Resolving NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Compatibility Issue in Ubuntu 22.04 LTS

If you are an Ubuntu user and have recently upgraded to Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, you might have encountered compatibility issues with your NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card. In this blog post, we will explore the possible causes of this issue and provide step-by-step instructions for resolving it.

Understanding the Compatibility Issue

The compatibility issue between Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is primarily related to the driver support. The default open-source Nouveau driver may not fully support the advanced features of the RTX 4090, leading to suboptimal performance or even system instability.

Verify the Issue

To verify whether your RTX 4090 is affected by this compatibility issue, you can check the currently loaded graphics driver using the following command in the terminal:

lspci -nnk | grep -iA2 VGA

This command will display information about your graphics card and the currently loaded driver. If you see "Nouveau" as the loaded driver, it confirms that the open-source driver is in use.

Resolving the Compatibility Issue

To resolve the compatibility issue and ensure the best performance for your NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 in Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, follow these steps:

Step 1: Add the Proprietary NVIDIA Driver Repository

Ubuntu provides a way to easily install the proprietary NVIDIA driver using the "Additional Drivers" utility. To access this utility, search for "Software & Updates" in the applications menu and navigate to the "Additional Drivers" tab. If the proprietary driver is not listed, you can add the NVIDIA driver repository manually.

Open a terminal and run the following command to add the repository:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa

Step 2: Update Package Information

After adding the repository, update the package information using the following command:

sudo apt update

Step 3: Install the Proprietary NVIDIA Driver

Once the package information is updated, you can use the "Additional Drivers" utility to install the proprietary NVIDIA driver. Select the recommended driver version for your RTX 4090 and click "Apply Changes" to initiate the installation.

Step 4: Reboot the System

After the driver installation is complete, reboot your system to apply the changes and ensure that the new NVIDIA driver is loaded.

Step 5: Verify the Driver

Upon rebooting, use the following command to confirm that the proprietary NVIDIA driver is now in use:

lspci -nnk | grep -iA2 VGA

If the output shows the NVIDIA driver as the loaded driver, the compatibility issue with your RTX 4090 should be resolved.

To Wrap Things Up

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can effectively resolve the compatibility issue between Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, ensuring optimal performance and stability for your graphics card. It is important to keep the NVIDIA driver up to date to leverage the latest features and improvements.

For further information and troubleshooting, refer to the NVIDIA driver documentation and the official Ubuntu community forums. Stay informed about driver updates and recommended configurations to make the most out of your RTX 4090 graphics card in Ubuntu.