creating a basic nvidia article for customers to reference

content/nvidia-graphics-pop.md

@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+---
+title: NVIDIA Drivers on Pop!_OS
+description: >
+  Install, remove and troubleshoot NVIDIA drivers
+keywords:
+  - Support
+  - Guides
+  - System76
+  - NVIDIA
+  - dedicated graphics
+  - linux
+
+facebookImage: /_social/article
+twitterImage: /_social/article
+
+hidden: false
+section: pop
+tableOfContents: true
+---
+
+The NVIDIA driver is software that allows the operating system to communicate with the NVIDIA graphics card in order to control the GPU, manage performance, handle displays, and run graphics smoothly. This enables the computer to properly use the GPU for things like fast graphics, gaming, video editing, and hardware-accelerated apps.
+
+## List NVIDIA Driver Information
+
+To list the currently installed NVIDIA driver version, GPU model and CUDA version, open a terminal (<kbd>SUPER</kbd>+<kbd>t</kbd>) and run the following command.
+
+```bash
+nvidia-smi
+```
+The driver version, CUDA version and model information are highlighted in red in the output below.
+
+![nvidia-smi ouput in the terminal with the NVIDIA driver, CUDA version and model info highlighted in red](/images/nvidia-pop/nvidia-smi.png)
+
+## Install NVIDIA Driver Versions
+
+Run `sudo apt update` before installing, removing, or upgrading NVIDIA drivers to prevent missing-package errors and outdated driver installs.
+
+### System76 NVIDIA Driver
+
+Install the NVIDIA driver packaged and tested by System76 to provide graphics stability for Pop!_OS and System76 hardware.
+
+```bash
+sudo apt install system76-driver-nvidia
+```
+
+### NVIDIA Driver
+
+Install a specific NVIDIA driver version by  indicating the version number in the command. In the example below, the driver version is '580.'
+
+```bash
+sudo apt install nvidia-driver-580
+```
+
+### NVIDIA Driver Open
+
+The main NVIDIA Driver with some open modules. Install with the correct version number included in the command. In the example below, the driver version is '580.
+
+```bash
+sudo apt install nvidia-driver-580-open
+```
+
+### Server
+
+Headless/compute‑oriented driver that does not include the Xorg display driver and related graphics stack, keeping only the kernel module and CUDA libraries. Used where no graphical output is neded.
+
+```bash
+sudo apt install nvidia-driver-[version]-server
+```
+
+### Headless
+
+No display driver included, but contains the kernel module and user‑space libraries (CUDA, OpenGL/Vulkan). It’s meant for machines that run GPU workloads without ever attaching a monitor.
+
+```bash
+sudo apt install nvidia-headless-[version]
+```
+
+### Headless-no-dkms
+
+Same as `‑headless`, but the kernel module is **pre‑built** for the current kernel instead of being compiled via DKMS. This eliminates the need for a compiler and DKMS infrastructure, which is handy on minimal container images or very locked‑down systems.
+
+```bash
+sudo apt install nvidia-headless-no-dkms-[version]
+```
+
+## Remove and Reinstall Specific NVIDIA Driver Version
+
+The following set of commands will purge the Nvidia drivers and reinstall the specified version. This process can help fix a broken NVIDIA driver installation, remove older drivers and install new ones.
+
+First, update the system packages.
+
+```bash
+sudo apt update
+```
+
+Purge NVIDIA by removing any package that includes the word 'nvidia.'
+
+```bash
+sudo apt purge ~nnvidia
+```
+Clear and update the apt repository cache.
+
+```bash
+sudo apt clean
+sudo apt update
+```
+Install the specific driver version.
+
+```bash
+sudo apt install nvidia-driver-[version]
+```
+Fix any interrupted or incomplete package installations.
+
+```bash
+sudo dpkg --configure -a
+```
+
+Reboot the system.
+
+## Suspend and Resume Stability
+
+Enabling Systemd power management services can help improve suspend and resume stability.
+
+The following command tells systemd to run NVIDIA’s GPU-specific suspend script whenever the system enters suspend (sleep) mode.
+
+```bash
+sudo systemctl enable nvidia-suspend.service
+```
+To restore NVIDIA GPU state after the system resumes from suspend or hibernate, enable nvidia-resume.service.
+
+```bash
+sudo systemctl enable nvidia-resume.service
+```
+Save the GPU state and power down GPU safely before hibernation to ensure GPU restores correctly on wake.
+
+```bash
+sudo systemctl enable nvidia-hibernate.service
+```
+Prepares GPU for initial suspend and hibernate if the system transitions.
+
+```bash
+sudo systemctl enable nvidia-suspend-then-hibernate.service
+```