NVIDIA Driver Transition on Arch Linux: Legacy Support, Open Kernel Modules & Migration Guide

 

Arch Linux's NVIDIA driver now uses open-source kernel modules for RTX 20+ GPUs. GTX 10/900 series users must migrate to AUR legacy drivers. Our guide provides steps, analysis of the open-source shift, and performance implications. Stay compatible.

The Arch Linux distribution has shifted its official NVIDIA graphics driver packages to the new R590 series, initiating a significant change for users. 

This update formalizes the transition to open-source kernel modules for modern GPUs while deprecating support for older GeForce GTX 900 (Maxwell) and GTX 1000 (Pascal) series cards within the main repositories. 

Users with affected hardware must now migrate to legacy driver branches to maintain functionality—a critical system administration task for maintaining a stable graphical environment. 

This guide provides the essential migration steps, explores the implications of NVIDIA’s open-source kernel driver initiative, and outlines your options for optimal GPU performance on Arch.

Understanding the NVIDIA Driver Branch Split: R590 and Legacy

With the stable release of the NVIDIA 590 driver series, the official packaged drivers in Arch Linux’s core repositories now exclusively support Turing, Ampere, Ada Lovelace, and Blackwell GPUs (e.g., RTX 20 series and newer). 

This driver branch leverages NVIDIA’s open-source kernel modules (nvidia-open) by default, representing a pivotal shift in the company’s Linux strategy. Consequently, support for Maxwell (GTX 900 series) and Pascal (GTX 10 series) architectures has been moved to a legacy proprietary driver branch, accessible only via the Arch User Repository (AUR).

The Arch Linux project announced: "With the update to driver version 590, the NVIDIA driver no longer supports Pascal (GTX 10xx) GPUs or older. We will replace the nvidia package with nvidia-open, nvidia-dkms with nvidia-open-dkms, and nvidia-lts with nvidia-lts-open."

This segmentation means your required action depends entirely on your GPU's architecture. Incorrect driver installation will result in a failure to load the kernel module, potentially leaving you with a non-functional desktop or fallback to low-resolution display output.

Migration Path for Pascal & Maxwell GPU Users

If your system uses a GeForce GTX 1000 series or older graphics card, immediate intervention is required before or during your next system update. You must transition from the mainline nvidia packages to the legacy proprietary driver branch.

Step-by-Step Migration Procedure:

1. Uninstall Current Drivers: Remove the now-incompatible mainline packages.

   bash

   sudo pacman -Rns nvidia nvidia-lts nvidia-dkms nvidia-utils lib32-nvidia-utils

   (Retain only the packages relevant to your installation.)

2. Install Legacy Drivers from AUR: Utilize an AUR helper like yay or paru to build and install the legacy DKMS package.

   bash

   yay -S nvidia-580xx-dkms nvidia-580xx-utils lib32-nvidia-580xx-utils

   This 580xx legacy branch will provide continued support for your hardware.

3. Regenerate Initial Ramdisk: After installation, rebuild your initramfs to ensure the legacy kernel module is loaded at boot.

   bash

   sudo mkinitcpio -P

4. Reboot Your System: Restart to load the new legacy driver successfully.

Impact of Inaction: Neglecting this migration will cause the nvidia-open driver to fail on boot, as it lacks the necessary firmware and support for pre-Turing GPUs. Your system may boot to a black screen or a console-only environment.

The Rise of NVIDIA’s Open-Source Kernel Modules

For users with Turing (RTX 20 series), Ampere (RTX 30 series), Ada Lovelace (RTX 40 series), or newer GPUs, the update to the R590 series is seamless and brings a fundamental architectural change. 

The driver now defaults to using NVIDIA’s official open-source kernel modules, which have been in public development for over three and a half years.

Why Has NVIDIA Embraced Open-Source Kernel Drivers?

This strategic shift is driven by technical necessity and industry trends. The modern NVIDIA GPU System Processor (GSP) present in Turing-and-newer architectures offloads critical initialization and management tasks. 

The new open-source driver is designed to leverage the GSP, leading to improved efficiency and a more streamlined codebase that integrates more cleanly with the mainline Linux kernel—though it remains out-of-tree.

Furthermore, for the latest Blackwell architecture GPUs, these open-source kernel modules are the only official kernel driver option. NVIDIA has ceased extension of its older, fully closed-source kernel driver for new hardware. 

This move aligns with broader Linux ecosystem preferences and facilitates better collaboration with kernel developers.

The open-source kernel modules are now the default because they depend on the GSP firmware. Since Pascal and older GPUs lack a GSP, they are architecturally incompatible with this new driver stack, necessitating the legacy branch.

Exploring Alternative Open-Source Drivers: Nouveau & NVK

Beyond the official NVIDIA drivers, the open-source ecosystem offers another path: the Nouveau kernel driver coupled with the NVK Mesa Vulkan driver. This fully open-source stack is reverse-engineered and does not require NVIDIA's proprietary firmware or user-space components.

• Nouveau/NVK Stack: Provides basic display functionality and accelerating 3D graphics via the NVK driver, which is making rapid progress.

• Current Limitations: Performance and feature support (e.g., ray tracing, DLSS) generally lag behind the official proprietary drivers. Power management re-clocking remains a challenge for many cards, often leaving the GPU in a low-performance state.

• Best Use-Case: Ideal for users who prioritize full software freedom over maximum performance and compatibility, or for achieving basic desktop acceleration on systems where proprietary drivers are undesirable.

For most users seeking full performance and stability, the official drivers—whether the legacy 580xx branch or the modern nvidia-open branch—are the recommended choice.

Actionable Summary & System Administrator Recommendations

Navigating this transition correctly is vital for system stability. Here is a definitive GPU support matrix to guide your decision:

 If you encounter a black screen after an update, boot using a fallback or older kernel, chroot into your system, and verify the installed driver package matches your GPU generation. 

Always check the Arch Linux news feed (archlinux.org/news) and the NVIDIA driver article on the Arch Wiki before major updates—these are indispensable resources for Linux system administration.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: My GTX 1070 was working before pacman -Syu. Now I have no GUI. What do I do?

A1: This confirms an incorrect driver load. Reboot, select an older kernel from your bootloader if available, or boot from a live USB. Follow the legacy migration steps above to install the nvidia-580xx-dkms package from the AUR.

Q2: Are the new open-source kernel modules as performant as the old closed-source ones?

A2: For supported GPUs (Turing+), yes. The user-space proprietary components (which handle performance-critical tasks like CUDA and OpenGL) remain unchanged. The kernel module change is largely transparent for performance but improves system integration.

Q3: How do I check which NVIDIA GPU and driver I currently have installed?

A3: Use the terminal command lspci -k | grep -A 2 -E "(VGA|3D)" to identify your GPU. Use nvidia-smi (if the driver is loaded) or pacman -Qs nvidia to check installed driver packages.

Q4: Will the legacy 580xx driver branch receive long-term updates?

A4: It will receive critical security and bug fixes, but no new features or optimizations. It is a maintenance branch for deprecated hardware.

Q5: Can I use the nvidia-open driver on my GTX 1650 (Turing)?

A5: Yes. The GTX 1650 is a Turing-based GPU and is fully supported by the new R590+ nvidia-open driver branch.