NVIDIA Drops Xf86-video-nv Support: No Open Source for New Cards

“Andy Ritger, NVIDIA manager responsible for the Linux graphics
cards, as announced on the X.org mailing list that the graphics
chip company will no longer develop the open source 2D video
drivers for its chips. He recommends using the VESA X driver
instead.

“Ritger reports that NVIDIA will continue to support the
xf86-video-nv driver for existing GPUs and “within reason” on
existing and future X server versions. However, the company will no
longer support the driver for future GPUs as of Fermi. NVIDIA will
also exclude Displayport in the driver.

“The reason the chipmaker gives is that the capabilities of the
NV driver are lagging behind X Window System development. According
to Ritger, “NVIDIA developed and maintained the xf86-video-nv X
driver primarily as a very minimal driver that works ‘well
enough’…”

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