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NVIDIA have released the big new Linux Beta driver 440.26 today

By - | Views: 27,335

Today NVIDIA released the 440.26 Beta driver for Linux with a number of new features, enhancements and a few interesting bug fixes.

New Feature Highlight:

  • VP9 decode support to the NVIDIA VDPAU driver.
  • Added EGL support for PRIME render offload.
  • Parallel GLSL shader linking is enabled by default, so it allows using GL_ARB_parallel_shader_compile without first calling "glMaxShaderCompilerThreadsARB()".
  • Support for HDMI 2.1 variable refresh rate (VRR) G-SYNC Compatible monitors on supported GPUs.
  • Support for the GLX_NV_multigpu_context and GL_NV_gpu_multicast extensions.
  • The Nvidia Settings application will now tell you if there's unsaved config changes when quitting.
  • Enabled HardDPMS by default.

Bug Fix Highlight:

  • They also continue improving DXVK support with corruption issues solved in Saints Row IV and Saints Row: The Third.
  • Another important fix is falling back to system memory "when video memory is full for some driver-internal allocations". Something that was causing issues with a few DXVK/Steam Play titles, which they were testing out in the recent 435.19.03 Vulkan Beta Driver so it's good to see that come to their mainline driver.
  • They also fixed a regression from the 435.19.02 Vulkan Beta Driver, that caused some apps to get a segmentation fault with the VK_KHR_DISPLAY extension.
  • A bug that prevented Vulkan working on systems with SLI enabled was solved, although they can only use a single GPU.

There's more to it, I'm just cherry-picking things that sounded fun. Good to see NVIDIA keep up with quick driver releases.

You can find the full details here.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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33 comments
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whatever Oct 19, 2019
Quoting: ageres
Quoting: EikeThere's a reason most gamers are using Nvidia.
Marketing?

For some people yes, but you can't deny that Navi is the first really decent AMD architecture in far too many years.

Too bad the current Linux situation is far from ideal.

I've been using nvidia hardware for literally decades without any major problems. They have been generally good products for me in terms of stability, functionality and support, especially on Linux.

I switched to AMD for my current build to try and support the open source friendly company, and frankly I'm already regretting it.
Eike Oct 19, 2019
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Quoting: barottoI switched to AMD for my current build to try and support the open source friendly company, and frankly I'm already regretting it.

I'm interested in your experiences...
whatever Oct 19, 2019
Quoting: Eike
Quoting: barottoI switched to AMD for my current build to try and support the open source friendly company, and frankly I'm already regretting it.

I'm interested in your experiences...

Essentially this, random hangs: https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=111481 (which is really bad because affects desktop stability)

But also this: https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=111482 (which is quite annoying because the fans are constantly spinning up and down)
Kelvinhbo Oct 19, 2019
So NVIDIA users can finally have hardware accelerated videos on YouTube with VP9 decoder like on every other platform, I've only been waiting for this for like 10 years.
sub Oct 19, 2019
Quoting: barotto
Quoting: Eike
Quoting: barottoI switched to AMD for my current build to try and support the open source friendly company, and frankly I'm already regretting it.

I'm interested in your experiences...

Essentially this, random hangs: https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=111481 (which is really bad because affects desktop stability)

But also this: https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=111482 (which is quite annoying because the fans are constantly spinning up and down)

This is unfortunate indeed.

For the first bug, it seems that it hasn't caught any attention from a dev?
Consider heading to Phoronix (yeah, I know...) and try to contact Bridgman or Marek Olsak.
Wouldn't be the first time this brings specific issues into focus and got resolved soon.

Next GPU will be AMD again for sure.
Unless intel comes up with something competitive.
Nvidia in the current state is simply a no-go to me.
Don't say it's zealotery.

It's just that I like companies that respect ideas and values of communities and ecosystems.
So while people often praise Nvidia for their "great Linux support", think again:
Is the way Nvidia strategically acts is really something to consider "support" of the idea of Linux?
Comandante Ñoñardo Oct 19, 2019
It seems that 440.26 is not a beta anymore...At least, according to this Ubuntu PPA
Shmerl Oct 20, 2019
Quoting: barottoBut also this: https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=111482 (which is quite annoying because the fans are constantly spinning up and down)

Interesting, I'm also using KDE, and I don't see such issue. I'm using PCIe 4, and for me GPU power consumption when using regular desktop (i.e. no major heavy games or anything like that) is 8 W. I also have the same card (Sapphire Pulse RX 5700 XT) and latest firmware. I think the original reporter of the bug has outdated firmware, since his idle fan RPM is not 0. I noticed that with older firmware as well. Could be power consumption levels were also different, I didn't check it before.

Though my monitor isn't like that mentioned in the bug report, but I plan to get high refresh rate monitor soon, so thanks for the pointer, I'll keep track of that bug.


Last edited by Shmerl on 20 October 2019 at 1:58 am UTC
Shmerl Oct 20, 2019
Quoting: subIt's just that I like companies that respect ideas and values of communities and ecosystems.
So while people often praise Nvidia for their "great Linux support", think again:
Is the way Nvidia strategically acts is really something to consider "support" of the idea of Linux?

Nvidia spends a lot more money on their graphics team, so I'm not surprised they fix bugs faster. But despite the money poured into it, they surely don't support Linux properly, because they insist on using Windows approach for their Linux driver. And besides, they only fix what suits them. All their integration problems aren't fixed for years and even decades, despite all the money. Because it's not a priority for them.


Last edited by Shmerl on 20 October 2019 at 1:32 am UTC
Nod Oct 20, 2019
Quoting: Comandante ÑoñardoIt seems that 440.26 is not a beta anymore...At least, according to this Ubuntu PPA

Well according to https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/drivers/unix/ its still Beta as its not listed yet. I'm wondering if 440 is going to be a Long Lived or Short Lived Branch. I'm assuming Long Lived based on the logic listed on https://askubuntu.com/a/1174230/274003 but its hard to be certain as their naming methodology is undefined.


Last edited by Nod on 20 October 2019 at 7:28 am UTC
Pangaea Oct 20, 2019
Quoting: barottoFor some people yes, but you can't deny that Navi is the first really decent AMD architecture in far too many years.

Too bad the current Linux situation is far from ideal.

I've been using nvidia hardware for literally decades without any major problems. They have been generally good products for me in terms of stability, functionality and support, especially on Linux.

I switched to AMD for my current build to try and support the open source friendly company, and frankly I'm already regretting it.
The same situation here (and thanks again for the information in the PSU fried thread). I used AMD many, many years ago (Radeon 8500, named as ATI back then), but have used Nvidia since. Not had any problems in truth, but it's been a breath of fresh air to have AMD back on the scene. Finally a kick up Intel's and Nvidia's arse. De facto monopoly is never a good situation for consumers.

But it has been heartsinking to read about these severe Linux driver and stability issues. Meant I had to postpone buying a new computer. And for those who have done so recently and now have an unstable computer, it's bound to cause negative thoughts and regrets, which may affect sales both in the near and distant future.

Hopefully they solve these issues very soon.
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