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  • Open Linux Kernel Modules Installed by Default

    Starting in the release 560 series, it will be recommended to use the open flavor of NVIDIA Linux Kernel Modules wherever possible (Turing or later GPUs, or Ada or later when using GPU virtualization).

    If installing from the .run file, installation will detect what GPUs are present and default to installing the open kernel modules if all NVIDIA GPUs in the system can be driven by the open kernel modules. Distribution-specific repackaging of the NVIDIA driver may require additional steps, specific to that packaging, to choose the open flavor.

    In the release 560 series, it will still be possible to configure the .run file to install the proprietary flavor of kernel modules, with the --kernel-module-type=proprietary command line option. However, in the future, some GPUs may only be supported with the open flavor.

  • Support for 32-bit x86 kernels
    The Linux-x86 and FreeBSD-x86 release packages, as well as support for 32-bit kernels in the Solaris package, are no longer provided starting with release 396.

    Support for 32-bit applications running on x86_64 kernels will continue.

    See https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4604 for more details.

  • Support for Fermi-based GPUs
    Fermi-based GPUs are no longer supported starting with release 396. These GPUs were supported through the release 390 legacy branch, which received critical bug fixes and updates for compatibility with new Linux kernels and X server versions through the end of 2022.

    See What's a legacy driver? | NVIDIA for a list of Fermi-based GPUs.

  • Support for Maxwell-, Pascal-, and Volta-based GPUs
    The release 580 series will be the last to support GPUs based on the Maxwell, Pascal, and Volta architectures.

  • Minimum kernel version
    The release 410 series was the last to support Linux 2.6.9 kernels. After that, the minimum required Linux kernel version moved to 2.6.32.
    The release 470 series was the last to support Linux 2.6.32 kernels. After that, the minimum required Linux kernel version moved to 3.10.
    The release 550 series was the the last to support Linux 3.10 kernels. After that, the minimum required Linux kernel version moved to Linux 4.15.

  • Minimum X server version
    The release 410 series was the last to support X.Org X servers older than version 1.5.
    The release 418 series was the last to support X.Org X servers older than version 1.7.
    The release 580 series will be the last to support X.Org X servers older than version 1.17.

  • Minimum glibc version
    The release 415 series was the last to support glibc 2.2.5 on Linux x86_64. After that, the minimum required glibc version for Linux x86_64 moved to 2.11.

  • Support for non-GLVND OpenGL and EGL libraries on Linux
    The release 430 series was the last to support installing Linux OpenGL and EGL client libraries that do not use the GL Vendor Neutral Dispatch (GLVND) loader library.

  • Support for Serial Digital Interface (SDI) video output and capture
    The release 430 series was the last to support the NVIDIA Quadro SDI Output and NVIDIA Quadro SDI Capture cards.

  • Support for SLI AA/AFR/SFR modes
    The release 450 series was the last to support the following SLI modes:

    • AA
    • AFR
    • SFR

    SLI Mosaic, Base Mosaic, GL_NV_gpu_multicast, and GLX_NV_multigpu_context will continue to be supported in future driver series.

  • Support for older presets and rate control modes in NVENC API
    The release 580 series will be the last one to support older presets and rate control modes in NVENC API.

    Refer to the preset migration guide at NVENC PRESET MIGRATION Guide

  • Minimum Wayland version

    The release 580 series will be the last to support Wayland older than version 1.20.0.

  • Support for Xinerama

    The release 595 series will be the last to support Xinerama. SLI Mosaic or RandR display offload (also known as “Reverse PRIME”) can be used to extend an X11 screen across displays on multiple GPUs.

  • Minimum FreeBSD version

    The release r610 series will be the last to support FreeBSD versions older than 14.3-RELEASE

  • Support for Solaris

    The release 610 series will be the last to support Solaris. Users can contact Oracle for continued security updates.

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The first post has been updated to note that the release 580 series will be the last to support GPUs based on the Maxwell, Pascal, and Volta architectures.

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The first post has been updated to note that the release 580 series will be the last to support older versions of Wayland.

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The first post has been updated to note that the release 595 series will be the last to support Xinerama.

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The first post has been updated to note that Solaris drivers will not be provided after the 610 release series.