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Nvidia release Linux beta driver with Vulkan

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Well, this is awkward, Nvidia have also released a driver on Linux with Vulkan support. This leaves AMD to be the only desktop GPU vendor not to have one ready for testing on Linux. When amdgpu is out though, AMD will be back in the game.

Neil TrevettIf you’re a GeForce gamer, you already have what you need to take advantage of what the Vulkan API can do. If you’re a developer, you will now have the choice of a new tool that will give you more control, and greater performance, on a broad range of devices.

Our support for Vulkan, on the day it launches, not just on multiple platforms, but in cutting-edge games such as The Talos Principle, has some of the industry’s most respected observers taking notice.

“To be able to play a game like The Talos Principle on the same day an API launches, is an unheard of achievement,” said Jon Peddie, president of Jon Peddie Research. “NVIDIA’s multi-platform compatibility and fully conformant driver support across many operating systems is a testament to the company’s leadership role in Vulkan’s development.”

- See more at: http://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/2016/02/16/vulkan-graphics-api/#sthash.6dN2jv56.dpuf

Source article about Vulkan from Nvidia.

Supported cards:
QuoteQuadro Series: Quadro M6000, Quadro M5000, Quadro M4000, Quadro K6000, Quadro K5200, Quadro K5000, Quadro K4000, Quadro K4200, Quadro K2200, Quadro K2000, Quadro K2000D, Quadro K1200, Quadro K620, Quadro K420
Quadro Series (Notebooks): Quadro K5100M, Quadro K5000M, Quadro K4100M, Quadro K4000M, Quadro K3100M, Quadro K2200M, Quadro K2100M, Quadro K3000M, Quadro K2000M, Quadro K1100M, Quadro K1000M, Quadro K620M, Quadro K610M, Quadro K510M, Quadro K500M

GeForce 900 Series: GeForce GTX TITAN X, GeForce GTX 980 Ti, GeForce GTX 980, GeForce GTX 970, GeForce GTX 960, GeForce GTX 950

GeForce 700 Series: GeForce GTX TITAN Z, GeForce GTX TITAN Black, GeForce GTX TITAN, GeForce GTX 780 Ti, GeForce GTX 780, GeForce GTX 770, GeForce GTX 760, GeForce GTX 760 Ti (OEM), GeForce GTX 750 Ti, GeForce GTX 750, GeForce GTX 745, GeForce GT 740, GeForce GT 730, GeForce GT 720, GeForce GT 710, GeForce GT 705

GeForce 600 Series: GeForce GTX 690, GeForce GTX 680, GeForce GTX 670, GeForce GTX 660 Ti, GeForce GTX 660, GeForce GTX 650 Ti BOOST, GeForce GTX 650 Ti, GeForce GTX 650, GeForce GTX 645, GeForce GT 645, GeForce GT 640, GeForce GT 630


Find the download page here. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Beta, NVIDIA, Vulkan
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Pecisk Feb 16, 2016
Quoting: leillo1975I ser that the Vulkan beta driver is 355.00. I have installed in my system 361.28. Are my driver Vulkan ready or only the driver 355 are capable?

You have to install Vulkan beta driver 355.00. It seems Vulkan API Is just added to older version of driver as it is for testing. When it will be OKed by QA, they will add it to latest driver release.
linux_gamer Feb 16, 2016
Quoting: scujasSo 800 Series cards not supported?
Unlikely as 700s and 600s are, I would try it.

600M don't seem to be supported, but it didn't complain at installation. Got a black screen :(
metro2033fanboy Feb 16, 2016
No x70 announcement yet...mine old grannies 970 are getting dusty!

#GoVegan #EVGA
tony1ab Feb 16, 2016
ME, THE OTHER DAY: "Less talk about Vulkan and more games using it".

ME, TODAY: WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!


Last edited by tony1ab on 16 February 2016 at 10:20 pm UTC
Teal Feb 16, 2016
Successfully got both driver and Vulkan SDK working and managed to compile some of the nVidia's examples and they run quite nicely (even though I seemingly can't compile some of them).

I am on a GTX 760 and 4.2.0-27 Kernel.
wojtek88 Feb 16, 2016
They did like they promised. NVidia cards older than 600 series did not get the Vulkan support. Time to upgrade, and flat still needs so much money to be finished... Hard times in front of me ;)
neowiz73 Feb 16, 2016
Quoting: leillo1975I ser that the Vulkan beta driver is 355.00. I have installed in my system 361.28. Are my driver Vulkan ready or only the driver 355 are capable?

my thoughts exactly, i was kind of confused on the version number myself.
neowiz73 Feb 16, 2016
Quoting: Pecisk
Quoting: leillo1975I ser that the Vulkan beta driver is 355.00. I have installed in my system 361.28. Are my driver Vulkan ready or only the driver 355 are capable?

You have to install Vulkan beta driver 355.00. It seems Vulkan API Is just added to older version of driver as it is for testing. When it will be OKed by QA, they will add it to latest driver release.

the thing is we have versions 355, 358 and 361 available in beta forms as well. so the questions still remains is it just the 355 or will the other newer versions receive the update? I'd assume yes... but I've learned to never assume anything because it's not always the case.
Pecisk Feb 16, 2016
Quoting: neowiz73
Quoting: Pecisk
Quoting: leillo1975I ser that the Vulkan beta driver is 355.00. I have installed in my system 361.28. Are my driver Vulkan ready or only the driver 355 are capable?

You have to install Vulkan beta driver 355.00. It seems Vulkan API Is just added to older version of driver as it is for testing. When it will be OKed by QA, they will add it to latest driver release.

the thing is we have versions 355, 358 and 361 available in beta forms as well. so the questions still remains is it just the 355 or will the other newer versions receive the update? I'd assume yes... but I've learned to never assume anything because it's not always the case.

Well, they specifically pointed out 355.00 driver as being used for testing. As for how it will be added to other branches - that's question to Nvidia support I guess :)
Teal Feb 16, 2016
Quoting: neowiz73
Quoting: Pecisk
Quoting: leillo1975I ser that the Vulkan beta driver is 355.00. I have installed in my system 361.28. Are my driver Vulkan ready or only the driver 355 are capable?

You have to install Vulkan beta driver 355.00. It seems Vulkan API Is just added to older version of driver as it is for testing. When it will be OKed by QA, they will add it to latest driver release.

the thing is we have versions 355, 358 and 361 available in beta forms as well. so the questions still remains is it just the 355 or will the other newer versions receive the update? I'd assume yes... but I've learned to never assume anything because it's not always the case.

It's very simple. They forked the driver at 355 and implemented Vulkan in the splintered fork, probably beginning with that months ago. Then, 358 and 361 happened independently on that, but they haven't yet bothered with porting the changes over to the new versions of the driver.

Long story short, yes, you have to downgrade your driver to get Vulkan support right now, and considering there's only one single application on Linux capable of utilizing it outside of the SDK, unless you really feel the need to be among the first to test Talos principle, or (actually nevermind, Talos principle beta only runs on Windows for now. There's currently ZERO Vulkan capable Linux apps outside of the samples and the SDK) unless you are a developer who's about to leap into Vulkan development themselves, just wait till Vulkan makes it up into the main branch, you aren't missing out for now.


Last edited by Teal on 16 February 2016 at 11:20 pm UTC
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