Install NVIDIA & Intel Graphics Drivers in Arch Linux (2025 Guide)

Installing graphics drivers properly is one of the most important steps after setting up Arch Linux. Whether you're using Intel integrated graphics (like HD 4000) or a dedicated NVIDIA GPU, the right driver ensures smooth performance, proper hardware acceleration, and lag-free video playback.

This guide covers both NVIDIA and Intel graphics setup—from driver installation to troubleshooting common issues.

Why Do Drivers Matter?

Without the correct drivers, your system can suffer from:

• Video playback that lags or tears.
• Games and rendering apps that crash.
• GPU features like hardware acceleration not working.
• The system falling back to software rendering, increasing CPU load.

Installing the right driver fixes all of this.

Step 1: Update Your System

Always start by syncing your package database and upgrading your system:

sudo pacman -Syu

This ensures you're working with the latest kernel and package versions—critical for compatibility.

Step 2: Identify Your Graphics Card

Run the following command to detect your GPU:

lspci | grep -E "VGA|3D"

Example output:

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation HD Graphics 4000
01:00.0 3D controller: NVIDIA Corporation GK107M [GeForce GT 650M]

This shows both Intel and NVIDIA GPUs, which is common on laptops with hybrid graphics.

Step 3: Install Graphics Drivers

For Intel Graphics (HD, UHD, or Iris)

Arch Linux already supports Intel GPUs via open-source Mesa drivers. Run:

sudo pacman -S mesa lib32-mesa vulkan-intel lib32-vulkan-intel

For video acceleration (hardware-accelerated decoding):

sudo pacman -S libva-intel-driver intel-media-driver

Tip: intel-media-driver is for 8th Gen or newer CPUs, while libva-intel-driver works better for older ones (like HD 4000).

For NVIDIA Graphics

First, detect your GPU series with lspci | grep -E "NVIDIA", then install the correct driver.

Example for modern cards:

sudo pacman -S nvidia nvidia-utils lib32-nvidia-utils

If you use a custom kernel, install DKMS to rebuild drivers on updates:

sudo pacman -S dkms

Step 4: Enable Hardware Acceleration

For Intel

Create or edit /etc/environment and add:

LIBVA_DRIVER_NAME=iHD
VDPAU_DRIVER=va_gl

Reboot and test with mpv --hwdec=auto video.mp4.

For NVIDIA

Install Vulkan and VDPAU packages:

sudo pacman -S nvidia-settings nvidia-utils libvdpau libva-vdpau-driver lib32-libvdpau

Load the kernel module with sudo modprobe nvidia and verify with nvidia-smi.

Step 5: Enable Hybrid Graphics (Laptops Only)

If your laptop has both Intel + NVIDIA GPUs, install PRIME utilities:

sudo pacman -S nvidia-prime

To run apps using the NVIDIA GPU:

prime-run firefox

Add prime-run to your game launcher commands for Steam or Lutris.

Step 6: Troubleshooting Common Problems

• Screen Tearing: Install picom and run picom --vsync.
• Black Screen After Boot: Add nouveau.modeset=0 to GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT in /etc/default/grub and update GRUB.
• NVIDIA Settings Not Saving: Run sudo nvidia-settings and save the configuration to /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-nvidia.conf.

Step 7: Verify Everything Works

• OpenGL: glxinfo | grep "OpenGL renderer"
• Vulkan: vulkaninfo | grep "GPU id"

If both show your GPU names, congratulations, your setup is perfect!

Final Thoughts

Getting graphics drivers right in Arch Linux might look technical, but once done, your system becomes buttery smooth. For Intel HD 4000, Mesa drivers are incredibly efficient in 2025. For NVIDIA, official drivers now integrate better with Wayland and modern desktops.