8756 Nvidia Linux Drivers
Its been just over 3 months since Nvidia released the 8128 Linux drivers. Finally, Nvidia has released an updated driver for us Linux users. For anyone that has the older nvidia drivers installed, you can update to the latest version by doing the following:
- ctrl + alt + f1 to switch to a console
- login as root
- type: init 3 (to kill the Xserver)
- type: nvidia-installer –update (thats 2 ‘-’ on update)
- accept the EULA, answer a few questions, and the new drivers will download and install
- type: reboot to restart your machine and load the new drivers
If you do not have the drivers installed, please goto Yast -> Online Update -> Select the Nvidia from the list. Once they have been installed, please follow the directions above to update them to the latest version.
There are a lot of nice bug fixes and new features, especially with composite. Composite is finally bug free enough to use it. Here is a list from Nvidia’s website. Or if you are lazy, I have provided the same list below.
Version: 1.0-8756
Operating System: Linux AMD64/EM64T
Release Date: April 7, 2006
Release Highlights
- Adds support for GeForce 7300, GeForce 7400 Go, GeForce 7600 and GeForce 7900 GPUs.
- Added support for running OpenGL applications while the Composite X extension is enabled; see “The X Composite Extension” appendix for details.
- Enabled hardware acceleration of the Render X extension by default.
- Added “AddARGBGLXVisuals” X configuration option, so that OpenGL applications can render to X Windows’ alpha channel.
- Added Linux/i2c support to the NVIDIA kernel module; see the “i2c Bus Support” appendix for details.
- Improved power management support with Linux >= 2.6.14 and added support for suspend-to-disk.
- Added new “nvidia-auto-select” mode entry for use in the X configuration file; see description in the “Programming Modes” appendix.
- Added support for GLX 1.4.
- Added ability for OpenGL applications to span greater than 4096 pixels when in Xinerama.
- Improved G-Sync support.
- Fixed interlaced modes on CRTs.
- Improved compatibility with the latest Linux 2.6 kernels.
I just updated my HP xw9300 AMD Opteron w/ Quadro 3400 and an Apple 30″ Cinema Display. I *was* able to get QSXGA resolution but now I am limited to 1600×1200. Between the latest kernel patch and the Nvidia update, I lost a lot of pixels.