Switching Nvidia Video Cards

js_530 · 12-28-2003, 06:32 PM

I upgraded my factory video card to a geforce 4 mx a few months ago and it works fine. Now, I want to upgrade to a "e-Geforce FX 5700 Ultra". Do i have to change drivers, config files, etc? Nvidia uses one driver for all their products.

XavierP · 12-28-2003, 06:34 PM

I think you will. The drivers will have compiled for your existing card. They will need recompiling for your new card.

js_530 · 12-28-2003, 06:37 PM

Do i have to uninstall the old driver?

XavierP · 12-28-2003, 06:44 PM

I think you will, otherwise, it could conflict with the new one.

So the procedure would be, shut down X, uninstall, shutdown totally, remove old card, install new card, boot to a console (not X), make sure Linux can see the new card (modprobe) and then install the new driver - if you haven't saved the one you previously downloaded, either download before you start the procedure, or (if you have a text based web browser, like Lynx (my favourite)) type in lynx www.nvidia.com

Hope it all works out.

js_530 · 12-28-2003, 06:45 PM

good luck to me.....

XavierP · 12-28-2003, 06:48 PM

Quick question, is this hypothetical or do you have the card ready to install?

HappyTux · 12-28-2003, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by js_530
I upgraded my factory video card to a geforce 4 mx a few months ago and it works fine. Now, I want to upgrade to a "e-Geforce FX 5700 Ultra". Do i have to change drivers, config files, etc? Nvidia uses one driver for all their products.

Unless the card is unsupported by the driver you do not have to reinstall. The driver is for all their cards not individual ones that is why it is so damn big when loaded. If you have your xconfig setup for a tv out and the new card does not have one then you would want to change that but not the driver. One thing you may want to change the driver for is to use the new one if you are not already using it.

js_530 · 12-29-2003, 05:48 PM

I got it working...the nvidia installer automatically uninstalled the other driver

XavierP · 12-29-2003, 05:49 PM

Cool - should I ever be in the same position, I now know the answer!