In this article, we will walk you through the process of installing NVIDIA Graphics Drivers on Ubuntu 18.04. This is a crucial step for users who want to leverage the power of their NVIDIA graphics card and ensure optimal performance.
To install NVIDIA Graphics Drivers on Ubuntu 18.04, you need to add the official Ubuntu Graphics Drivers PPA, update the system, and then use the ubuntu-drivers command to automatically install the appropriate driver. After rebooting the system, you can verify the installation by running the nvidia-smi command.
Prerequisites
Before we begin, you need to have Ubuntu 18.04 installed on your system. You should also have administrative access to your system, as the installation process requires the use of sudo commands.
Step 1: Check for the System’s GPU Model
First, let’s identify the GPU model of your system. Open the Terminal and type the following command:
lspci -k | grep -A 2 -i "VGA"This command will list the VGA compatible devices on your system. Look for the NVIDIA GPU in the output.
Step 2: Add the Proprietary GPU Drivers PPA
Next, we will add the official Ubuntu Graphics Drivers PPA to our system. This repository contains the latest proprietary drivers for NVIDIA hardware. Type the following command in the Terminal:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppaThis command adds the PPA to your system’s software sources, allowing you to install packages from this repository.
Step 3: Update the System
After adding the PPA, we need to update the system’s package list to include the new PPA. Run the following command:
sudo apt updateThis command updates the package list of your system, ensuring you can install the latest packages.
Step 4: Install the NVIDIA Graphics Driver
Now, we can install the NVIDIA driver. To do this, we need to use the ubuntu-drivers command. This command will automatically detect and install the appropriate driver for your system. Run the following command:
sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstallThis command will automatically install the best driver for your system based on the GPU and other hardware.
Step 5: Reboot the System
After the installation is complete, reboot your system to ensure the new driver is properly loaded. Use the following command to reboot:
sudo rebootStep 6: Verify the Installation
Once your system has rebooted, you can verify that the NVIDIA driver has been installed correctly. Open the Terminal and type the following command:
nvidia-smiThis command will display information about your NVIDIA driver and GPU. If the driver was installed correctly, you should see the driver version in the output.
Conclusion
That’s it! You have successfully installed NVIDIA Graphics Drivers on Ubuntu 18.04. This will enable your system to fully utilize the capabilities of your NVIDIA GPU, resulting in better performance and stability. If you encounter any issues during the installation process, refer to the NVIDIA Linux Graphics Driver README for additional information and troubleshooting tips.
No, you need administrative access to your system to install NVIDIA Graphics Drivers on Ubuntu 18.04. The installation process requires the use of sudo commands.
You can check if the NVIDIA Graphics Driver is already installed on your system by opening the Terminal and running the following command: nvidia-smi. If the driver is installed, you will see information about your NVIDIA driver and GPU.
No, the official Ubuntu repositories do not contain the latest proprietary drivers for NVIDIA hardware. You need to add the official Ubuntu Graphics Drivers PPA to your system to access the latest drivers.
To update the NVIDIA Graphics Driver after installation, you can use the ubuntu-drivers command. Open the Terminal and run the following command: sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall. This command will automatically detect and install the latest driver for your system.
Yes, you can install NVIDIA Graphics Drivers on other versions of Ubuntu as well. However, the specific steps may vary depending on the version of Ubuntu you are using. It is recommended to refer to the official documentation or guides specific to your Ubuntu version for accurate instructions.
