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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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So I've been trying to install the proprietary Nvidia drivers on my homelab so I can get my fine ass art generated using Automatic1111 & Stable diffusion. I installed the Nvidia 510 server drivers, everything seems fine, then when I reboot, nothing. WTF Nvidia, why you gotta break X? Why is x even needed on a server driver. What's your problem Nvidia!
I’m gonna be that person… I rarely, if ever have issues with nvidia on Linux. Used several 30xx series cards for gaming over the last couple of years and it’s been a great experience.
Is it my distro (Void)?. is it because I’m happy staying on X11? Is it just luck? Interested to hear people’s gripes
Minimal issues here. Set up Arch, install nVidia, add build hooks before next kernel update, carry on.
Well, you are not alone. While I too would prefer not to use proprietary drivers, I have had no problems on any of my Nvidia machines as well. Ironically, despite the open source drivers, getting a 7900XTX card up and running was an issue for me for months till distros caught up (with newer kernels and mesa libs), while my 4090 installation was a breeze even on the day it was released.
A lot of problems people have with Nvidia GPUs seem to be installation related. I think that is because the installation tends to be distro-specific and people do not necessarily follow the correct procedure for their distro or try installing the drivers directly from the Nvidia site as they would on Windows. For example, Fedora requires you to add RPMFusion, Debian needs non-free to be added to sources, Linux Mint lets you install the proprietary drivers but only after the first boot, and so on. Pop OS! probably makes the process the easiest with their Nvidia-specific ISO.
I use Ubuntu and Nvidia 3080 and the only issue I have had was when Steam updated their Big Picture Mode. I was using Wayland and it broke with the new Big Picture Mode. I had to switch back to x11 and it works well with that. I do hope Nvidia and Steam fix the Wayland issue. I'd rather use Wayland.
I have been using my Linux Gaming PC for for a couple of years now. I jumped ship with the ad riddled Windows 11. And I have been very happy with Steam/Proton gaming.
I have a 3080 and it runs fine with openSUSE Tumbleweed. On first boot you do need to add the nvidia repo and then install it which I guess could be problematic for new linux users, but it's literally pasting 1 line into terminal and then clicking the driver in yast. Echoing what others have said, I'd prefer if nvidia was a little less hostile to open source but frankly the driver just works, and works well. The only thing I've used besides openSUSE lately is Pop_OS and I believe the nvidia driver was installed automatically. If someone is having trouble getting the driver installed that seems to be a failure of the distro, not the user. You should be able to depend on your distros packaging to take care of this stuff.
Same. I had an Nvidia 960 for about 5 years on arch with very few problems. Maybe twice over that time I had to rollback to an older version temporarily due to some incompatibility with wine or such like.
Towards the end of last year I finally decided to upgrade (mostly to play RDR2) and I went with AMD. I love the feel of using a pure open source gfx stack, but there is no real functional advantage to it.
I think this is a big part of it. I have no issues with Nvidia + X11, however if I try to use Wayland with my 2080 I get numerous issues that has me running back to Xorg very quickly.