Should I Reinstall if I change my GPU from NVIDIA to AMD

treestreet · 2020-09-05 15:27:28

Basically, this may be more of a Linux noob question rather than an arch specific one. I currently have a GTX 1060 6GB that's starting to show it's age a little, especially in steam play games. I want to upgrade to one of the new AMD Big Navi cards when they release. Will i need to fully reinstall arch? or can I just remove the nvidia package and install the mesa driver package? I would also be new to AMD cards on Linux n general, when they first come out do they need special drivers or will mesa work?

Sorry if this has been asked before.

Trilby · 2020-09-05 16:56:50

No, do not reinstall. But as you suggested, just remove the no-longer needed packages* and install the new ones. For which drivers will be needed, just follow the wiki:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/ATI

*note: technically there is likely no need to remove the other drivers, but if they no longer serve any purpose it may be worth tidying up the system. You will however need to remove or revert and configuration changes (e.g., under /etc) that you've made for the NVIDIA card/driver.

Mr.Elendig · 2020-09-05 18:48:03

Regarding amd driver support: From the past 10 years of amd behaviour: might want to delay that rdna2 purchase by about a year.

Last edited by Mr.Elendig (2020-09-05 18:48:24)

Arch Linux

#1 2020-09-05 15:27:28

Should I Reinstall if I change my GPU from NVIDIA to AMD

#2 2020-09-05 16:56:50

Re: Should I Reinstall if I change my GPU from NVIDIA to AMD

#3 2020-09-05 18:48:03

Re: Should I Reinstall if I change my GPU from NVIDIA to AMD

Board footer