GeForce GT 730 is not recognized after installing proprietary drivers

English Hardware
1

I was asked to install a very old desktop PC (still legacy BIOS) with this GPU.

I did a clean from-scratch installation of Leap 15.6. I noticed installation now adds by default the Nvidia repo under name NVIDIA:repo-non-free

So I followed the official guide as usual. I tried first the G05 drivers and rebooted.
Result: no driver loaded at all, resolution at lowest.

I did
zypper rm --clean-deps nvidia-*
and rebooted. Back to nouveau.

Tried with G06 drivers. Exact same result. Did
zypper rm --clean-deps nvidia-* kernel-firmware-nvidia
and rebooted. Back to nouveau.

Tried
zypper install-new-recommends --repo repo-non-free
Result: “nothing to do”.

In the end I ended up with this:

user@localhost:~> inxi -Gxz
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA GF108 [GeForce GT 730] vendor: Micro-Star MSI
    driver: nouveau v: kernel arch: Fermi bus-ID: 01:00.0 temp: 42.0 C
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.11 with: Xwayland v: 23.2.4 driver:
    X: loaded: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa gpu: nouveau
    resolution: 1366x768~60Hz
  API: OpenGL v: 4.5 Mesa 23.3.4 renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 17.0.6 256 bits)
    direct-render: Yes
user@localhost:~> 
user@localhost:~> glxgears
MESA: error: ZINK: vkCreateInstance failed (VK_ERROR_INCOMPATIBLE_DRIVER)
glx: failed to create drisw screen
failed to load driver: zink
6434 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1286.703 FPS
X connection to :0 broken (explicit kill or server shutdown).
user@localhost:~> 
user@localhost:~> vkcube
vkEnumerateInstanceExtensionProperties failed to find the VK_KHR_surface extension.

Do you have a compatible Vulkan installable client driver (ICD) installed?
Please look at the Getting Started guide for additional information.

user@localhost:~>

Then noticed a warning in the guide:
“Legacy drivers G03 and G04 won’t work with the actual kernel 6.6.x series. Use free nouveau drivers instead”

Inxi output says GPU’s architecture is Fermi, which according to guide is already legacy G04.

Is “fermi” really the reason this card no longer works?

Why does nouveau still work so bad? See commands’ outputs above: llvmpipe renderer? 1286 FPS? Broken vulkan?

In case GT 730 really no longer works on 15.6, can it still work on 15.5? I know this is not very good solution, but at least for buying time…
If positive, what driver version do I need to install there?

Thanks.

2

You may simply be missing something. Perhaps from seeing data from one of my Fermis you can tell what you may be missing:

# inxi -MSCz --vs --hostname
inxi 3.3.35-00 (2024-06-18)
System:
  Host: p5bse Kernel: 6.4.0-150600.21-default arch: x86_64 bits: 64
  Desktop: KDE v: 3.5.10 Distro: openSUSE Leap 15.6
Machine:
  Type: Desktop Mobo: ASUSTeK model: P5B SE v: Rev 1.xx serial: <filter>
    BIOS: American Megatrends v: 1103 date: 06/04/2009
CPU:
  Info: dual core model: Intel Core2 Duo E7500 bits: 64 type: MCP cache:
    L2: 3 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 1596 min/max: 1596/2926 cores: 1: 1596 2: 1596
# inxi -Gaz
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA GF119 [NVS 310] vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: nouveau
    v: kernel non-free: series: 390.xx+ status: legacy (EOL~2022-11-22) last:
    release: 390.157 kernel: 6.0 xorg: 1.21 arch: Fermi code: GF1xx
    process: 40/28nm built: 2010-2016 pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16
    ports: active: DP-1,DP-2 empty: none bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:107d
    class-ID: 0300 temp: 49.0 C
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.11 compositor: kwin driver: X:
    loaded: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa alternate: nouveau,nv,nvidia
    dri: nouveau gpu: nouveau display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 2560x2490 s-dpi: 120 s-size: 541x527mm (21.30x20.75")
    s-diag: 755mm (29.73")
  Monitor-1: DP-1 pos: primary,bottom model: Acer K272HUL serial: <filter>
    built: 2018 res: 2560x1440 hz: 60 dpi: 109 gamma: 1.2
    size: 598x336mm (23.54x13.23") diag: 686mm (27") ratio: 16:9 modes:
    max: 2560x1440 min: 720x400
  Monitor-2: DP-2 pos: top model: Dell P2213 serial: <filter> built: 2012
    res: 1680x1050 hz: 60 dpi: 90 gamma: 1.2 size: 473x296mm (18.62x11.65")
    diag: 558mm (22") ratio: 16:10 modes: max: 1680x1050 min: 720x400
  API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: nvidia nouveau platforms: device: 0 drv: nouveau
    device: 1 drv: swrast gbm: drv: nouveau surfaceless: drv: nouveau x11:
    drv: nouveau inactive: wayland
  API: OpenGL v: 4.5 compat-v: 4.3 vendor: mesa v: 23.3.4 glx-v: 1.4
    direct-render: yes renderer: NVD9 device-ID: 10de:107d memory: 474.6 MiB
    unified: no
  API: Vulkan v: 1.3.275 layers: 2 device: 0 type: cpu name: llvmpipe (LLVM
    17.0.6 128 bits) driver: N/A device-ID: 10005:0000 surfaces: xcb,xlib
# rpm -qa | egrep 'Mesa|vulkan' | sort
libvulkan1-1.3.275.0-150600.1.2.x86_64
libvulkan_lvp-23.3.4-150600.81.3.x86_64
Mesa-23.3.4-150600.81.2.x86_64
Mesa-demo-egl-9.0.0-lp156.87.5.x86_64
Mesa-demo-es-9.0.0-lp156.87.5.x86_64
Mesa-demo-x-9.0.0-lp156.87.5.x86_64
Mesa-dri-23.3.4-150600.81.3.x86_64
Mesa-dri-nouveau-23.3.4-150600.81.3.x86_64
Mesa-gallium-23.3.4-150600.81.3.x86_64
Mesa-libd3d-23.3.4-150600.81.3.x86_64
Mesa-libEGL1-23.3.4-150600.81.2.x86_64
Mesa-libGL1-23.3.4-150600.81.2.x86_64
Mesa-libglapi0-23.3.4-150600.81.2.x86_64
Mesa-libOpenCL-23.3.4-150600.81.3.x86_64
Mesa-libva-23.3.4-150600.81.3.x86_64
Mesa-vulkan-device-select-23.3.4-150600.81.3.x86_64
vulkan-tools-1.3.275.0-150600.1.2.x86_64
vulkan-validationlayers-1.3.275.0-150600.1.1.x86_64
# vkcube
Selected GPU 0: llvmpipe (LLVM 17.0.6, 128 bits), type: Cpu
(output somewhat similar to glxgears or glmark2; provided no stats when window killed after several minutes of same apparent activity; X'd window)
# glxgears
Running synchronized to the vertical refresh.  The framerate should be
approximately the same as the monitor refresh rate.
326 frames in 5.0 seconds = 65.021 FPS
300 frames in 5.0 seconds = 59.953 FPS
300 frames in 5.0 seconds = 59.953 FPS
300 frames in 5.0 seconds = 59.953 FPS
300 frames in 5.0 seconds = 59.952 FPS
(X'd window)
X connection to :0 broken (explicit kill or server shutdown).
# glmark2
=======================================================
    glmark2 2021.12
=======================================================
    OpenGL Information
    GL_VENDOR:      Mesa
    GL_RENDERER:    NVD9
    GL_VERSION:     4.3 (Compatibility Profile) Mesa 23.3.4
    Surface Config: buf=32 r=8 g=8 b=8 a=8 depth=24 stencil=0 samples=0
    Surface Size:   800x600 windowed
=======================================================
...
glmark2 Score:   326
3

As yours is an older Fermi GT730 rather than a Kepler GT730 (nice confusing move Nvidia) you are stuck with only G04 proprietary drivers or the dreaded nouveau, however looking in the Nvidia repo for 15.6 there are no G04 drivers.

https://download.nvidia.com/opensuse/leap/15.6/x86_64/

However there appears to be G04 drivers for Tumbleweed but I have no idea if they work for Tumbleweed’s current kernel but given they have the kernel build version then perhaps they do. I use AMD and only have a spare Maxwell 750 so I can’t test this.

https://download.nvidia.com/opensuse/tumbleweed/x86_64/

1 Like
4

Then I propose to update the guide webpage, putting emphasis in the architecture detail; because there are many hardware versions of one single card model and this causes so much confusion.

In another thing, could someone tell whether nouveau drivers are better than 10 years ago?
For example, to run Dolphin emulator even if just at native resolutions.

Thanks.

5

I have two Fermis and three Teslas. The entire time I’ve had them (4 of the 5 acquired used), they have been used exclusively with FOSS drivers. I didn’t have them all 10 years ago, and how many I did have then I don’t remember. Whatever is supposedly wrong with nouveau I’m not directly privy to, but there is one technical bug I reported, which is still open, that has no effect on normal GUI use. IME, the FOSS drivers do the job they’re expected to do with these five NVidias.

Older ones I have also, 18 years old or older. I wouldn’t consider experience with those at all relevant today.

6

It’s there, G05 (470)driver…

So you can install the driver from the Repo.

7

I think the older Fermi GF108 is only supported by 390 (G04) and not 470 (G05), this particular GPU was released in 2010.

Please see here for further info…

8

Look at:

In the Nvidida-Leap 15.6 are two drivers:
470.239 and 470.256

I think you have to use only the same Versions.

9

But for that I would need to install the drivers manually, right?

As mentioned in OP, I did try the G05 packages from repo, and they did not work.

Also, what about my suggestion regarding the guide webpage?

10

@F_style just use the run file…

11

And each time there is a kernel update on Leap 15.6, will I need to run it again each time?

12

@F_style you should be able to via dkms to do this for you. You need to ensure dkms is installed for it to detect/use.

I see the lates 390 series driver is here, bu you need to check the PCI ID’s of your card;
https://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86_64/396.54/
https://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86_64/396.54/README/supportedchips.html

The dkms part is mentioned here;
https://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86_64/396.54/README/installdriver.html

13

How can I do that?

And regarding the installation instructions:

  1. Should I install beforehand all the kernel development stuff before running nvidia-installer?
  2. Is dkms already included in 15.6, or should I also install beforehand?
  3. Can all the kernel module signing stuff be automatically done by nvidia-installer itself?
14

@F_style all before, zypper in make gcc kernel-default-devel libglvnd-devel dkms you need to see the readme for information on signing etc (I don’t use secure boot).

I use the following here;

./NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-xxx.xx.xx.run --ui=none --no-questions --accept-license --disable-nouveau --no-cc-version-check --install-libglvnd
15

That only works for Kepler based GT730, not Fermi based GT730. Nvidia’s driver download page is incapable of telling you this, there are even Kepler and Fermi GT630

GT 730 Kepler GPU = GK208B

GT 730 Fermi GPU = GF108

Nvidia in their wisdom decided to have the same product name (GT730) but with differing GPUs so you must choose wisely. As I said earlier there is G04 in Tumbleweed so I’m assuming (rightly or wrongly ?) that 390 has been patched to work for Tumbleweed but not 15.6 Leap.

16

The 390 series driver would be suitable for the 730.

Which driver version is suitable for an even older Zogis Geforce GT 220 board model P680?
(I can no longer find out which architecture it was…)

17

@F_style the 340 series, the problem will be with this and the 390 series you will likely need to find patches, the Leap 15.6 kernel is 6.4 series, you would likely need to test, then head to the Nvidia forums.

18

Same problem Here, I’ve tried the method that patches the driver described in the link without success. This card works fine with 15.5.

19

The performance of the proprietary driver over Nouveau is huge, at least on my desktop.

20

For the 340 drivers, the openSUSE NVIDIA SDB article mentions a link “by a community member”, which directs to a search of “g03” in “all distributions”.

Clicking one of the packages:
https://software.opensuse.org/package/x11-video-nvidiaG03
there seems to be versions for 15.5. current 15.6, and Tumbleweed.

Think this community user repo could work for legacy 340 and current Leap release?

IIRC, Leap 15.6 uses kernel 6.4, and the SDB guide mentions problems with kernel 6.6…