A step‑by‑step guide shows how to replace Ubuntu 20.04’s default Nouveau driver with NVIDIA’s 510.47.xx proprietary package. It covers disabling Secure Boot, blacklisting Nouveau, installing required build tools, and running the official .run installer in DKMS mode. The article also warns about common pitfalls like kernel updates, Wayland incompatibility, and unsigned modules. Follow these instructions and you’ll have the exact 510.47.xx driver working cleanly on your system.

Install NVIDIA 510.47.xx Drivers on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS

If you’re tired of the flickering cursor and occasional black‑screen that Nouveau throws at you, this guide will get the exact 510.47.xx driver installed and running on a fresh Ubuntu 20.04 LTS install. You’ll learn how to blacklist the open‑source driver, pull the right package from NVIDIA’s site, and avoid the common “driver won’t load after reboot” trap.

Why you might need NVIDIA 510.47.xx on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS

I’ve seen this happen after a kernel upgrade: the system boots into a low‑resolution console because the generic driver can’t talk to the new kernel modules. The official Ubuntu repository only offers “nvidia-driver-510” which currently points at 510.46.06, so if you need features or bug fixes that landed in 510.47.xx you have to go manual.

Prepare the system

1. Turn off Secure Boot – If your firmware enforces Secure Boot, the unsigned NVIDIA kernel module will be rejected and you’ll end up with a blank screen. Reboot, hit F2/F10 (your motherboard’s key), locate the Secure Boot option and disable it.

2. Remove any existing NVIDIA packages – Mixing drivers leads to conflicts. Run:

   sudo apt purge '^nvidia-.*'
   

   This cleans out older proprietary blobs and the meta‑package that might pull in an unwanted version.

3. Install build tools and DKMS – The driver needs to compile against your current kernel headers.

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install build-essential dkms linux-headers-$(uname -r)
   

Blacklist Nouveau

The open‑source driver will still try to claim the GPU if you don’t tell it otherwise.

1. Create a blacklist file:

   echo "blacklist nouveau" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-nouveau.conf
   echo "options nouveau modeset=0" | sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-nouveau.conf
   

2. Regenerate the initramfs so the change takes effect:

   sudo update-initramfs -u
   

3. Reboot once to let the system start without Nouveau loading.

Download and install the 510.47.xx driver

1. Grab the .run file from NVIDIA’s archive (replace xx with the exact build you need):

   wget https://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86_64/510.47.xx/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-510.47.xx.run -O ~/nvidia-driver.run
   

2. Make it executable:

   chmod +x ~/nvidia-driver.run
   

3. Stop the display manager – otherwise the installer can’t replace the X server files. On a default Ubuntu install use:

   sudo systemctl stop gdm.service # or lightdm, sddm depending on your DE
   

4. Run the installer in “no‑X” mode and let it register with DKMS:

   sudo ./nvidia-driver.run --no-cc-version-check --dkms
   

   The script will ask a few yes/no questions; accept the defaults unless you have a reason to skip the 32‑bit libraries.

5. Reboot and verify:

   nvidia-smi
   

   You should see version 510.47.xx listed along with your GPU model.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

• Kernel updates break DKMS – After a kernel upgrade, the driver will recompile automatically if DKMS is working. If you notice “module not found” after an update, run sudo dkms autoinstall before rebooting.
• Wayland incompatibility – Ubuntu’s default GNOME session runs on Wayland, which the proprietary driver doesn’t support well. Stick to the Xorg session (choose it at the login screen) unless you’ve explicitly enabled Wayland‑compatible patches.
• “Unable to load kernel module” error – Double‑check that Secure Boot stayed disabled; the firmware will silently refuse unsigned modules.

That’s it. You now have the exact NVIDIA 510.47.xx driver humming along on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, and you’ve dodged the usual driver‑related headaches. Happy gaming, rendering, or whatever you’re up to with that GPU!