Nvidia on old Alienware

Basic wayland support

There are two kernel parameters for the nvidia_drm module to be considered: modeset and fbdev. Both are enabled by default when using the nvidia-utils package. NVIDIA also plans to enable them by default in a future release.

Build and install driver from AUR for old cards

You must find your own driver, the 470xx applies to my GT 750M.

This will build and install

  • opencl-nvidia-470xx
  • nvidia-470xx-dkms : The driver
  • nvidia-470xx-utils
  • lib32-nvidia-470xx-utils

It is essential to install linux-headers FOR OLDER CARDS or there will be no modules to load. Installing linux-headers after install of nvidia-470xx-utils will actually trigger install of modules.

The lib32-nvidia-470xx-utils is the package that provide lib32_vulkan_driver for nvidia and is essential for steam to be able to connect to vulkan.

sudo pacman -Sy linux-headers
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/nvidia-470xx-utils.git
cd nvidia-470xx-utils
makepkg -si
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/lib32-nvidia-470xx-utils.git
cd lib32-nvidia-470xx-utils
makepkg -si

For new cards

Just install nvidia-open.

NOTE: Select correct driver that shall provide the lib32-vulkan-driver

sudo pacman -Sy nvidia-open
#SELECT lib32-nvidia-utils when asked!!!

It is NOT necessary to:

  • modify mkinitcpio to load modules early or remove kms(nouvaeu driver)
  • set drm kernel parameters in grub or systemd
  • add pacman hook

And this applies to both new and old cards!!!

Monitoring and performance checkingtool

  • nvtop : to monitor use of GPU
  • vulkaninfo : to check if vulkan can see the nvidia card
  • glmark2 : Will report back the GPU (which should be internal) and demonstrate that it is not running on nvidia GPU 
    sudo pacman -Sy nvtop vulkan-tools glmark2

Check that vulkan is using nvidia GPU

[name@alienware ~]$ vulkaninfo | grep driver
	VK_LUNARG_direct_driver_loading        : extension revision 1
	driverVersion     = 471.0.2.0 (1975517312)
	driverUUID                        = b67e126b-ca9f-5837-843e-603a6ad11b15
	driverID                                             = DRIVER_ID_NVIDIA_PROPRIETARY
	driverName                                           = NVIDIA
	driverInfo                                           = 470.256.02
	VK_KHR_driver_properties                  : extension revision 1

Check that hyprland and its application is using internal GPU

If you have an internal GPU that is..

[name@alienware ~]$ glmark2
=======================================================
    glmark2 2023.01
=======================================================
    OpenGL Information
    GL_VENDOR:      Intel
    GL_RENDERER:    Mesa Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600 (HSW GT2)
    GL_VERSION:     4.6 (Compatibility Profile) Mesa 25.0.2-arch1.2
    Surface Config: buf=32 r=8 g=8 b=8 a=8 depth=24 stencil=0 samples=0
    Surface Size:   800x600 windowed

Install steam

Enable multilib

sudo vim /etc/pacman.conf
#UNCOMMENT THESE
[multilib]
Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
sudo pacman -Sy steam

Play games

  • For native linux games add -vulkan in Launch options for game.
  • For windows games
    • Add -vulkan in Launch options for game
    • Select Proton under Compatibilty

Even though you have no integrated graphics card, the fps will be around 30 without the vulkan option, and much better with the vulkan option.

Thats it. In summary clone two packages from AUR, build and install them togheter with linux-headers. A range of other packages will also be installed because -s to makepkg will resolve dependencies.

In my experience the packages themselves mutes the nouvaeu driver and no other config is necessary.