HOW TO INSTALL GEFORCE GTX 750 ON LINUX MINT

How to install Nvidia GeForce GTX 750 Ti on Linux Mint 17 (64 Bit) or Xubuntu 14.04 or Lubuntu 14.04

Great! You've got your new GTX 750, but can you get it to work with Linux?

GeForce GTX 750 Ti on Linux? Is that even possible?

That's what I used to think, but it is possible because I'm writing this post using Linux Mint 17 configured with a GeForce GTX 750 Ti. Not only did I get it to work with Linux, but I also got it to work with Blender GPU rendering (separate post).

Ok, this is how you install it on Linux Mint 17 AMD 64
or Xubuntu 14.04 AMD64 or Lubuntu 14.04 AMD64

(I tried loading it on 14.10 and it did not work, so make sure you are using a distro based off of Ubuntu 14.04)

Disclaimer: Results may vary depending on computer hardware and version of Linux and other stuff like that. Use these instructions at your own risk.

Introduction: Linux Mint 17, Xubuntu 14.04, and Lubuntu 14.04 are all based on Ubuntu 14.04. The Linux based nvidia driver works well enough with 14.04 to get it installed, so basically just do your standard install and then you are ready for step 1.


Step 1: LOAD LIBC HEADER FILES
Nvidia did a great job on their 334.21 driver, but it needs to find the Linux Libc Headers files to function properly. Don't worry there is an easy fix. Just manually load the header files with the following command text.

   sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r)



Step 2: ENABLE FULL SCREEN TEXT MODE

 All other tutorials will tell you to simply press Ctrl-Alt-F1 to get into full screen text mode, HOWEVER, for most systems running the GTX 750, you will not get the text screen. You will get a BLANK BLACK SCREEN instead. To fix this problem you must update your grub file.

Type the following command and your text editor will pop up with your grub file. Use gedit for Linux Mint. Use mousepad for Xubuntu. Use leafpad for Lubuntu. I will use gedit in my example below. The actual command is colored red.


FOR LINUX MINT
   sudo gedit /etc/default/grub

FOR XUBUNTU 
   sudo mousepad /etc/default/grub

FOR LUBUNTU
   sudo leafpad /etc/default/grub 

When the grub files pops up in gedit (or mousepad or leafpad) edit the following line.

BEFORE:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=”quiet splash”

AFTER:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=”quiet splash nomodeset”

Then save the file and close gedit (or mousepad or leafpad). Now go back to the command prompt and type the following:

   sudo update-grub

Finally reboot your computer. Your splash screen will look at little different, but that's ok as long as your desktop loads properly.


Step 3: Download the latest Nvidia driver for your GTX 750. As of today, the file you need is: NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-334.21.run

Put a copy of this file in your home directory to make the command line stuff easier.


Step 4: Press Ctrl-Alt-F1 to switch to command line mode.

Step 5: Shut off the graphical interface. Type the following:

FOR LINUX MINT

   sudo service mdm stop 

FOR XUBUNTU AND LUBUNTU
   sudo service lightdm stop 


Step 6: Type "LS" to make sure the Nvidia is in your home directory. You should see the file "NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-334.21.run" listed. If not, make sure you put a copy in your home directory.

   ls


Step 7: CHANGE THE FILE PERMISSIONS

   sudo chmod +x NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-334.21.run 

Step 8: Run the Nvidia driver

   sudo sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-334.21.run

The Nvidia installation script might give some error messages, but just hit continue. If it lets you continue then you will get your driver installed. (If it doesn't let you continue, then you don't get the driver installed and you will have to troubleshoot the problem.)

Step 9: Restart the graphical interface

FOR LINUX MINT
   sudo service mdm start

FOR XUBUNTU AND LUBUNTU
   sudo service lightdm start



Step 10: Once rebooted, go to your settings folder and look for an icon called Nvidia X Server Settings. Click on the icon and verify that your card was installed.

Life is good! You've got your new GTX 750 installed on your Linux Mint

That's it. Now you have the latest state-of-the-art graphics card running with your favorite Linux Mint. Life is good.

Help me make this a better tutorial.

If you have any tips, tricks, or suggestions on how to make this tutorial better or easier, please leave them in the comment section below.

Great! You got your GTX 750 working with Linux, now you can work on getting your GeForce GTX 750 to work with Blender.


2014 Linux Beast Magazine - Linux-Beast - Linux Cave

How to install Nvidia Geforce GTX 750 Ti on Linux Mint 17


How to install Nvidia Geforce GTX 750 Ti with Linux 64 bit and how to get CUDA GPU rendering to work with Blender 2.71

Food for Googlebot
How to install GeForce GTX 750 with Linux and Blender.