how to replace graphics card

English Hardware
1

I wonder what would be the procedure for replacing a graphics card.

I have to replace my nvidia graphics card with a newer model.
how would I proceed? I assume simply replacing would cause some trouble with the driver, when the systems starts again.
for example:

  • do I have to set eg. vga mode before shutting down? and then cofigure the appropriate driver? how?
2

It depends on what nVidia card you are upgrading and to what.

  • If the current card uses the G04 drivers, you have to do absolutely nothing except switch the card physically.
  • If it uses G03 or earlier, I would suggest uninstalling, booting the new card with the built-in Nouveau drivers and then installing the G04 drivers.
3

the one currently installed uses G03.
at least it should. lsmod says
nvidia_uvm 45056 0
nvidia 10579968 140 nvidia_uvm
drm 393216 3 nvidia

the new one is brand new, so I assume it uses G04.

if I undrestand you correctly, if i uninstall the G0x drevires, the I should be able to physically swith the cards without problems, and the install the G04 driver??

4

Just do a: **zypper se -si nvidia
**
It’ll print out what drivers you have installed currently.

Edit:
And yes, uninstall the old G03 drivers - then replace the card - boot and install G04 drivers.

5

S | Name | Typ | Version | Arch | Repository
—±------------------------------±------±-----------------------±-------±----------------------
i+ | nvidia-computeG03 | Paket | 340.102-18.1 | x86_64 | NVIDIA
i+ | nvidia-gfxG03-kmp-default | Paket | 340.102_k4.4.76_1-18.1 | x86_64 | NVIDIA
i+ | nvidia-glG03 | Paket | 340.102-18.1 | x86_64 | NVIDIA
i+ | nvidia-texture-tools | Paket | 2.0.8-6.1 | x86_64 | openSUSE-Leap-42.3-Oss
i+ | nvidia-uvm-gfxG03-kmp-default | Paket | 340.102_k4.4.76_1-18.1 | x86_64 | NVIDIA
i+ | x11-video-nvidiaG03 | Paket | 340.102-18.1 | x86_64 | NVIDIA

6

which drivers should be installed, to make sure, that the new card will be recognized?

7

All new (nVidia Geforce 500+) use the G04 drivers.

Just follow the nVidia driver installation guide on opensuse.org org: https://en.opensuse.org/SDB:NVIDIA_drivers

8

maybe my question was misleading.
what I meant was that, if I deinstall all G03 drivers. will there be a driver at all that, so that the new card can come up?

9

It will switch the open source nVidia driver (Nouveau) and it should get you to KDE/GNOME/inserthere so you can install your new drivers.