Ubuntu – Trying to install Proprietory Nvidia Graphics Drivers

12.04cudagraphicsnvidiaopengl

After reading and trying many different suggestions for some hours, I returned to this how-to:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/Nvidia

The first problem I encounter is how to identify which of the listed drivers support my Nvidia GEForce 630M graphics card. Following the links doesn't really help, since it is not stated there either (except where support for a new driver was added later which is explicitly stated, but the original devices covered are not).

However, even if I knew, if it doesn't appear in the 'Additional Drivers' dialogue (see below), how will I install it?

Second Issue:

The article goes on to say that available drivers for my hardware are usually listed in 'Additional Drivers'. In my case, they aren't. Unfortunately, it doesn't tell me how to correct that or work around it?

I've checked the bios and there is no way offered there to disable the integrated graphics, only the Nvidia graphics.

I've also tried each available option in this:

$ sudo update-alternatives --config i386-linux-gnu_gl_conf

My system is an Acer Aspire 4752G bought May 2012.

I'm running Ubuntu 12.04LTS.

uname -a :

3.2.0-38-generic-pae #61-Ubuntu SMP Tue Feb 19 12:39:51 UTC 2013 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux

It's 64bit hardware but I installed 32bit OS for greater software compatibility.

Running $ sudo tail -fn 500 /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep '(EE)' returns"

(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
[    28.886] (EE) Failed to initialize GLX extension (Compatible NVIDIA X driver not found)

The reason for wanting the proprietor y drivers is because my laptop comes with 3D accelerated graphics adaptor and so rather than confining myself to struggling with the on-board graphics, I would rather use it. I also want to experiment with using it for bitmining (which uses the GPU's for computing power).

Best Answer

I installed cuda on ubuntu 12.04 as package as shown on NVIDIA website.

The graphic samples where not working saying:

hasan@ubt:~$ glxinfo | grep renderer 
Xlib:  extension "GLX" missing on display ":0".
Xlib:  extension "GLX" missing on display ":0".

The link http://forum.ubuntuusers.de/topic/kubuntu-und-nvidia-mit-proprietaere-treiber/2/#post-5901377 helped me.

essentially: 

sudo apt-get purge nvidia-319-updates nvidia-settings-319-updates nvidia-prime
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg-lts-raring
sudo apt-get install nvidia-319-updates nvidia-prime
sudo reboot

Check with glxinfo | grep renderer. It showed on my Laptop:

OpenGL renderer string: GeForce GT 650M/PCIe/SSE2

The Cuda graphic demos worked!

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