rendering issues that affected GeForce graphics processor units (GPUs) of the 6, 7 and 8 series were resolved, along with a fix to the Auto SLI module and other recurring instabilities. A system hang from using the NV-CONTROL interface to change clock frequencies was also eliminated. The new driver supports X.Org 7.4 (a.k.a. X Server 1.5) and is compatible with recent Linux 2.6 kernels. The entire list of enhancements is on the Nvidia site.
The Nvidia drivers are available ready-made but still free in a package for Linux, FreeBSD and Solaris systems. Linux can run on 32-bit or 64-bit processors, albeit on x86 (Intel or AMD) or IA64 (Intel Itanium) chipsets. Older PowerPCs and Apple CPUs are still ignored. Due to a currently less than intuitive installation, end users are advised to wait until the new driver version distributions are offered from the update function.
The new drivers support the following GPUs and chipsets with integrated graphics:
* GeForce GTX 260
* GeForce GTX 280
* GeForce 9800 GTX+
* GeForce 9800 GT
* GeForce 9700M GTS
* GeForce 9500 GT
* GeForce 8100P
* nForce 780a SLI
* nForce 750a SLI
* Quadro FX 770M
* Quadro NVS 150M
* Quadro NVS 160M
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Red Hat Adds New Deployment Option for Enterprise Linux Platforms
Red Hat has re-imagined enterprise Linux for an AI future with Image Mode.
-
OSJH and LPI Release 2024 Open Source Pros Job Survey Results
See what open source professionals look for in a new role.
-
Proton 9.0-1 Released to Improve Gaming with Steam
The latest release of Proton 9 adds several improvements and fixes an issue that has been problematic for Linux users.
-
So Long Neofetch and Thanks for the Info
Today is a day that every Linux user who enjoys bragging about their system(s) will mourn, as Neofetch has come to an end.
-
Ubuntu 24.04 Comes with a “Flaw"
If you're thinking you might want to upgrade from your current Ubuntu release to the latest, there's something you might want to consider before doing so.
-
Canonical Releases Ubuntu 24.04
After a brief pause because of the XZ vulnerability, Ubuntu 24.04 is now available for install.
-
Linux Servers Targeted by Akira Ransomware
A group of bad actors who have already extorted $42 million have their sights set on the Linux platform.
-
TUXEDO Computers Unveils Linux Laptop Featuring AMD Ryzen CPU
This latest release is the first laptop to include the new CPU from Ryzen and Linux preinstalled.
-
XZ Gets the All-Clear
The back door xz vulnerability has been officially reverted for Fedora 40 and versions 38 and 39 were never affected.
-
Canonical Collaborates with Qualcomm on New Venture
This new joint effort is geared toward bringing Ubuntu and Ubuntu Core to Qualcomm-powered devices.