Install NVIDIA Driver
This guide covers installing the NVIDIA proprietary driver on a Lambda Tensorbook running Ubuntu 26.04.
System Specs
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i7-10875H |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Mobile / Max-Q (8GB) |
| iGPU | Intel UHD Graphics (CometLake-H) |
| RAM | 64 GB |
| BIOS | Insyde H2O (Clevo/Sager-based) |
Step 1: Install the NVIDIA apt repo
Follow the standard Install CUDA guide to add the keyring and pin a driver version:
os=ubuntu2604
wget https://developer.download.nvidia.com/compute/cuda/repos/${os}/x86_64/cuda-keyring_1.1-1_all.deb
sudo apt install ./cuda-keyring_1.1-1_all.deb
sudo apt update
Step 2: Blacklist the Nouveau Driver
The Nouveau open-source driver must be disabled before rebooting into the NVIDIA driver:
sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-nouveau.conf > /dev/null << EOF
blacklist nouveau
options nouveau modeset=0
EOF
then update the initramfs image and reboot
sudo update-initramfs -u
sudo reboot
Step 3: Switch to TTY and Stop the Display Manager
At the login screen, press Ctrl + Alt + F1 to switch to a TTY session, then stop the display manager:
# Unity
# sudo systemctl stop lightdm
# Ubuntu GNOME
# sudo systemctl stop gdm3
# KDE
# sudo systemctl stop sddm
Step 4: Install the NVIDIA driver
Check the latest available NVIDIA driver, check the version first with apt policy and and pinning the specific version
sudo apt policy nvidia-driver-open
sudo apt install nvidia-driver-pinning-610
sudo apt install nvidia-driver-open
Step 5: Install the Xorg NVIDIA Video Driver
The CUDA repo package does not pull in xserver-xorg-video-nvidia automatically. Without it, X falls back to nouveau and fails to start:
sudo apt install xserver-xorg-video-nvidia
sudo reboot
Validation
nvidia-smi
You should see the GPU listed with driver and CUDA version, and a working desktop session.