Nvidia problem getting it to work on Zorin 17.3 core

Hardware Support
1

Hi there,
I've seen many posts about problems getting Nvidia to work on Zorin and other Libux systems, and all I've read so far none seem to have any solutions. Some posts have been going on for more than a year, with no answer.

So I'm going to ask myself, here we go

I have an Nvidia GeForce GT430 card installed in the PC, and it has always worked well in Windows. But I decided to install Zorin Core 17.30 on the computer and selected to install the modern Nvidia drivers.

I notice the screen would not go beyond 640x480, the standard VGA resolution
I tried using the xrandr command to change the Video setting, but only 640x480 was the best I could select.
I was able to get to the About Panel where I saw my Graphics was not Nvidia, but it was llvmpipe (LLVM 15.0.7 128 bit)
I also checked in the BIOS to see if the Secure Boot was enabled. I have no such feature in my BIOS to disable. And also tried Additional Drivers, but using the proprietary drivers already.

So my question is, is there an easy and simple way to get this blood Nvidia card to work in Zorin or not? As many posts II have read, all seem to not have an answer. Please help if you can.

One option I have not tried is to switch to Zorin Desktop on Xorg. I really don't know anything about that option, and if it will work. Or maybe reinstall Zorin and select Just Install Zorin OS without the Nvidia option. Would that work and allow us to get better than 640x480?

Just want an easy and simple solution, if possible, please

Cheers and thank you

Carl

2

This card was released in 2010 and driver support has been dropped.
The latest working driver is 390; which is deprecated and not in the repositories.
You would need to instead use a legacy driver and you must use Xorg.

I would recommend switching to Zorin OS Lite; right off the bat.
Gnome 43 will be problematic rendering on the legacy drivers.
You may need to revert to an earlier kernel.

3

So as I thought, no easy or simple answer, apart really from Don't use Nvidia products in Linux systems, as you're going to have problems.
Like I said in my first post, I had read other posts about Nvidia, and it was always a problem. I knew that was going to be the answer

4

The card is from 2010... I think that is more relevant.

1 Like
5

Thats exactly right 100%.

When one follows Nvidia's history, one knows they no longer support old Nvidia GPU's, with their modern drivers. As Aravisian said, then one must find the driver that works with the GPU as well as 64-bit Linux, which is this one, the 390 driver.

Personally, I would recommend getting a newer computer, so that you can take advantage of modern Nvidia hardware, to leverage it for modern gaming.

If you go with a newer AMD machine, their drivers are in the kernel, which means no need for a bunch of work setting it up for gaming, in regards to driver support.

Having said that, if you don't need to play modern games, Zorin OS Lite would be the best OS, to leverage your older hardware, without your system lagging.

With a Core 2 dual machine, I'd think internet browsing would be slow on modern internet as well. When your machine was invented, 1MB per second was the fastest internet speed you could get back then.

Worry not, Zorin OS Lite will breath new life into your current machine, there is no doubt there.

I really do recommend you get a newer machine when you are able. Just word of advice, don't buy brand new Nvidia 50-series, their garbage, go AMD instead if buying brand new.

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6

Welcome to the Forum!

Because You are using an Nvidia Card, this would be a good Point to try. First, you should take a Look in Settings>About and look if You not already run in X11 because You wrote that You have installed Zorin with Nvidia Drivers. And that could make that You already run in X11.

If there should stand that You are in Wayland, You could try it with switching. To do that, go to the Login Screen (not the Lock Screen). Simply reboot for that. On the Login Screen click on Your Profile so that the Password Field appears. It has to be appeared. When it is appeared, You should see a Gear Icon in the bottom right Corner. click on it and choose the Option ''Zorin Desktop on Xorg'' and then log in.

The next Point is Your Card itself. Like @Aravisian already explained, it is an older Card and You need an older Driver. Now, You can add the PPA what he linked for You.

Or You install the Driver in Zorin from the Repositories. BUT: Then You have to install an older Kernel because the Driver from the Repo's isn't compatible with the 6.8 Kernel in Zorin. To install an older Kernel, You have here Instructions:

I would suggest to take the Mainline Tool. So, You have a graphical Interface. For the Kernel, You could take the 5.15 LTS Kernel.

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The 5.15 LTS kernel which works with nvidia 390 drivers you can also install in terminal with this command:

"sudo apt install linux-headers-5.15.0-141-generic linux-image-5.15.0-141-generic linux-modules-5.15.0-141-generic linux-modules-extra-5.15.0-141-generic"

1 Like