Ubuntu LTS adds support for the latest nvidia driver out of the box !

Here are some interesting news for Ubuntu LTS users, and all of the LTS-based distros around: Ubuntu will now provide the latest stable versions of the Nvidia proprietary drivers, directly from its repositories.

What I use to make my videos:

Ubuntu rarely updates drivers and programs to major new releases on their LTS versions, to keep these as stable as can be. For fast moving programs, like Firefox or Chromium, they do have an update program called SRU, for Stable Release Updates.

Basically, these applications still receive major new versions through the Updates repository; after living for a while in the "proposed" repo for testing purposes.

Well, Ubuntu will now apply the same treatment to the proprietary Nvidia driver. This bug report indicates that this driver is now included in the SRU program, and a newer version of the driver, version 430, is already in the proposed repos. It will land in the updates repo as soon as testing is done.

What this means is simple: if you're using Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, you won't need to download the nvidia driver manually, or add an unsupported PPA, you'll get the latest drivers directly from the "updates" repository, as a normal package upgrade. Ubuntu LTS based distros, such as elementary OS, Mint, or Zorin, will also benefit from this since most of them tend to use this repo.

So, right now, you have two options: either you rush to enable the "proposed" repo, and install the new driver from the dedicated interface in Ubuntu, but remember that this update hasn't been fully tested yet and might cause issues, or you wait for it to land in the updates repo, which might already be the case depending on when you watch this video.

This driver will also be backported to 16.04 in the near future, and newer versions will also be made available through the life of the LTS versions, following the same circuit from the "proposed" to "updates" repositories.

This is a good move from Ubuntu, since it means you no longer have to update to a non-LTS release if you need stability but still want to take full advantage of your nvidia hardware.

If you decide to install the newer version right now, don't hesitate to report any bug you might encounter in the bug report linked in the description of the video, it'll help things move even faster.

[exod]

Call me when there is no tearing on optimus laptops

[TheLinuxEXP]

Hey guys, what do you think about this ? Will it help you use your nvidia hardware on Ubuntu LTS (or any LTS based ditstro ?)

[yukatoshi]

God. I remember manually installing the latest Nvidia driver back in the Hardy Heron days lol.

[mynamesaretakenwtf]

This is not a bad move moving forward if they continue to push Wayland. I heard if you're on AMD or Intel, Wayland is kicking some ass, but Nvidia drivers just blow everything up and gaming has also been pretty much a no go on Wayland even if I try. Putting the latest drivers in by default in the LTS with Xorg by default makes sense for now even if it sounds backwards.

[StenIsaksson]

I wish you could install the graphics drivers during the installation of Ubuntu.
My PC keeps freezing up with the Nouveau drivers. It usually freeze before I even have time to install the Nvidia drivers.
BTW, I use Arch now.

[StarryNightSky]

if they keep it in nonfree, its fine I guess

[impermanenthuman]

When I install the ‘recommended’ nvidia driver all Ubuntu based distros I’ve tried go into software rendering mode and I get an error saying I have no graphics driver installed, it won’t let me revert back to the opensource driver either and the only way I can save it is to use a previous Timeshift snapshot to get back to the opensource driver
EDIT: the latest updates have offered a nvidia driver that works perfectly now

[anurag]

The damage is done Ubuntu. Mimicking Pop!_OS won't save you.

[anurag]

What about 19.04? Still not seeing 430 in the Additional Software list. That's not right. Help required.

[michaelluckymaximus]

I've had 430 for a while now though. I'm using KDE Neon

[Draconicrose]

As a mint user this is very good news for me!

[NoahNobody]

After activating the latest recommended Nvidia driver, the boot process halts on
`Started Gnome display manager - signature not signed with a trusted key`
I tried to disable secure boot and the problem is still happens.

[lucidtheming]

I'm guessing this means it can switch graphics and not tax the batteries on laptops?

[atemoc]

... AMD amkes their drivers open source, and they did other great things of Linux, yet, Nvidia is getting all the attention and all the love...

I mean, it's not a bad thing to have Nvidia supported out of the box but, more for AMD could be great, too...

[eltalraffa]

I hope this works also for legacy hardware

[debajyotisg]

Is this coming to Kubuntu 18.04.2 LTS as well? Stuck with 390.xxx here

[Osama-epvl]

can you make a video about fedora power management PLEASE <3

[RoboNTux]

I'm always confused by Videos about Updates and latest changes in Ubuntu. (Don't get me wrong here I was never an Ubuntu User for various reasons) but every time they Do something "New" it's like:"Wait, this is New? Why is Ubuntu getting attention for being late? Do they work with Internet Explorer?" oO

Or am I'm missing something here?

Ubuntu Drops 32bit library Support everybody is flipping out but any other Distro already had done this but still delivering 32bit runtimes for older programs and only updating them for security reasons. And they work perfectly well with Steam and stuff. And now Ubuntu will do so, and everybody is like so Smart o.O

Same with the "latest" nvidia driver now in LTS. I never though they still shipping old 390 driver (as I found out when taking a Look at Linux Mint because I was curious) and was confused since this driver is old and missing a lot of vulkan Features. (no I'm not running a rolling Release Distro btw. :D)

Ubuntu keeps confusing me @.@

[stigmanmagros]

we must wait for ubuntu 20 lts with all fixes, new theme etc

[Randomizermx]

I wonder if Mint will get the same treatment.