Ubuntu – How to install nVidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti drivers for Ubuntu 18.04.03 LTS on Acer Predator Helios 300 laptop

acerdriversnvidia

I've recently purchased an Acer Predator Helios 300 laptop.

RAM 8GB

128 GB SSD

1 TB HDD

Intel i5 processor with integrated UHD graphics

NVidia Geforce GTX 1050 Ti 4 GB

For the last entire week I've been trying to install Ubuntu 18.04.03 LTS on this machine. (Single OS, no dual booting for me. ) It installs alright but the first boot requires setting 'nomdeset' as kernel option at the GRUB screen.
After first boot up, I tried to install nVidia graphics drivers in all the following ways and every time, after reboot, I see that Intel UHD drivers are running the display instead of the NVidia driver –

  1. Installed drivers from.run file downloaded from NVidia's website.

  2. 'Additional Hardware' dialogue.

  3. Installing NVidia drivers from the ppa

  4. Removing, purging drivers, then 'update-initramfs – u' and install from recovery menu of the GRUB.

  5. Installing official. run file using CC=gcc-7 flag.

  6. Used different files from 'Additional Hardware' utility

  7. Tried turning off Wayland from custom.conf

  8. Blacklisting nouveau hasn't solved the issue.

  9. Tried many excellent answers from this forum.

Nothing is working. Every time, either Ubuntu freezes after login screen or Intel UHD drivers take over display.

I tried nvidia-smi command. But sometimes it showed NVidia GPU info and sometimes it didn't ("could not communicate with driver, make sure you have installed correct one bla bla bla" )

Using prime-select has no effect.

The NVidia control panel shows NVidia as selected driver (most irritating!)

I'm officially at my wit's end. I really don't want freaking Windows 10 on my machine. I messed up my installion twice already.

Please help me here friends.

Best Answer

If you want direct prime-select to install with the driver, try installing nvidia-390 which by default contains prime-select for some reason.

Related Question