If your Ubuntu computer has an NVIDIA GPU, you can choose between the open-source driver Nouveau and NVIDIA’s proprietary drivers. By default, Ubuntu will use the Nouveau drivers.
However, if you want serious performance with your Nvidia GPU card, then you may want to get fresh drivers from upstream, currently shipping with Nvidia cards.
You can use the Nvidia official PPA repository to always get the latest drivers for your Nvidia graphics cards. The current official release: is Nvidia-387 (387.34) and the current long-lived branch release: is Nvidia-384 (384.98)
Specific graphics cards should use the list below:
For G8x, G9x and GT2xx GPUs use Nvidia-340 (340.104)For NV4x and G7x GPUs use Nvidia-304 (304.137)
When you’re ready to install the PPA and drivers, continue below.
How to add official Nvidia PPA to Ubuntu
To add the driver’s repository to Ubuntu, run the commands below: When you run the commands above, you should get a prompt to accept the repository signing key as well. accept and continue installing the PPA.
How to update and install Nvidia Drivers
Now that the PPA is installed, run the commands below to install the current latest drivers for your system. After installing the drivers above reboot your system for the new drivers to be enabled on the system.
How to install cards specific drivers
If you want to install the drivers for the specific cards installed on your systems, use the list below:
For G8x, G9x and GT2xx GPUs use Nvidia-340 (340.104) For NV4x and G7x GPUs use Nvidia-304 (304.137)
Reboot after installing as well
For support timeframe for these cards, see the official page below.
https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3142
Also, once logged back in, you may want to open Software & Updates under System Settings and go to the Additional Drivers tab, select the required driver version and click “Apply Changes”.
This is how you install Nvidia GPUs drivers for computers with Nvidia cards installed.
Conclusion:
This post showed you how to install and use Nvidia drivers on Ubuntu Linux. If you find any error above or have something to add, please use the comment form below.
