Nvidia
To enable support for nVidia graphics cards:
Install the driver nvidia-glx using [https://www.ubuntulinux.org/wiki/SynapticHowto Synaptic].
System -> Administration -> Synaptic Package Manager
Type sudo nvidia-glx-config enable at a terminal to enable it.
Applications -> System Tools -> Terminal
Log out of gnome, hit control-alt-backspace, and log in again.
System -> Log Out
If you see an nVidia splashscreen after hitting control-alt-backspace, your drivers are properly installed.
Optional: The nvidia-settings package provides a control panel to configure graphics card options such as gamma correction.
If you are going to compile 3d applications, you will want to install the nvidia-glx-dev package
Note: If you wish to use these drivers and run the XMMS music player, you should be aware of [https://bugzilla.ubuntu.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1724 this bug]. You can get around this bug by installing libmik.
Note: Be sure to have the right version of linux-restricted-modules installed. It must match the version of the running kernel.
Note: Renderaccell has a bug. Memory leak and crashes. Disable it in xorg.conf in the section "Device".
Option "RenderAccel" "false"
Disabling the nVidia logo on Gnome startup: To get rid of it, add the following line to xorg.conf in the section "Device"
Option "NoLogo"
Getting suspend to work with the binary driver: See NvidiaLaptopBinaryDriverSuspend
For other drivers, refer to the BinaryDriverHowto Part of UserDocumentation