New Nvidia Graphics Card

[dibl]

Re: New Nvidia Graphics Card

Sure.

"Coolbits" "1" is the overclocking option. If you add it to your xorg.conf file, an additional capability will appear in nvidia-settings, and you can play around and see you can catch your card on fire.

[MoonRise]

Re: New Nvidia Graphics Card

There's so many dang FANs in this system, I hope that wouldn't occur!

[dibl]

Re: New Nvidia Graphics Card

There should be an "auto-calibrate" function (that's not quite the right name) that will test your card and tell you the max settings that are safe, for clock and memory speeds. After satisfying my curiosity, I hardly ever overclock my 9600GT -- there's no good reason, unless I'm spinning the world with GoogleEarth while spinning desktops with Compiz, or something goofy like that.

[kbunt]

Re: New Nvidia Graphics Card

The Nvidia beta 180.18 driver is working great on my 9600GT and Samsung CRT monitor -- so yeah, I would recommend it for someone who is having troubles with earlier driver versions.

However, you can't install beta drivers with EnvyNG -- it only supports released drivers. So I think 177.82 is as new as you can get with EnvyNG. If that one works for you, then fine, but if it has issues, then you might want to try the downloaded beta driver.

If you haven't used the downloaded driver/installer, I will give you fair warning that it can be a little tricky (that's why there's EnvyNG!).

As far as upgrading to KDE 4.2 -- well, good luck. Mine has seemed quite stable for weeks now, but there are other reports ....

Hey, thanks for the reply!

Well, I am still getting a lot of strange colours and buggy flickering so it's pretty bad, still. I am not sure what (if anything current?) will solve it. I am mostly curious if there is any difference if I upgrade to KDE 4.2 and/or install newer Nvidia drivers.

I added the KDE 4.2 repository packages but I haven't upgraded it yet. I suppose I can use Synaptic and just select the KDE-base 4.1.85 packages? Or go to the KDE website and follow instructions?

As for up-to-date Nvidia drivers (180), I think the only option is to follow the Nvidia instructions for upgrading the driver? I don't know of any script that will run in K/Ubuntu so I think you have to manually do it?

Please comment on my notes? I am always wary of doing it the manual method since it's easy to make mistakes and if you enter the wrong content or are missing important files/packages, it's easy to mess up your xorg.conf file, right?

I just typed up some notes in case I decided to give it a whirl.

Please comment (and correct)?:
For Nvidia cards, this specific one is: 7950 GT (see .sig)

Download driver from http://www.nvidia.com

NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-180.18-pkg1.run

When the driver is downloaded, proceed. STEPS FOR INSTALLING THE DRIVER:

1)Exit the X Server (terminate all OpenGL applications)
2)set the default run level to boot to a VGA console instead of to X

3)Start the installer:
in the main shell, change to the directory with the downloaded driver file
As root, run:
# cd your directory
# sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-180.18-pkg1.run

*Nvidia kernel module has kernel interface layer that must be compiled for each kernel.

I need the precompiled kernel interface for my current kernel. For e.g., my kernel at the present time is:
2.6.27-9-generic [as given by # uname -r ]

If the module does not have the kernel interface, it will try to download it from the Nvidia FTP site.

If it cannot find it, the installer will check my kernel sources and compile the interface for me.

To do this, the source code for my kernel must be installed.

I.E. (installer will check for) correct kernel sources, kernel-headers (or kernel-dev package)

After the correct kernel interface has been identified, the kernel interface will be linked with the closed-source portion of the NVIDIA kernel module

E.G. /usr/bin/ld (part of binutils package)


Note:
Both “linux-source' (ver. 2.7.27-9.13) and 'linux-source-2.6.27' (latest version in repository is 2.6.27-9.19) is NOT installed. Do I need either installed?

“linux-headers-2.6.27-9-generic' IS installed (ver. 2.6.27-9.19)

IF I do need to install a Linux kernel source, my guess would be to install the latter, 'linux-source-2.6.27' (as it is version '2.6.27.9.19' and matches that version's headers).

I am not real familiar with the best ways to do step #1 and #2 above.

What do you do with the currently installed driver? Manually uninstall? Or does the manual nvidia installer take care of it?

[dibl]

Re: New Nvidia Graphics Card

@kbunt, I'll try to critique your notes -- no guarantees.

Download driver from http://www.nvidia.com

NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-180.18-pkg1.run

I get the Beta driver from here:

http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=122606

When the driver is downloaded, proceed. STEPS FOR INSTALLING THE DRIVER:

1)Exit the X Server (terminate all OpenGL applications)

Do this by hitting Ctrl-Alt-Backspace, then log in at the CLI prompt and

sudo /etc/init.d/kdm stop

2)set the default run level to boot to a VGA console instead of to X

I'm not sure what this means -- *buntu does not use "run levels" like other Linuces -- I'd say you can drop this, if you already did the first one.

3)Start the installer:

No, not yet. First, and perhaps even before downloading the driver:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r`

Then, (since you didn't say where you put the downloaded file) I recommend changing to the /tmp directory, make a subdirectory named "nv" or something, and put the downloaded Nvidia file there. This will avoid root-mode "damage" in your /user/home directory.

in the main shell, change to the directory with the downloaded driver file
As root, run:
# cd your directory
# sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-180.18-pkg1.run

*Nvidia kernel module has kernel interface layer that must be compiled for each kernel.

You don't have to "become" root, sudo will suffice:

/tmp/nv~$sudo sh NV{tab-to-complete} and away it goes.

I need the precompiled kernel interface for my current kernel. For e.g., my kernel at the present time is:
2.6.27-9-generic [as given by # uname -r ]

If the module does not have the kernel interface, it will try to download it from the Nvidia FTP site.

If it cannot find it, the installer will check my kernel sources and compile the interface for me.

To do this, the source code for my kernel must be installed.

I.E. (installer will check for) correct kernel sources, kernel-headers (or kernel-dev package)

After the correct kernel interface has been identified, the kernel interface will be linked with the closed-source portion of the NVIDIA kernel module

E.G. /usr/bin/ld (part of binutils package)


Note:
Both “linux-source' (ver. 2.7.27-9.13) and 'linux-source-2.6.27' (latest version in repository is 2.6.27-9.19) is NOT installed. Do I need either installed?

“linux-headers-2.6.27-9-generic' IS installed (ver. 2.6.27-9.19)

Installing the build-essential and linux-headers packages (as noted above) will take care of this.

The only other possible issue has to do with the question of restricted modules. If at some point you've used the "nv" driver, then the first thing you need to do is open the file /etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common with a text editor and on the last line that looks like this:

DISABLED_MODULES=""

insert "nv" so after editing it looks like this:

DISABLED_MODULES="nv"

and save it.

Also, when the Nvidia installer reaches the last page, and asks if you want it to write a new xorg.conf file, the first time you run it you should choose "yes". But on subsequent runs (like when the next Beta driver comes out and you want to try it) it's best to choose "no" if you already have a working xorg.conf file.

When the Nvidia installer has exited and you're back at the CLI, you can restart the X server with either

/etc/init.d/kdm start

(to see the login GUI) or

startx

(to just go straight to your desktop).

I hope this helps. Those 7950 cards seem to have some special issues all of their own, based on posts I've seen. I had a 7900GS and it worked fine, but the 7950s seem to present unique problems. Sorry.

[kbunt]

Re: New Nvidia Graphics Card

My KDE desktop is gone now.

It won't start up and gives an error along the lines of:

Nvidia kernel module - has kernel version 177.80

I know I have to get rid of the 'old driver/modules' but HOW?!?

I even tried the command with: sudo apt-get --purge remove nvidia-glx nvidia-settings linux-restricted-modules-'uname -r'

...to no avail!

I edited /etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common (config file)

TO:

DISABLED_MODULES ="nv"

Maybe it should be?:
DISABLED_MODULES="nv nvidia_new" ??

Or perhaps, it doesn't matter and is not the problem?

I have no clue now. But, I think there needs to be a universal 'write-up' or HOW-TO since I HAVE NEVER HAD A *SMOOTH* PROCESS USING THE NVIDIA INSTALLER METHOD. There is always some issue with something that is supposed to be there or removed.

In the past, it was a gcc/make problem. Now, I know things need to match up and now it is the Nvidia kernel module of the previously installed driver WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE UNINSTALLED. I don't know why it wasn't and how do I uninstall now that I can't get a GUI desktop?!?

All this because KDE4.1 sucks!

[kbunt]

Re: New Nvidia Graphics Card

I booted up in recovery mode (I guess I am in VGA mode since I'm in Kubuntu?).

I uninstalled nvidia-177 modules? from synaptic but there are still nvidia-177 files left. Most are lib files:

$ locate nvidia-glx
/usr/share/bug/nvidia-glx-177
/usr/share/doc/nvidia-glx-177
/usr/share/lintian/overrides/nvidia-glx-177
/var/cache/apt/archives/nvidia-glx-177_177.80-0ubuntu2_amd64.deb
/var/lib/dpkg/info/nvidia-glx-177.list
/var/lib/dpkg/info/nvidia-glx-177.md5sums
/var/lib/dpkg/info/nvidia-glx-177.postinst
/var/lib/dpkg/info/nvidia-glx-177.postrm
/var/lib/dpkg/info/nvidia-glx-177.preinst
/var/lib/dpkg/info/nvidia-glx-177.prerm
/var/lib/dpkg/info/nvidia-glx-177.shlibs

Will those intefere with trying to 're-install' the Nvidia BETA 180.18 driver? They really shouldn't be there so how do I remove them?

I tried 'purge' (sudo apt-get --purge remove...) but that doesn't work at all!

[dibl]

Re: New Nvidia Graphics Card

Hmmm. The Nvidia installer usually detects and overwrites previous driver installations.

Did you try

sudo apt-get remove --purge nvidia-glx-177

?

Also, open Synaptic and look for "linux-restricted-modules" -- if it is installed, mark it for removal, and remove it.

If that doesn't work ... well, don't hold me responsible for your system, but I think you can safely

sudo rm -rf nvidia*

then start over with the driver installation process.

I'll cross my fingers ... :P

[kbunt]

Re: New Nvidia Graphics Card

linux-restricted-modules-common is installed. It just shows up as a 'script helper' though.

I've tried 'sudo apt-get remove --purge nvidia-glx-177' and variations of it. 'Doesn't work:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Package nvidia-glx-177 is not installed, so not removed
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
fakeroot linux-headers-2.6.27-7 dkms linux-headers-2.6.27-7-generic
Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 128 not upgraded.

[kbunt]

Re: New Nvidia Graphics Card

Well, I installed it but it was messy.

Between the Nvidia installer and KDE 4.2 Beta, I think the combo is a huge mess. I better install Pulseaudio on sidux (of my other distro I use) because I think Kubuntu + most recent Nvidia driver BETA + KDE 4.2 BETA is opening a HUGE can of worms. KDE 4 is WAY WAY WAY TOO BUGGY.

What a mess. I have programs showing up in the GUI Synaptic / Adept as something other than what the program shows. Other programs are still using KDE 3.5.10 ..... crazy....

I am not sure if there are any problems/issues with my Nvidia 180.18 beta install. I took out the linux-restricted-modules package and a few other things and I still got a bunch of 'error' messages which I don't quite understand. So, it is not a smooth install and who knows what problems might arise!

[dibl]

Re: New Nvidia Graphics Card

Other programs are still using KDE 3.5.10 ..... crazy....

I found the combination of KDE 3.5.x and KDE 4.1 intolerable, on Hardy. A new installation of 8.10, with KDE 4.2, is wayyyyyyyy better. I don't think you want to mix 'n match KDE versions.

[MoonRise]

Re: New Nvidia Graphics Card

I've found that true as well. Once I went all KDE4, things just improved drastically. Have since moved up to the latest 4.1.3 and couldn't be happier with my OS. Actually can't wait for the final 4.2!

[dibl]

Re: New Nvidia Graphics Card

I'm actually getting pretty used to KDE 4, and it mostly works right. I also run sidux, which uses KDE 3.5, and I have about an equal number of (different) issues on that side as I do here with Kubuntu 8.10. Maybe fewer in Kubuntu, actually -- the continuing failure to load a driver for my webcam is irritating, but I have the workaround. I was just running Ekiga and my webcam, in 8.10/KDE4.2, and it all works pretty well.

[kbunt]

Re: New Nvidia Graphics Card

KDE 4.1.3 had some annoying flickering issues among others and the 'washing out' of the widgets which I posted about was really irritating since it blocked the icons/widgets since it obscured them with 'blue' squares (of the desktop). I'm not sure how else to describe it. I posted a screenshot.

There were reports that KDE 4.2 fixed a lot of these 'bugs.' All I can say is, in my case, I perceive it as misleading. What else can I say?

An upgrade to 4.2 left a desktop that I cannot use. I cannot even access the menu anymore. I can only open apps via the widgets and most of the apps open at the right corner of the desktop screen. They can't be moved or resized. Firefox opens at half-size. I can't close the apps unless I use 'File' in the tool bar. There is still horrible flickering and flashing when I try to access the K-menu. It now flickers 'desktop blue' as the menu becomes 'part of the desktop.' In other words, the desktop becomes useless.

I'm just expressing what happens to me and I don't know how I'm supposed to just 'deal with it.' I have to either switch to another distro, re-install or just wait and see whether the KDE developers have a working desktop when it's finally released. I don't perceive it as a situation in which I encounter a few 'bugs' with the upgrade. It's just a new horde of problems as far as my upgrade experience goes. I can accept a few issues here and there but what happened was ridiculously unacceptable, what can I do?

[dibl]

Re: New Nvidia Graphics Card

@kbunt, take a look at your xorg.conf file, and see how close the "device" stanza matches the one I posted up above (#9). It should be pretty close to the same.

Does the nvidia-settings utility work? You didn't try to set the refresh rate, did you?