Arch Linux User Repository

For testing users, contributors: check out https://github.com/archlinux-jerry/nvidia-340xx
Warning: force push may happen to match the aur tree

@nobyte Well, nouveau has never failed for me in terms of a PC that just works: doing my everyday job + watching videos, playing some old games and surfing the Internet. But it's just my experience. I'm aware that there are lots of old NVidia chips which can fail or segfault.

How so? I mean Linux 5.10 (LTS/CIP) will be workable to 2031

It's not about the kernel version but the main software frameworks like GTK and QT that drop support for old stuff like system functions and calls, which will make programs impossible to be run with the 340-xx driver. There are already issues. Be prepared to either stick with nouveau or upgrade your hardware. Seriously.

@TheExplorer

It's inevitable that the 340 driver stops working completely in the nearest future.

How so? I mean Linux 5.10 (LTS/CIP) will be workable to 2031.

By the way, why is there no patch in the list above for Linux 6.1 (LTS/CIP)? Does the driver compile on 6.1 as is?

.. 3D on this card is essentially non-existent by the modern demands, so there is no reason not to use nouveau for such ancient hardware.

I disagree. Last time I tried nouveau it segfaulted regularly and also VDPAU didn't work properly to play videos. And it also runs hot.

Also, many 3D-games from the time work well even using WINE. CAD as well.

For me, having a working 340 driver is the deciding factor whether or not I can still use my old machine. With the right software it's good to go for years.

It'd be a waste to have to give it up, just because some small software patch is missing.

So thanks to all you people who've kept it working so far :-)

@Anakievs Or... even easier with MX Linux: just open MX Tools, navigate to 'Hardware', click on 'Nvidia Driver Installer' and choose 340 driver.

But it's an Arch community, so we better stick to Arch distros and their solutions here.

It's inevitable that the 340 driver stops working completely in the nearest future. And yes, 3D on this card is essentially non-existent by the modern demands, so there is no reason not to use nouveau for such ancient hardware.

One should really start thinking about switching to AMD than tinkering with the impossible things.

@Eirikr Or it's just easier to go back in time with Debian. This is my plan when the driver stops compiling or becomes useless I am going to switch to Debian 12. I've made a guide how to port the driver here:
https://gist.github.com/Anakiev2/b828ed2972c04359d52a44e9e5cf2c63

Edit: By adding --no-install-recommends --no-install-suggests to the mediocre package manager and with eatmydata - almost fells like Arch.

Is there a way to:

1. backport the missing pieces with GNOME so that newer GNOME can work with the older libpavucontrol, etc, for 340x compatibility?
2. use gnome-performance and mutter-performance and send MRs for appropriate backports and fixes?
3. Make a series of AUR Packages and metapackages to "Freeze" the "last compatible GNOME + compatible packages" and have essentially a "legacy GNOME" session for nvidia 340 compatibility. Which, ironically if it preserves GLX compatibility, means that perhaps other graphics cards will be able to make use of this as well?
4. Switch to MATE or XFCE or LXDE or Cinammon
5. ULTIMATE WEAPON: Someone/s creates a GTK2 backport of the entire functionality and UI of GNOME, perhaps using MATE as a base (or Cinnamon).

@nobyte According to nvidia-304xx-utils, libGL.so.340.108 is located in /usr/lib/nvidia/libGL.so.340.108, i believe that copying the lib to another place and loading it using LD_PRELOAD may not be necessary. This command below should do the trick

sudo patchelf --add-needed /usr/lib/libpthread.so.0 /usr/lib/nvidia/libGL.so.340.108

In case anyone has problems running QT applications (segfault), there's a workaround described here: https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-p-8793005.html#8793005

Run the application like this:

$ cp /usr/lib64/opengl/nvidia/lib/libGL.so.340.108 .

$ patchelf --add-needed libpthread.so.0 libGL.so.340.108

$ LD_PRELOAD=${PWD}/libGL.so.340.108 yourQTapplication

@Anakievs Yes, but who knows how long will this option be accessible.

@TheExplorer I can launch it with GSK_RENDERER=cairo pavucontrol. There is also https://archlinux.org/packages/extra/x86_64/pavucontrol-qt which I haven't tried.

@TheExplorer That is sad. Nonetheless, for some, it'll be still possible to use the Nouveau driver. On my machine, it works (not as well as the proprietary driver, but still).