To ensure that you install the correct NVIDIA driver version for your GPU, you'll need to identify your GPU model and then determine the compatible driver version. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you through this process:
1. Identify Your NVIDIA GPU Model
Before selecting a driver, it's essential to know the exact model of your NVIDIA GPU. You can identify your GPU using several methods:
a. Using lspci
with Detailed Information
Run the following command to get more detailed information about the NVIDIA devices:
lspci -nn | grep -i nvidia
Example Output:
65:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: NVIDIA Corporation Device [10de:2231] (rev a1)
65:00.1 Audio device [0403]: NVIDIA Corporation Device [10de:1aef] (rev a1)
indicates that your system has NVIDIA hardware installed, but the device IDs (2231
and 1aef
) aren't immediately descriptive.
Now, you can go to PCI Lookup to look up
b. Using nvidia-smi
Command
If the NVIDIA drivers are partially installed, nvidia-smi
can provide GPU details.
-
Open Terminal.
-
Run the following command:
nvidia-smi
c. Using lshw
Command
The lshw
(List Hardware) command provides detailed information about your hardware.
-
Open Terminal.
-
Run the following command:
sudo lshw -C display
Example Output:
2. Determine the Compatible NVIDIA Driver
Once you've identified your GPU model, you can determine the appropriate driver version. Here's how:
a. Using NVIDIA's Official Driver Page
NVIDIA maintains an officialDriver Downloadpage where you can search for drivers based on your GPU model.
-
Visit the NVIDIA Driver Downloads
https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/drivers/ page.
-
Fill in the details:
- Product Type: GeForce
- Product Series: GeForce 30 Series
- Product: GeForce RTX 3070
- Operating System: Linux 64-bit
- Download Type: All
- Language: English (or your preferred language)
Click on "Search" to find the latest compatible driver.
Example Result:
- Latest Driver: NVIDIA GeForce Game Ready Driver 535.183.01
This matches the nvidia-driver-535
package you mentioned earlier.
b. Using ubuntu-drivers
Tool
Ubuntu provides the ubuntu-drivers
tool to automatically detect and recommend drivers for your hardware.
-
Open Terminal.
-
Update Package Lists and Detect Available Drivers:
sudo apt-get update
ubuntu-drivers devices
Example Output:
c. Verify Compatibility
Ensure that the driver version supports your GPU by referring to the NVIDIA Linux Driver Support Matrix.
-
Navigate to the Linux Driver Downloads page.
-
Enter your GPU details as done previously.
-
Review the driver details to confirm compatibility.
- For the GeForce RTX 3070, driver version 535.183.01 is compatible.
3. Install the Correct NVIDIA Driver
After verifying that NVIDIA Driver 535 is compatible with your GeForce RTX 3070, proceed with