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I have recently installed Ubuntu 12.04 alongside Windows 7.

After completing the Software Update process, I thought that my nVidia drivers also would have been updated, but after restarting the system and checking the version, it still was showing as version 173.14.35. I have nvidia geforce 7025 / 630a integrated in my ASUS motherboard

Can someone tell me how can I update my drivers with the most latest and stable release?

Also when searching a lot I went through couple of pages which showed something like PPA. Can someone please explain me what is a PPA?

Sathyajith Bhat
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sud_the_devil
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  • Regarding PPA's: there are several topics on AU regarding PPA's. Please have a look around this site.http://askubuntu.com/questions/4983/what-are-ppas-and-how-do-i-use-them?rq=1 – Rinzwind Jul 28 '12 at 15:02

3 Answers3

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Regarding: most latest and stable release

Open dash with the super key.

Start typing addi

It will show an icon with additional drivers underneath. Check what drivers it shows and pick one that works best.

Example:

enter image description here

Installing drivers with a PPA tends to be bleeding edge and unstable versions or give support to abandoned drivers or old cards etc. Keep away from those if you are not 100% sure how to fix problems that arise from those drivers.

Rinzwind
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  • Sir.. I have already installed them from additional drivers option..

    I selected the NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (version 173)

    There are other options also :

    NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (post release version)(version 173 updates)

    I chose the 1st one coz the recommended one which showed current version was buggy & stopped compiz from working...

     – sud_the_devil Jul 28 '12 at 15:20
  • Sir can u tell me how did u embedded that image into this site ..

    Because I also want to add image to show which driver from additional drivers section I have chosen ...

     – sud_the_devil Jul 28 '12 at 15:27
  • @sud_the_devil there is a icon where you can upload an image when asking and when answering at the icon bar atop of the text input. – Rinzwind Jul 28 '12 at 16:13
  • and how does that thing you do with an ATI Driver apply to an nvidia problem? – Henning Nov 01 '13 at 22:55
  • @henning it does since the actions are the same. He will get the nVidia driver and I get the AMD one. – Rinzwind Nov 02 '13 at 10:17
  • hmm, ok i see and partly agree, but only for simple cases. in complex cases, if the card is a special one that is hardly supported, it's different. – Henning Nov 02 '13 at 22:02
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COMMENT DELETED: it's not a good idea to install these manually, use the instructions below that others have given because you will run into an issue with the DKMS added Kernel support in 304.22 and it will break your Ubuntu installation if you attempt to revert back to your previous installation of the Nvidia drivers. It's very complex to fix a bad install of these so I no longer recommend doing it this way.

  • Hello Sir..

    Even after trying the terminal commands that posted below...

    sudo apt-add-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates && sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get upgrade && sudo apt-get install nvidia-current

    My nVidia X server settings still showing me version 173...

    I don't get it..I mean I updated to the latest version but still somehow I am getting that same driver ...

    I have manually downloaded the beta version of nvidia driver from the official site NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-304.22.run ...Should I install it..??

    If YES.. then how can I install it...??

    PLease sir... reply ASAP ... :)

     – sud_the_devil Jul 29 '12 at 13:08
  • Thank You for the answer sir...

    But I cannot get past the 4th step where I have to open the TTY terminal.. After pressing the ALT + CTRL + F1 nothing happens on the screen ...

    I have a 64 bit UBUNTU ...so the file name of the driver name was a bit different but I got that one right...

    Just that TTY terminal problem is not getting solved ...

     – sud_the_devil Jul 30 '12 at 08:37
  • @sud_the_devil I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU USE THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW THAT OTHERS HAVE SUGGESTED. USE THE OFFICIAL UBUNTU INSTALLER "ADDITIONAL DRIVERS" AND SELECT THE MOST RECENT NVIDIA DRIVERS OR THE ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates REPOSITORY SEE INSTRUCTIONS THAT OTHERS HAVE POSTED. –  Jul 30 '12 at 20:18
  • yes sir I have followed the instructiob given by @Web-E – sud_the_devil Aug 01 '12 at 18:33
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I don't know your graphics card model, so my answer is based on assumption.

Its looks like your graphics card is old and use legacy 173 driver from nvidia.

If so, for your graphics card, there was no development done from nivida in terms of version. So whatever you have is the best and latest driver. If you forcefully install new drivers it will cause lag/crash to your system.

A ppa is a package bundle provided by 3rd party (meaning any other than Ubuntu official). Adding a ppa and installing an app/driver from it means you will be receiving updates for them when the ppa owner updates a page.

Basically ppa s are for easy install and update process.

See more details from this discussion What are PPAs and how do I use them?

-- Update --

If you want stable an updated driver. Please use x-swat ppa. This team provide latest & stable drivers for ubuntu. Issue the following commands,

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates && sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade && sudo apt-get install nvidia-current
Community
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Web-E
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  • Oops :) Sorry ...

    I have nvidia geforce 7025 / 630a integrated in my ASUS motherboard...

     – sud_the_devil Jul 28 '12 at 15:11
  • Yes. Then 173 driver is the latest for your graphics card in linux – Web-E Jul 28 '12 at 15:14
  • Are you sure sir..??

    Because when I visited nvidia's site :

    http://www.nvidia.in/object/linux-display-amd64-295.59-driver-in.html

    Under the supported products tab my gfx (geforce 7025 / nforce 630a) was given...

     – sud_the_devil Jul 28 '12 at 15:25
  • You can try with it or See the updated answer. But I will say if you are not having problem with 173. Stick with it. – Web-E Jul 28 '12 at 18:37
  • Hello Sir..

    Even after trying your terminal commands that you posted ... nVidia X server settings still showing version 173...

    I don't get it..I mean I updated to the latest version but still somehow I am getting that same driver ...

    I have manually downloaded the beta version of nvidia driver from the official site NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-304.22.run ...Should I install it..??

    Its version 304.22 beta...

    If YES.. then how can I install it...??

    PLease sir... reply ASAP ... :)

    thank you ... :)

     – sud_the_devil Jul 29 '12 at 13:06
  • If you're going to try the drivers downloaded from NVIDIA, I'd recommend the stable 295.59 ahead of the beta 304.22. But the method of running is the same. chmod +x NVIVIA-Linux-X86_64-304.22.run (or ...295.59.run) then sudo ./NVIDIA-Linux-X86_64-304.22.run. As I recall, if it doesn't detect a supported device it won't install. – StarNamer Jul 30 '12 at 22:02