Nvidia: Difference between revisions

* Nouveau is the stable 3rd-party open-source driver. You probably have it by default.

* Nvidia's open-source kernel module, which is beta-quality and x11-only.

This article aims to explain how to use all three of the non-default drivers, and how to disable the Nvidia GPU if you don't want it to make heat.

NixOS uses a functional package management approach &ndash; this section, like many others, will tell you how to change your <code>configuration.nix</code> to define what kind of environment you want on your system.

* [https://nixos.org/manual/nixos/unstable/#sec-x11-graphics-cards-nvidia Nvidia section] in the NixOS Manual offers a shorter guide.

* Basic installation is as simple as <code>services.xserver.videoDrivers = [ "nvidia" ];</code> (once you have unfree software enabled), which causes the default stable version to be pulled in.

== Enable unfree software repositories ==  

== Modifying NixOS configuration ==

{

   # Load "nvidia" driver for Xorg and Wayland

     # https://github.com/NVIDIA/open-gpu-kernel-modules#compatible-gpus  

     # Only available from driver 515.43.04+

     open = false;

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In order to correctly finish configuring your Nvidia graphics driver, you must follow the below steps, which differ depending on whether or not you are using a hybrid graphics setup or not. A laptop with hybrid graphics possesses both an integrated GPU (often part of the central processor) and a discrete, more powerful Nvidia GPU, typically for performance-intensive tasks. This dual-GPU setup allows for power-saving during basic tasks and higher graphics performance when needed.

'''Nvidia Optimus PRIME''' is a technology developed by Nvidia to optimize the power consumption and performance of laptops equipped with their GPUs. It seamlessly switches between the integrated graphics, usually from Intel, for lightweight tasks to save power, and the discrete Nvidia GPU for performance-intensive tasks like gaming or video editing. By dynamically balancing graphics power and battery life, Optimus provides the best of both worlds, ensuring that users get longer battery life without sacrificing graphical performance.

Before we can continue, we must first determine the bus ID values for both your Nvidia and Intel and AMD GPUs. This step will be essential regardless of which configuration you later adopt.

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Offload mode puts your Nvidia GPU to sleep and lets the Intel GPU handle all tasks, except if you call the Nvidia GPU specifically by "offloading" an application to it. For example, you can run your laptop normally and it will use the energy-efficient Intel GPU all day, and then you can offload a game from Steam onto the Nvidia GPU to make the Nvidia GPU run that game only. For many, this is the most desirable option.

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Enabling PRIME sync introduces better performance and greatly reduces screen tearing, at the expense of higher power consumption since the Nvidia GPU will not go to sleep completely unless called for, as is the case in Offload Mode. It may also cause its own issues in rare cases. '''PRIME Sync and Offload Mode cannot be enabled at the same time.'''

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This feature is relatively new and may not work properly on all systems ([https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/the-all-new-outputsink-feature-aka-reverse-prime/129828 see discussion]). It is only available on driver 460.39 or newer. Reverse sync only works with <code>services.xserver.displayManager.setupCommands</code> compatible Display Managers (LightDM, GDM and SDDM).

{

   services.xserver.videoDrivers = ["nvidia"];

    

boot.kernelParams = [ "module_blacklist=amdgpu" ];

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= Disable Nvidia dGPU completely =