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54 changes: 37 additions & 17 deletions src/config/graphical-session/graphics-drivers/nvidia.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -7,23 +7,43 @@ some documentation provided by Nvidia. It tends to perform well on older
hardware, and is required to use a large portion of the available Wayland
compositors.

At the time of writing, graphics cards starting with second generation Maxwell
(GTX 9xx) are unable to perform at their full potential with `nouveau`. This is
because the `linux-firmware` collection is missing signed firmware blobs needed
to reclock these cards past their boot frequencies.

To use `nouveau` with Wayland, you only need the `mesa-dri` package, which
provides the accelerated OpenGL driver. On X11, you also need an appropriate
Xorg driver. You can either install `xf86-video-nouveau` or use the universal
`modesetting` driver bundled with Xorg (this is the only option on Tegra based
ARM boards). The former can make use of GPU-specific 2D acceleration paths,
which is primarily useful on older cards with specialized fixed function
hardware (the `modesetting` driver will accelerate 2D using OpenGL via GLAMOR).
When in doubt, it's a good idea to try `xf86-video-nouveau` first.

Note: `xf86-video-nouveau` is usually installed by default if you use the `xorg`
metapackage. If you use `xorg-minimal`, you will need to install it manually,
either directly or through `xorg-video-drivers`.
### OpenGL

The accelerated OpenGL driver is provided by `mesa-dri`. This is a dependency of
the `xorg` metapackage, but must be manually installed when using `xorg-minimal`
or Wayland.

### Vulkan

**Warning**: The NVK driver is relatively new and may be unstable and/or
underperformant. Expect instability on cards below Turing (GTX 16xx).

Cards starting with Kepler (GTX 6xx) are supported by the Vulkan nouveau driver.
Install `vulkan-loader` and `mesa-vulkan-nouveau`.

### Xorg

The `xorg` metapackage pulls in the `xf86-video-nouveau` video driver. This will
need to be manually installed if using `xorg-minimal`. You can also use the
universal `modesetting` driver bundled with Xorg (this is the only option on
Tegra based ARM boards).

The former can make use of card-specific 2D acceleration paths, which is
primarily useful on older cards with specialized fixed function hardware (the
`modesetting` driver will accelerate 2D using OpenGL via GLAMOR). When in doubt,
it's a good idea to try `xf86-video-nouveau` first.

### Reclocking

At the time of writing, only first generation Maxwell, Kepler, and some Tesla
cards support manual reclocking. Cards past Turing (GTX 16xx) support automatic
reclocking.

Graphics cards starting with second generation Maxwell (GTX 9xx) do not support
reclocking because the `linux-firmware` collection is missing signed firmware
blobs needed to reclock these cards past their boot frequencies.

Manual reclocking is available in `/sys/kernel/debug/dri/0/pstate`.

## nvidia (Proprietary Driver)

Expand Down