Having issues with Nvidia, kernels and getting to the desktop

[Kernel_chilli]

Hello,

I have switched to Fedora from Arch as I wanted an up to date system, without the absolute bleeding edge approach Arch goes for. This along with how much good I hear about consistently about Fedora made it seem like a no brainer.

I have it installed, set up, Ive got some RPM fusion thing for Fedora 43 which I am on and I believe I also have Nvidia dirvers for my card installed too. After a reboot however I got a black screen and had to ctrl+alt+F3 and then find which Kernel I am on, match it with the Nvidia stuff, choose the kernel and reboot.
However, when it comes to grub work and things with the kernel and the drivers I dont really know what I am doing. Now, I am at the point where I dont want to turn off or reboot the PC in case I cant get back in after. Along with this, when I run the akmods --force command, it says it cannot find the files to load the modules.

This is why I am here - how can I ensure everything is good and is as it should be? This is primarily a gaming PC so I would like to have the best kernel selected, along with the most up to date Nvidia drivers too of course. Here is what I currently have:

$ uname -r
6.18.13-200.fc43.x86_64

| NVIDIA-SMI 580.126.18             Driver Version: 580.126.18     CUDA Version: 13.0

I would also like to have it set as Arch is, where I update the system and it updates Nvidia & the kernel along with everything else but I dont even know if this works the same on Fedora, or is there a better way to have this all set up, so I get the most modern Kernel and the best Nvidia drivers?

 

[MikeWalsh]

@FatDroid :-

I don't know much about this, but I believe there is something called Fedora "SilverBlue". This is an 'immutable' distro. The whole thing is produced as a fixed image file - which can't be modified - but is constantly updated with the newest of everything on a regular basis.

I'm not sure how it handles Nvidia drivers, however.

Others here will know more about it, particularly @APTI , who uses Fedora regularly.


Mike.

 

[kc1di]

Fedora is a good choice but some of what they do with Nvidia makes it a bit hard to get it going.
In order to change Grub in fedora it's not as easy as it is in other distros.
This page maybe of help to you.

Managing the GRUB Menu in Fedora Distributions | Baeldung on Linux

Learn how to modify the GRUB boot menu in Fedora and RHEL-based Linux distributions.

www.baeldung.com

As to Nvidia in Fedora anytime the kernel changes you'll have to update the Nvidia drivers. RPMfusion does not always have the newest kernel verision for Nvidia right away.

 

[f33dm3bits]

Along with this, when I run the akmods --force command, it says it cannot find the files to load the modules.

Have you tried disabling secure-boot, which Nvidia gpu do you have and which Nvidia packages do you have installed?

 

[Kernel_chilli]

@FatDroid :-

I don't know much about this, but I believe there is something called Fedora "SilverBlue". This is an 'immutable' distro. The whole thing is produced as a fixed image file - which can't be modified - but is constantly updated with the newest of everything on a regular basis.

I'm not sure how it handles Nvidia drivers, however.

Others here will know more about it, particularly @APTI , who uses Fedora regularly.


Mike.

Thanks Mike, I have heard of silverblue before - as a Fedora newbie I didnt know of this so I will have a look into it.

 

[Kernel_chilli]

Fedora is a good choice but some of what they do with Nvidia makes it a bit hard to get it going.
In order to change Grub in fedora it's not as easy as it is in other distros.
This page maybe of help to you.

As to Nvidia in Fedora anytime the kernel changes you'll have to update the Nvidia drivers. RPMfusion does not always have the newest kernel verision for Nvidia right away.

I have noticed that Nvidia isnt the easiest thing to get going on here and with how awkward it has been matching drivers with kernels and whatnot, I may have to switch from Fedora to something else. I dont necessarily think this is a skill issue, more of a "I cant be bothered having to put so much time into checking my drivers work with my kernel" issue everytime it updates.
It may not be a requirement but with how much hassle this has been so far, I dont feel 100% comfortable with this distro*.



*Not a Fedora issue I just want to add for anybody reading considering this distro, this is a cant be bothered with Nvidia hassle user issue.

 

[Kernel_chilli]

Have you tried disabling secure-boot, which Nvidia gpu do you have and which Nvidia packages do you have installed?

Secure boot is completely disabled, and my GPU is the RTX 3060. As for what Nvidia packages are installed I ran

dnf list installed \*nvidia\*

and it spat out a real long list of packages, listed below.

Updating and loading repositories:
Repositories loaded.
Installed packages
akmod-nvidia.x86_64                                 3:580.126.18-1.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-nvidia-driver
kmod-nvidia-6.17.1-300.fc43.x86_64.x86_64           3:580.126.18-1.fc43  @commandline
kmod-nvidia-6.18.13-200.fc43.x86_64.x86_64          3:580.126.18-1.fc43  @commandline
nvidia-gpu-firmware.noarch                          20260221-1.fc43      <unknown>
nvidia-modprobe.x86_64                              3:580.126.18-1.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-nvidia-driver
nvidia-persistenced.x86_64                          3:580.126.18-1.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-nvidia-driver
nvidia-settings.x86_64                              3:580.126.18-1.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-nvidia-driver
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia.x86_64                          3:580.126.18-1.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-nvidia-driver
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-cuda.x86_64                     3:580.126.18-1.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-nvidia-driver
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-cuda-libs.i686                  3:580.126.18-1.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-nvidia-driver
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-cuda-libs.x86_64                3:580.126.18-1.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-nvidia-driver
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-kmodsrc.x86_64                  3:580.126.18-1.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-nvidia-driver
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-libs.i686                       3:580.126.18-1.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-nvidia-driver
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-libs.x86_64                     3:580.126.18-1.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-nvidia-driver
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-power.x86_64                    3:580.126.18-1.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-nvidia-driver

Available packages
akmod-nvidia-390xx.x86_64                           3:390.157-22.fc43    rpmfusion-nonfree
akmod-nvidia-470xx.x86_64                           3:470.256.02-13.fc43 rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
akmod-nvidia-open.x86_64                            3:580.126.18-1.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-nvidia-driver
golang-github-nvidia-container-toolkit.x86_64       1.17.4-3.fc43        fedora
golang-github-nvidia-container-toolkit-devel.noarch 1.17.4-3.fc43        fedora
golang-github-nvidia-nvlib-devel.noarch             0.7.1-2.fc43         fedora
golang-github-nvidia-nvml-devel.noarch              0.12.4.1-3.fc43      fedora
kmod-nvidia.x86_64                                  3:580.126.18-1.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
kmod-nvidia.x86_64                                  3:580.126.18-1.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-nvidia-driver
kmod-nvidia-390xx.x86_64                            3:390.157-22.fc43    rpmfusion-nonfree
kmod-nvidia-470xx.x86_64                            3:470.256.02-13.fc43 rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
kmod-nvidia-open.x86_64                             3:580.126.18-1.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-nvidia-driver
libva-nvidia-driver.i686                            0.0.16-1.fc43        updates
libva-nvidia-driver.x86_64                          0.0.16-1.fc43        updates
nvidia-query-resource-opengl.x86_64                 1.0.0-21.fc43        fedora
nvidia-query-resource-opengl-lib.i686               1.0.0-21.fc43        fedora
nvidia-query-resource-opengl-lib.x86_64             1.0.0-21.fc43        fedora
nvidia-settings-390xx.x86_64                        390.157-6.fc43       rpmfusion-nonfree
nvidia-settings-470xx.x86_64                        3:470.256.02-4.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree
nvidia-texture-tools.i686                           2.1.2-15.fc43        updates
nvidia-texture-tools.x86_64                         2.1.2-15.fc43        updates
nvidia-texture-tools-devel.i686                     2.1.2-15.fc43        updates
nvidia-texture-tools-devel.x86_64                   2.1.2-15.fc43        updates
nvidia-xconfig.x86_64                               3:580.126.18-1.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
nvidia-xconfig.x86_64                               3:580.126.18-1.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-nvidia-driver
pcp-pmda-nvidia-gpu.x86_64                          7.0.3-1.fc43         updates
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-390xx.x86_64                    3:390.157-7.fc43     rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-390xx-cuda.x86_64               3:390.157-7.fc43     rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-390xx-cuda-libs.i686            3:390.157-7.fc43     rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-390xx-cuda-libs.x86_64          3:390.157-7.fc43     rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-390xx-devel.i686                3:390.157-7.fc43     rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-390xx-devel.x86_64              3:390.157-7.fc43     rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-390xx-kmodsrc.x86_64            3:390.157-7.fc43     rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-390xx-libs.i686                 3:390.157-7.fc43     rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-390xx-libs.x86_64               3:390.157-7.fc43     rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-470xx.x86_64                    3:470.256.02-5.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-470xx-cuda.x86_64               3:470.256.02-5.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-470xx-cuda-libs.i686            3:470.256.02-5.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-470xx-cuda-libs.x86_64          3:470.256.02-5.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-470xx-devel.i686                3:470.256.02-5.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-470xx-devel.x86_64              3:470.256.02-5.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-470xx-kmodsrc.x86_64            3:470.256.02-5.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-470xx-libs.i686                 3:470.256.02-5.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-470xx-libs.x86_64               3:470.256.02-5.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-470xx-power.x86_64              3:470.256.02-5.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-devel.i686                      3:580.126.18-1.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-devel.i686                      3:580.126.18-1.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-nvidia-driver
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-devel.x86_64                    3:580.126.18-1.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-devel.x86_64                    3:580.126.18-1.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-nvidia-driver
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-xorg-libs.x86_64                3:580.126.18-1.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-updates
xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-xorg-libs.x86_64                3:580.126.18-1.fc43  rpmfusion-nonfree-nvidia-driver

I dont know enough about code to know if there is some compatibility issue, clashes between two or more packages, or anything else like that. All I know is this has been a pain to deal with and honestly I may end up leaving Fedora for now but keeping it on my radar for if and when I can get an AMD card instead. Such a great distro, but I cannot be bothered with the Nvidia issues I am having.

 

[f33dm3bits]

and it spat out a real long list of packages, listed below.

I would try installing the nvidia-open driver, as it's mostly the recommended driver to use on Linux now even though with your gpu the propriety driver is still supported.

 

[Kernel_chilli]

I would try installing the nvidia-open driver, as it's mostly the recommended driver to use on Linux now even though with your gpu the propriety driver is still supported.

It is? interesting, I thought it was the other way around as I heard it runs better and I have to say that when I had the open source driver, I could not hit 75fps on desktop which is my monitors native option. I may just try this again before having to go through an entire reinstall

 

[f33dm3bits]

It is? interesting, I thought it was the other way around as I heard it runs better and I have to say that when I had the open source driver,

They say the propietary driver still gives better performance but all future gpu's will only support the nvidia-open driver. That's why it's now the recommended driver to use on Linux.

What you can also try is adding this to your dracut config. Create a file /etc/dracut.conf.d/nvidia.conf with the following content.

force_drivers+=" nvidia nvidia_modeset nvidia_uvm nvidia_drm "

Then run the following.

dracut --regenerate-all --force

Then reboot, what it does is add the nvidia drivers to your initramfs which sometimes solves some issues.

 

[Kernel_chilli]

They say the propietary driver still gives better performance but all future gpu's will only support the nvidia-open driver. That's why it's now the recommended driver to use on Linux.

What you can also try is adding this to your dracut config. Create a file /etc/dracut.conf.d/nvidia.conf with the following content.

force_drivers+=" nvidia nvidia_modeset nvidia_uvm nvidia_drm "

Then run the following.

dracut --regenerate-all --force

Then reboot, what it does is add the nvidia drivers to your initramfs which sometimes solves some issues.

The girlfriend has an AMD card in her Windows PC, I cant remeber exactly what model it is but I know its not far behind this card at all, the only real downside is it has 8gb Vram instead of my 12. I might ask her if she wants a nice upgrade haha.
This though, I'll give it a go and if it works as well as it seems like it would, she's not getting any GPU upgrade. Thanks man, I shall try this as soon as I've got a brew!

 

[kc1di]

If you decide to change distros you might want to give pop a spin as it does have an .iso that is specifically made for nvidia cards.
only thing is they only have one Desktop Cosmic that is a redo of Gnome. But try to get it fixed on Fedora first. the opensource drive is good but it won't give you all that card can do. But it will run most nvidia cards for basic stuff. You will have to choose what is important to you.