Arch Linux: NVIDIA Drivers Installation

• How to identify your NVIDIA graphics card
• Steps to install NVIDIA drivers via pacman
• How to verify and configure your installation
• Available driver options for different GPU generations

Installing NVIDIA Drivers via Pacman

1. Check Your GPU Model: Before installing drivers, identify your NVIDIA graphics card model. Execute:

   $ lspci | grep -i nvidia
   00:10.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GA102 [GeForce RTX 3080] (rev a1)

   This information determines which driver package you need to install.

2. Install the Driver Package: Install the NVIDIA driver and utilities using pacman:

   $ sudo pacman -S nvidia nvidia-utils nvidia-settings

   This installs:

   • nvidia – The proprietary NVIDIA kernel modules for the standard linux kernel
   • nvidia-utils – NVIDIA userspace utilities and libraries
   • nvidia-settings – GUI configuration tool for NVIDIA graphics

   Note: If you’re using the linux-lts kernel, replace nvidia with nvidia-lts:

   LINUX LTS KERNEL
   Arch Linux offers both the standard rolling-release kernel (linux) and a Long Term Support kernel (linux-lts) for users who prefer stability over cutting-edge features. To check which kernel you’re currently using, run: uname -r. If the output contains “lts” (e.g., 6.6.x-lts), you’re using the LTS kernel and should install nvidia-lts instead of nvidia.

   $ sudo pacman -S nvidia-lts nvidia-utils nvidia-settings

   This method works for most modern NVIDIA graphics cards (Maxwell generation and newer, roughly GTX 900 series and above).

   Alternative Driver Options: Depending on your GPU generation, you may need different driver packages:

   • nvidia-open or nvidia-open-lts – Open-source kernel modules for Turing and newer GPUs (RTX 2000 series and above)
   • nvidia-470xx-dkms – For older Kepler GPUs (GTX 600-900 series)
   • nvidia-390xx-dkms – For even older Fermi GPUs (GTX 400-500 series)

   For most users with current hardware, the standard nvidia package is the recommended choice.

3. Reboot Your System: After installation, reboot to load the new driver:

   $ sudo reboot

   This ensures the NVIDIA kernel modules are properly loaded and active.

4. Verify Installation: After rebooting, verify the driver is working correctly:

   $ nvidia-smi

   This output displays your GPU information, driver version, temperature, and memory usage, confirming successful installation.

   

5. Configure NVIDIA Settings: Launch the NVIDIA Settings GUI to adjust your graphics configuration:

   $ nvidia-settings

   This tool allows you to monitor GPU temperature, adjust clock speeds, configure multiple displays, manage power settings, and access advanced features. You can launch it from your application menu or directly from the terminal.

   

Additional Configuration Tips

• Early KMS: For better boot experience and Wayland support, enable early kernel mode setting. Edit your bootloader configuration and add nvidia_drm.modeset=1 to your kernel parameters. For GRUB users, edit /etc/default/grub and add it to GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT, then run sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg. For systemd-boot users, add it to your loader entry in /boot/loader/entries/
• Automatic Updates: The nvidia package includes a pacman hook located at /usr/share/libalpm/hooks/nvidia.hook that automatically rebuilds initramfs when the driver updates, ensuring smooth kernel updates. No manual configuration is needed

Troubleshooting

• Error: Module nvidia not found in directory:

  modprobe: FATAL: Module nvidia not found in directory /lib/modules/6.x.x-arch1-1

  Solution: This occurs when the kernel and nvidia driver versions are mismatched, usually after a partial system update. Run a full system upgrade to ensure both kernel and nvidia packages are synchronized:

  $ sudo pacman -Syu

  Then reboot your system. The nvidia module must match your currently running kernel version.

• Error: NVIDIA-SMI has failed because it couldn’t communicate with the NVIDIA driver:

  NVIDIA-SMI has failed because it couldn't communicate with the NVIDIA driver.
  Make sure that the latest NVIDIA driver is installed and running.

  Solution: This typically means the nvidia kernel module is not loaded. First, check if the module is loaded:

  $ lsmod | grep nvidia

  If empty, try loading it manually:

  $ sudo modprobe nvidia

  If this fails, check if you’re using a custom or different kernel (like linux-lts) and ensure you have the matching nvidia package (nvidia-lts). For custom kernels, use nvidia-dkms instead and install the appropriate kernel headers:

  $ sudo pacman -S nvidia-dkms linux-headers

• Error: Kernel driver in use: nouveau:

  $ lspci -k | grep -A 2 -E "(VGA|3D)"
  01:00.0 3D controller: NVIDIA Corporation GA106 [GeForce RTX 3060]
  Kernel driver in use: nouveau

  Solution: The open-source nouveau driver is still being used instead of nvidia. The nvidia package should automatically blacklist nouveau, but you may need to regenerate your initramfs:

  $ sudo mkinitcpio -P
  $ sudo reboot

  If the issue persists, manually blacklist nouveau by creating /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-nouveau.conf with the content:

  blacklist nouveau

  Then regenerate initramfs and reboot.

• Error: Failed to allocate primary buffer or Signal 11 crash:

  ERROR: Failed to allocate primary buffer: out of memory

  Solution: Add the nopat kernel parameter to your bootloader configuration. For GRUB users, edit /etc/default/grub and add nopat to GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT, then run:

  $ sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

• Error: System freeze or black screen after kernel update:Solution: If your system freezes or shows a black screen after a kernel update, boot into a TTY (Ctrl+Alt+F2) and check the system journal:

  $ sudo journalctl -b -1

  Often this is caused by a kernel-driver version mismatch. Ensure both are updated together:

  $ sudo pacman -Syu

  If using a custom kernel or the issue persists, switch to nvidia-dkms which automatically recompiles for each kernel:

  $ sudo pacman -S nvidia-dkms linux-headers
  $ sudo mkinitcpio -P

Conclusion

Installing NVIDIA drivers on Arch Linux is straightforward using the official repositories and pacman. The standard installation method works for most modern NVIDIA graphics cards, providing optimal performance for gaming, professional work, and general computing. The rolling-release nature of Arch ensures you always have access to the latest driver versions, keeping your graphics performance at its peak. For more detailed information Arch Linux and Nvidia visit Arch’s official documentation.