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There are several drivers that allow Nvidia GPUs to work:
There are several kernel drivers that allow Nvidia GPUs to work:


* Nouveau is the stable 3rd-party open-source driver. You probably have it by default.
* Nouveau is the stable 3rd-party open-source driver. You probably have it by default.
* Nvidia's proprietary kernel module.
* Nvidia's proprietary kernel module. Better 3D performance than nouveau.
* Nvidia's open-source kernel module, which is beta-quality and x11-only.
* Nvidia's open-source kernel module, which is beta-quality and x11-only.
* Nvidia's mesa-nvk.


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.
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.


= Installing Nvidia drivers on NixOS =
(A GPU driver is not ''purely'' kernel-mode; there are also userspace parts that allow the graphics API to use the kernel part. Mesa, for example, has userspace parts for Nouveau and NVK; they are automatically used when appropriate, so no configuration is needed.<ref>If you insist on checking which driver is in use, try running <code>vulkaninfo | grep -i "deviceName\|driverID"</code>. If you see DRIVER_ID_MESA_NVK, that means you are on the shiny new open-source Vulkan driver.</ref> Nvidia's two kernel drivers also need to be hooked up using userspace libraries provided by Nvidia.)
 
= The proprietary driver =


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.
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.
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* [https://nixos.org/manual/nixos/unstable/#sec-x11-graphics-cards-nvidia Nvidia section] in the NixOS Manual offers a shorter guide.
* [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.
* 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.
* Older cards may need an older driver; see [[#Determining the correct driver version]], which describes <code>hardware.nvidia.package</code>.
* Older cards may need an older driver; see [[#Determining the correct driver version|Determining the correct driver version]], which describes <code>hardware.nvidia.package</code>.
* [[#Modifying the NixOS Configuration]] puts it all together and shows the other <code>hardware.nvidia</code> settings, some irrelevant to this driver (e.g. <code>hardware.nvidia.open</code>, which takes you to the Nvidia open kernel driver.)
* [[Nvidia#Modifying NixOS configuration|Modifying the NixOS Configuration]] puts it all together and shows the other <code>hardware.nvidia</code> settings, some irrelevant to this driver (e.g. <code>hardware.nvidia.open</code>, which takes you to the Nvidia open kernel driver.)


== Enable unfree software repositories ==  
== Enable unfree software repositories ==  


Make sure to allow [[Unfree Software|unfree software]]. The unfree NVIDIA packages include <code>nvidia-x11</code>, <code>nvidia-settings</code>, and <code>nvidia-persistenced</code>.
Make sure to allow [[Unfree software|unfree software]]. The unfree NVIDIA packages include <code>nvidia-x11</code>, <code>nvidia-settings</code>, and <code>nvidia-persistenced</code>.
 
== Determining the correct driver version ==
 
You will next need to determine the appropriate driver version for your card. The following options are available:
 
<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">
hardware.nvidia.package = config.boot.kernelPackages.nvidiaPackages.stable;
hardware.nvidia.package = config.boot.kernelPackages.nvidiaPackages.beta;
hardware.nvidia.package = config.boot.kernelPackages.nvidiaPackages.production;  # (installs 550)
hardware.nvidia.package = config.boot.kernelPackages.nvidiaPackages.vulkan_beta;
hardware.nvidia.package = config.boot.kernelPackages.nvidiaPackages.legacy_470;
hardware.nvidia.package = config.boot.kernelPackages.nvidiaPackages.legacy_390;
hardware.nvidia.package = config.boot.kernelPackages.nvidiaPackages.legacy_340;
</syntaxhighlight>
 
Out of the above, `stable` and `beta` will work for the latest RTX cards and some lower cards so long as they're not considered "legacy" by Nvidia. For "legacy" cards, you can consult the [https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/drivers/unix/legacy-gpu/ Nvidia official legacy driver list] and check whether your device is supported by the 470, 390 or 340 branches. If so, you can use the corresponding <code>legacy_470</code>, <code>legacy_390</code> or <code>legacy_340</code> driver. For a full list of options, consult the [https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/blob/nixos-unstable/pkgs/os-specific/linux/nvidia-x11/default.nix nvidia-x11 module repository].
 
{{note|As of early March 2024 the <code>production</code> driver has been updated from <code>535</code> to <code>550</code>. This is a breaking change for some people, especially those on Wayland.
To resolve this, follow the steps under [[Nvidia#Running the new RTX SUPER on NixOS stable|Running the new RTX SUPER on NixOS stable]]}}
 
Once you've determined the correct driver version, note it down; you'll need it in the next step.


== Modifying NixOS configuration ==
== Modifying NixOS configuration ==
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{
{


   # Enable OpenGL
   # Enable graphics driver in NixOS unstable/NixOS 24.11
   hardware.opengl = {
   hardware.graphics.enable = true;
    enable = true;
  # The same as above but for NixOS 23.11
    driSupport = true;
  #hardware.opengl = {
    driSupport32Bit = true;
  #  enable = true;
   };
  #  driSupport = true;
   #};


   # Load "nvidia" driver for Xorg and Wayland
   # Load "nvidia" driver for Xorg and Wayland
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     # https://github.com/NVIDIA/open-gpu-kernel-modules#compatible-gpus  
     # https://github.com/NVIDIA/open-gpu-kernel-modules#compatible-gpus  
     # Only available from driver 515.43.04+
     # Only available from driver 515.43.04+
     # Currently alpha-quality/buggy, so false is currently the recommended setting.
     # Currently "beta quality", so false is currently the recommended setting.
     open = false;
     open = false;


Line 97: Line 78:
}
}
</nowiki>}}
</nowiki>}}
=== Determining the correct driver version ===
You might need to determine the appropriate driver version for your card. Some of the options available are:
<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">
hardware.nvidia.package = config.boot.kernelPackages.nvidiaPackages.stable;      # (390 on i686, else production)
hardware.nvidia.package = config.boot.kernelPackages.nvidiaPackages.beta;        # (555)
hardware.nvidia.package = config.boot.kernelPackages.nvidiaPackages.production;  # (installs 550)
hardware.nvidia.package = config.boot.kernelPackages.nvidiaPackages.vulkan_beta; # (550, but different)
hardware.nvidia.package = config.boot.kernelPackages.nvidiaPackages.legacy_470;
hardware.nvidia.package = config.boot.kernelPackages.nvidiaPackages.legacy_390;
hardware.nvidia.package = config.boot.kernelPackages.nvidiaPackages.legacy_340;
</syntaxhighlight>
Out of the above, <code>stable</code> and <code>beta</code> will work for the latest RTX cards and some lower cards so long as they're not considered "legacy" by Nvidia. For "legacy" cards, you can consult the [https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/drivers/unix/legacy-gpu/ Nvidia official legacy driver list] and check whether your device is supported by the 470, 390 or 340 branches. If so, you can use the corresponding <code>legacy_470</code>, <code>legacy_390</code> or <code>legacy_340</code> driver. For a full list of options, consult the [https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/blob/nixos-unstable/pkgs/os-specific/linux/nvidia-x11/default.nix nvidia-x11 module repository].
{{note|As of early March 2024 the <code>production</code> driver has been updated from <code>535</code> to <code>550</code>. This is a breaking change for some people, especially those on Wayland.
To resolve this, follow the steps under [[Nvidia#Running the new RTX SUPER on NixOS stable|Running the new RTX SUPER on NixOS stable]]}}
Once you've determined the correct driver version, note it down; you'll need it in the next step.


== Laptop configuration: hybrid graphics (Optimus PRIME) ==
== Laptop configuration: hybrid graphics (Optimus PRIME) ==
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{
{
  # Enable graphics driver in NixOS unstable/NixOS 24.11
  hardware.graphics.enable = true;
  # The same as above but for NixOS 23.11
  #hardware.opengl = {
  #  enable = true;
  #  driSupport = true;
  #};


# Enable OpenGL
   # Load nvidia driver for Xorg and Wayland
   hardware.opengl = {
    enable = true;
    driSupport = true;
    driSupport32Bit = true;
  };
 
# Load nvidia driver for Xorg and Wayland
   services.xserver.videoDrivers = ["nvidia"];
   services.xserver.videoDrivers = ["nvidia"];
    
    
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boot.kernelParams = [ "module_blacklist=amdgpu" ];
boot.kernelParams = [ "module_blacklist=amdgpu" ];
</syntaxHighlight>
</syntaxHighlight>
= The Nvidia open driver =
The Nvidia open driver is enabled via:
<syntaxHighlight lang="nix">
services.xserver.videoDrivers = [ "nvidia" ];
hardware.nvidia.open = true;
</syntaxHighlight>
The Nvidia open driver is ''very'' similar to its proprietary sibling. Most content in the proprietary section above apply; just copy over the proprietary config above and toggle the "open" option, and you are set.
Like its proprietary sibling, it also requires some non-free userspace packages that allow software to talk to the kernel driver. As a result, you still need to enable unfree packages.
Be warned that the Nvidia open driver is considered "beta quality". Performance may be very slightly lower.


= Disable Nvidia dGPU completely =
= Disable Nvidia dGPU completely =
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