How To Install GPU-Viewer on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

GPU-Viewer is an essential graphical tool for Linux users who want to monitor and analyze their graphics processing unit performance. Whether you’re a gamer seeking optimal performance, a developer debugging graphics applications, or a system administrator monitoring hardware health, GPU-Viewer provides critical insights into your system’s graphics capabilities. This comprehensive guide will walk you through different installation methods, configuration options, and advanced usage techniques specifically for Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.

Table of Contents

What is GPU-Viewer and Why You Need It

GPU-Viewer is a powerful graphical user interface tool designed to provide detailed information about your graphics processing unit and graphics drivers. It consolidates functionality from three command-line tools – glxinfo, vulkaninfo, and clinfo – into a single, user-friendly application. This integration makes it significantly easier to access comprehensive GPU information without memorizing complex terminal commands.

The application offers several key features that make it invaluable for Ubuntu users:

Real-time GPU utilization monitoring: Track how your graphics card performs under various workloads
Temperature monitoring: Keep an eye on thermal conditions to prevent overheating issues
Driver information: Verify which drivers are installed and their version numbers
Memory usage statistics: Monitor VRAM consumption during resource-intensive tasks
Comprehensive hardware details: Access detailed specifications about your GPU

Unlike command-line alternatives that provide fragmented information, GPU-Viewer presents everything in an organized, tab-based interface that makes comparing and analyzing data much more straightforward. This makes it superior to utilities like nvidia-smi or lshw when you need a complete picture of your graphics subsystem.

Prerequisites for Installation

Before installing GPU-Viewer on your Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system, ensure you meet the following requirements:

System requirements: A functioning Ubuntu 24.04 LTS installation with administrative access
GPU compatibility: Works with NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel graphics solutions
Internet connection: Required for downloading packages and repositories
Terminal access: Basic understanding of command-line operations

You should also check your current GPU information to ensure compatibility. Run one of these commands to identify your graphics hardware:

lspci | grep -E 'VGA|Display'

For NVIDIA cards specifically:

nvidia-smi --list-gpus

Additionally, update your Ubuntu system to ensure all dependencies are current:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

With these prerequisites satisfied, you’re ready to proceed with the installation.

Method 1: Installing GPU-Viewer via PPA

Installing GPU-Viewer through a Personal Package Archive (PPA) is the most straightforward method for Ubuntu users. This approach ensures you receive official updates and maintains compatibility with your system.

Updating Ubuntu Before Installation

Before beginning the installation process, update your Ubuntu 24.04 system to ensure all packages are current:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

This command refreshes your package lists and upgrades all installed packages to their latest versions. Keeping your system updated minimizes potential compatibility issues during installation.

Installing Required Dependencies

Next, install the software-properties-common package, which allows you to manage repositories more effectively:

sudo apt install software-properties-common -y

This package contains utilities like add-apt-repository, which we’ll need for the next step.

Importing the GPU-Viewer PPA

Since GPU-Viewer isn’t included in the standard Ubuntu repositories, we’ll use a well-maintained PPA from Arun Sivaraman. Add this repository to your system with:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:arunsivaraman/gpuviewer -y

The -y flag automatically confirms the addition, streamlining the process. This repository contains the latest GPU-Viewer builds specifically optimized for Ubuntu systems.

Updating Package Index for GPU-Viewer

After adding the new repository, update your package index again to include the newly added PPA:

sudo apt update

This step synchronizes your package database with the new repository information, making GPU-Viewer available for installation.

Installing GPU-Viewer Using APT

With the repository configured, you can now install GPU-Viewer with a simple command:

sudo apt install gpu-viewer

This command downloads and installs the GPU-Viewer application along with any required dependencies. The installation process typically completes within a minute, depending on your internet connection speed.

Verifying Successful Installation

Confirm that GPU-Viewer installed correctly by launching it from the terminal:

gpu-viewer

If the application launches without errors, you’ve successfully installed GPU-Viewer via the PPA method.

Method 2: Installing GPU-Viewer via Flatpak and Flathub

Flatpak provides an alternative installation method that works across many Linux distributions. This approach offers several advantages, including isolated dependencies and access to the latest versions.

Introduction to Flatpak Package Manager

Flatpak is a next-generation software deployment and package management system for Linux. It allows applications to be installed and run consistently across different Linux distributions. Benefits include:

Sandboxed applications for improved security
Consistent runtime environments
Ability to run multiple versions of applications
Distribution-agnostic installation method

Installing Flatpak on Ubuntu 24.04

First, install Flatpak on your Ubuntu system:

sudo apt install flatpak -y

This command installs the Flatpak system, enabling you to install applications from Flatpak repositories.

Enabling the Flathub Repository

Next, add Flathub, the main repository for Flatpak applications:

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

The “–if-not-exists” flag prevents errors if you’ve previously added this repository. Flathub hosts thousands of applications, including GPU-Viewer.

Installing GPU-Viewer via Flatpak

With Flathub configured, install GPU-Viewer using:

flatpak install flathub io.github.arunsivaramanneo.GPUViewer

When prompted, type ‘y’ to confirm the installation. This command downloads and installs GPU-Viewer and its runtime dependencies.

Pros and Cons of Flatpak Installation Method

Pros:

Consistent experience across different Ubuntu versions
Self-contained dependencies avoid system conflicts
Often provides access to newer versions
Doesn’t modify system libraries

Cons:

Slightly larger disk space requirement
May have minor performance differences
Different update mechanism from system packages
Potential integration issues with some desktop environments

Launching and Using GPU-Viewer

After installation, you have multiple options for starting and using GPU-Viewer on your Ubuntu 24.04 system.

Command Line Methods to Launch GPU-Viewer

For terminal enthusiasts, launch GPU-Viewer using one of these commands:

If installed via PPA:

gpu-viewer

If installed via Flatpak:

flatpak run io.github.arunsivaramanneo.GPUViewer

These commands start GPU-Viewer directly from your terminal session.

GUI Method to Launch GPU-Viewer

For desktop users who prefer graphical interfaces:

Click on the “Activities” button in the top-left corner of your screen
Click on “Show Applications” (nine dots icon)
Scroll through the applications list or type “GPU-Viewer” in the search box
Click on the GPU-Viewer icon to launch the application

You can also create a desktop shortcut by right-clicking the GPU-Viewer icon and selecting “Add to Favorites”.

Install GPU-Viewer on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

Navigating the GPU-Viewer Interface

GPU-Viewer presents information through a tabbed interface with several main sections:

OpenGL: Displays OpenGL capabilities, extensions, and renderer information
Vulkan: Shows Vulkan API support and device properties
OpenCL: Provides compute capabilities and platform information
Device: Shows detailed hardware specifications for your GPU

Navigate between tabs by clicking on the tab headers. Each section contains subsections with more specialized information. The interface uses a tree-view structure for hierarchical data, making it easy to explore detailed information.

Understanding Key Metrics and Information

When examining GPU information, pay attention to these important metrics:

GPU Model: Identifies your exact graphics hardware
Driver Version: Shows which driver is currently controlling your GPU
Memory Information: Details about VRAM capacity and usage
Temperature: Current operating temperature (if supported)
Clock Speeds: Current and maximum frequencies for core and memory
API Support: Which graphics APIs (OpenGL/Vulkan versions) are supported

These metrics help diagnose performance issues and verify hardware capabilities.

Configuring GPU-Viewer for Different GPUs

GPU-Viewer works with all major graphics hardware vendors, but some configuration adjustments may improve its functionality with specific GPUs.

NVIDIA GPU Configuration

NVIDIA users should ensure they have the proprietary NVIDIA drivers installed for full functionality:

Check your current driver with:
```
nvidia-smi
```

If not installed, add the graphics drivers PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa
sudo apt update

Install the recommended driver:
```
sudo apt install nvidia-driver-535
```
(Replace 535 with the latest version available)
Restart your system to apply changes

GPU-Viewer will automatically detect NVIDIA hardware and provide enhanced information when proper drivers are installed.

Intel GPU Configuration

For Intel integrated graphics, ensure you have the latest drivers from Intel’s repositories:

Install the Intel graphics repository GPG key:

wget -qO - https://repositories.intel.com/gpu/intel-graphics.key | sudo gpg --yes --dearmor --output /usr/share/keyrings/intel-graphics.gpg

Add the Intel repository:

echo "deb [arch=amd64,i386 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/intel-graphics.gpg] https://repositories.intel.com/gpu/ubuntu noble unified" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/intel-gpu-noble.list

Update and install Intel graphics packages:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y libze-intel-gpu1 libze1 intel-opencl-icd clinfo intel-gsc

These packages enable full hardware acceleration and provide GPU-Viewer with detailed information about your Intel graphics hardware.

AMD GPU Configuration

AMD graphics users should install the appropriate drivers and utilities:

Check your AMD GPU model:
```
lspci -nn | grep -E 'VGA|Display'
```

Install AMD drivers:

sudo apt install mesa-vulkan-drivers mesa-opencl-icd

For certain newer AMD GPUs, you might need additional packages:
```
sudo apt install rocm-opencl-runtime
```

These packages ensure GPU-Viewer can access detailed information about AMD graphics hardware.

Troubleshooting Common Installation Issues

Despite the straightforward installation process, you might encounter some issues. Here are solutions to common problems.

PPA Installation Problems

Issue: Repository Not Found

E: The repository 'http://ppa.launchpad.net/arunsivaraman/gpuviewer/ubuntu noble Release' does not have a Release file.

Solution:
The PPA might not be updated for the latest Ubuntu version. Try:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:arunsivaraman/gpuviewer/ubuntu
sudo apt update

Issue: Dependency Problems

The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 gpu-viewer : Depends: python3-gi-cairo but it is not going to be installed

Solution:
Install missing dependencies manually:

sudo apt install python3-gi python3-gi-cairo gir1.2-gtk-4.0
sudo apt --fix-broken install

Flatpak Installation Challenges

Issue: Flatpak Not Found

flatpak: command not found

Solution:
Install Flatpak and restart your session:

sudo apt install flatpak gnome-software-plugin-flatpak
reboot

Issue: Permission Problems

error: Permission denied: accessing system installation

Solution:
Add sudo to the command or use the –user flag:

sudo flatpak install flathub io.github.arunsivaramanneo.GPUViewer

flatpak --user install flathub io.github.arunsivaramanneo.GPUViewer

GPU Driver Compatibility Issues

Issue: No GPU Information Displayed

Solution:
This often indicates missing or outdated drivers. Install the appropriate drivers for your GPU:

For NVIDIA:

sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall

For Intel:

sudo apt install intel-media-va-driver

For AMD:

sudo apt install mesa-va-drivers

Display and Rendering Problems

Issue: GUI Doesn’t Launch or Crashes

Solution:
This might be due to GTK version incompatibilities. Try:

sudo apt install gir1.2-gtk-4.0

If GPU-Viewer still crashes, launch it from terminal to see error messages:

gpu-viewer

Use the error messages to diagnose specific issues.

Enhancing GPU Performance on Ubuntu 24.04

After installing GPU-Viewer, you can use it to monitor and optimize your GPU performance.

Installing Proper GPU Drivers

One of the most effective ways to improve GPU performance is to install the correct drivers:

For NVIDIA GPUs:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa
sudo apt update
sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall

Or install a specific driver version:

sudo apt install nvidia-driver-535

For Intel Graphics:

sudo apt install intel-media-va-driver-non-free

For AMD GPUs:

sudo apt install mesa-vulkan-drivers vulkan-tools

Proper drivers provide improved performance, better power management, and access to advanced features.

Optimizing System for GPU Performance

Several system tweaks can improve GPU performance:

Update your kernel parameters by adding the following to /etc/default/grub:
```
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash nvidia-drm.modeset=1"
```
Then update grub:
```
sudo update-grub
```
Adjust power management settings for better performance:
```
sudo apt install tlp
sudo tlp start
```
Enable hardware acceleration in applications when available

Using GPU-Viewer for Performance Tuning

GPU-Viewer provides valuable information for performance optimization:

Monitor temperature to identify thermal throttling issues
Check memory usage to detect potential bottlenecks
Verify driver versions to ensure you’re using the latest compatible drivers
Compare actual versus maximum clock speeds to identify power limitations

Use this information to make informed decisions about hardware upgrades or software optimizations.

Advanced GPU-Viewer Usage Tips

Beyond basic monitoring, GPU-Viewer offers several advanced features for power users.

Monitoring Multiple GPUs

If your system has multiple graphics cards (common in development or mining setups):

GPU-Viewer automatically detects all available GPUs
Switch between different cards using the device selection dropdown
Compare specifications and performance metrics side-by-side
Monitor load distribution across multiple GPUs

This capability is particularly useful for diagnostic purposes or optimizing multi-GPU workloads.

Benchmarking Using GPU-Viewer

While GPU-Viewer doesn’t include built-in benchmarking, you can use it alongside benchmarking tools:

Launch a benchmark application (like glmark2 or unigine-heaven)
Keep GPU-Viewer open to monitor real-time performance metrics
Record maximum temperatures, clock speeds, and utilization
Use this data to compare different driver versions or configurations

This approach provides deeper insights than benchmark scores alone.

Automation and Scheduled Monitoring

For long-term monitoring, consider automating GPU-Viewer with scripts:

Create bash scripts that capture GPU-Viewer data at intervals
Use cron jobs to schedule regular checks
Log performance metrics to identify trends over time
Set up automated alerts for temperature thresholds

Example script to log basic GPU information:

#!/bin/bash
DATE=$(date +"%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S")
nvidia-smi --query-gpu=temperature.gpu,utilization.gpu,utilization.memory --format=csv > "/home/user/gpu_logs/gpu_log_$DATE.csv"

Congratulations! You have successfully installed GPU-Viewer. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the latest version of the GPU-Viewer on the Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official GPU-Viewer website.

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