Configure Graphics Cards

Overview

Note

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The mhwd command is still under development, and at present is only able to install drivers for graphics cards connected internally via pci.

Where installing the full version of Manjaro (i.e. complete with a pre-installed desktop environment, codecs, and software applications), the mhwd command will be automatically run by the CLI installer to automatically detect your graphics card and install the most appropriate driver for it. Whether free or proprietary drivers are installed will depend on your initial choice of using free or nonfree graphics drivers to boot up.

Otherwise, it will be necessary to run the mhwd command manually as part of the post-installation process for the minimalistic NET-Edition of Manjaro. Of course, it is also possible to use the mhwd command to install, re-install, and remove installed graphics drivers at any time, as illustrated below.

Warning

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For the NET-Edition, ensure that the graphics drivers are installed prior to installing and configuring your desired desktop and greeter. Without video drivers to show them, you won't get very far!

Automated Identification and Installation

This is the recommended method for the detection and installation of graphics drivers. The syntax for the automated installation method is:

sudo mhwd -a [pci or usb] [free or nonfree] 0300

A breakdown of the command for the automated method is as follows:

• -a: Automatically detect and install the appropriate driver
• [pci or usb]: Install the appropriate driver for devices connected internally via pci, or externally via usb (again, mhwd currently only supports pci connections at this stage in its development)
• [free or nonfree]: Install either free drivers (e.g. provided by the Linux community), or nonfree drivers (e.g. provided by hardware manufacturers)
• 0300: Install drivers for graphics cards (0300 is the class ID for graphics cards. As the mhwd command develops, new ids will be used for other types/classes of device).

For example, the following command would result in the automatic detection and installation of the best available proprietary driver for a pci-connected graphics card:

sudo mhwd -a pci nonfree 0300

Otherwise, the following command would result in the automatic detection and installation of the best available free driver for a pci-connected graphics card:

sudo mhwd -a pci free 0300

Manual Identification and Installation

Taking a do-it-yourself approach is itself relatively easy and straightforward using the mhwd command. This should be undertaken in two stages:

1. Identify the appropriate driver to be installed, and then

2. Install the driver

Just ensure that you have identified and are indeed about to install the correct driver for your particular graphics card!

Identifying Available Drivers

Prior to manually installing a graphics driver, it will be necessary to identify what drivers are available for your system. To list the appropriate drivers available, the basic syntax is:

mhwd -l [optional: --pci or --usb]

Using this command without the --pci or --usb filters will list all the available drivers for devices connected to your system. All drivers for graphics cards will have the prefix (video-) in their name. Otherwise, the following example will list only the drivers available specifically for devices (e.g. graphics cards) using an internal PCI connection:

mhwd -l --pci

Irrespective of whether the optional filters is used or not, the following information will be displayed for all listed drivers:

• Name
• Version
• Free or proprietary, and
• PCI or USB connection

Installing a Driver

To install a driver for a graphics card, the syntax is:

sudo mhwd -i pci [name of driver]

A breakdown of the command to manually install a driver is as follows:

• -i: Install a driver
• [pci]: Install a driver for a device connected internally via pci (e.g. graphics cards)
• [name of driver]: The name of the driver to be installed

For example, to install the proprietary nvidia graphics card driver, the following command would be used:

sudo mhwd -a pci video-nvidia

Forcing Re-installation of a Driver

Warning

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use this command with care!

To force the re-installation of an existing driver without removing it first, the syntax is:

sudo mhwd -f -i pci [name of driver]

For example, to force the re-installation of a previously installed nvidia graphics card driver, the following command would be used:

sudo mhwd -f -i pci video-nvidia

Removing an Installed Driver

Warning

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use this command with care!

On occasion it may be necessary to remove an installed graphics card driver. To remove an installed driver, the basic syntax is:

sudo mhwd -r [pci or usb] [name of driver]

For example, to remove the installed driver for a nvidia graphics card (connected internally via pci), the following command would be used:

sudo mhwd -r pci video-nvidia