Is there anything I should know before swapping out my graphics card?

I just got a new to me graphics card. I’ve never added or subtracted hardware besides a couple hard drives since I’ve been using Garuda. I’m currently using an NVIDIA 1070, it has served me well but I was offered a Titan XP for a steal. It has twice the ram and would be a substantial upgrade despite being old itself.

Anyway I was hoping to get some insight to any issues I may encounter doing this swap so I can prepare before hand to troubleshoot. I understand it may not be as smooth a process as a plug and play windows swap.

Should I be prepared for a reinstall, will this card be using the same driver, am I just overthinking this?

System:
  Kernel: 6.18.9-zen1-2-zen arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 15.2.1 clocksource: tsc
    avail: hpet,acpi_pm parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/@/boot/vmlinuz-linux-zen
    root=UUID=abf5a4a6-fca9-4da5-9d49-7084cfecb226 rw rootflags=subvol=@ loglevel=3
  Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 6.5.5 tk: Qt v: N/A info: frameworks v: 6.23.0 wm: kwin_wayland vt: 1
    dm: SDDM Distro: Garuda base: Arch Linux
Machine:
  Type: Desktop Mobo: ASUSTeK model: ROG STRIX X299-E GAMING v: Rev 1.xx
    serial: <superuser required> part-nu: ASUS_MB_KBLX uuid: <superuser required> Firmware: UEFI
    vendor: American Megatrends v: 4201 date: 11/06/2024
CPU:
  Info: model: Intel Core i7-7800X bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Skylake gen: core 7 level: v4
    note: check process: Intel 14nm family: 6 model-id: 0x55 (85) stepping: 4 microcode: 0x2007006
  Topology: cpus: 1x dies: 1 clusters: 6 cores: 6 threads: 12 tpc: 2 smt: enabled cache:
    L1: 384 KiB desc: d-6x32 KiB; i-6x32 KiB L2: 6 MiB desc: 6x1024 KiB L3: 8.2 MiB desc: 1x8.2 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 1200 min/max: 1200/4000 scaling: driver: intel_pstate governor: powersave
    cores: 1: 1200 2: 1200 3: 1200 4: 1200 5: 1200 6: 1200 7: 1200 8: 1200 9: 1200 10: 1200 11: 1200
    12: 1200 bogomips: 83997
  Flags-basic: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
  Vulnerabilities: <filter>
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA GP104 [GeForce GTX 1070] vendor: Gigabyte driver: nvidia v: 580.126.09
    alternate: nouveau,nvidia_drm non-free: 550-580.xx+ status: current (as of 2025-11;
    EOL~2026-12-xx) arch: Pascal code: GP10x process: TSMC 16nm built: 2016-2021 pcie: gen: 3
    speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16 ports: active: DP-2, DP-3, DVI-D-1, HDMI-A-1 empty: DP-1
    bus-ID: 65:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:1b81 class-ID: 0300
  Display: wayland server: X.org v: 1.21.1.21 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.9 compositor: kwin_wayland
    driver: X: loaded: nvidia gpu: nvidia,nvidia-nvswitch d-rect: 5120x3060 display-ID: 0
  Monitor-1: DP-2 pos: primary,top-left model: HP P201 serial: <filter> built: 2014 res:
    mode: 1600x900 hz: 60 scale: 100% (1) dpi: 92 gamma: 1.2 size: 443x249mm (17.44x9.8")
    diag: 508mm (20") ratio: 16:9 modes: max: 1600x900 min: 640x480
  Monitor-2: DP-3 pos: middle-c model: Asus VS278 serial: <filter> built: 2013 res:
    mode: 1920x1080 hz: 60 scale: 100% (1) dpi: 82 gamma: 1.2 size: 598x336mm (23.54x13.23")
    diag: 686mm (27") ratio: 16:9 modes: max: 1920x1080 min: 640x480
  Monitor-3: DVI-D-1 pos: top-right model: HP P201 serial: <filter> built: 2014 res:
    mode: 1600x900 hz: 60 scale: 100% (1) dpi: 92 gamma: 1.2 size: 443x249mm (17.44x9.8")
    diag: 508mm (20") ratio: 16:9 modes: max: 1600x900 min: 640x480
  Monitor-4: HDMI-A-1 pos: bottom-c model: Samsung C27F390 serial: <filter> built: 2015 res:
    mode: 1920x1080 hz: 60 scale: 100% (1) dpi: 82 gamma: 1.2 size: 598x336mm (23.54x13.23")
    diag: 686mm (27") ratio: 16:9 modes: max: 1920x1080 min: 640x480
  API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: nvidia platforms: device: 0 drv: nvidia device: 2 drv: swrast gbm:
    drv: nvidia surfaceless: drv: nvidia wayland: drv: nvidia x11: drv: nvidia inactive: device-1
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6.0 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: nvidia mesa v: 580.126.09 glx-v: 1.4
    direct-render: yes renderer: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070/PCIe/SSE2 memory: 7.81 GiB display-ID: :1.0
  API: Vulkan v: 1.4.341 layers: 13 device: 0 type: discrete-gpu name: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070
    driver: nvidia v: 580.126.09 device-ID: 10de:1b81 surfaces: N/A device: 1 type: cpu name: llvmpipe
    (LLVM 21.1.6 256 bits) driver: mesa llvmpipe v: 25.3.5-arch1.1 (LLVM 21.1.6)
    device-ID: 10005:0000 surfaces: N/A
  Info: Tools: api: clinfo, eglinfo, glxinfo, vulkaninfo de: kscreen-console,kscreen-doctor
    gpu: nvidia-smi wl: wayland-info x11: xdpyinfo, xprop, xrandr
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 200 Series PCH HD Audio vendor: ASUSTeK driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
    alternate: snd_soc_avs bus-ID: 00:1f.3 chip-ID: 8086:a2f0 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: NVIDIA GP104 High Definition Audio vendor: Gigabyte driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
    pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s 
lanes: 16 bus-ID: 65:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:10f0 class-ID: 0403
  Device-3: Actions Captain 500 driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid type: USB rev: 2.0
    speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 bus-ID: 1-6.4:8 chip-ID: 10d6:4801 class-ID: 0102
    serial: <filter>
  API: ALSA v: k6.18.9-zen1-2-zen status: kernel-api with: aoss type: oss-emulator
    tools: alsactl,alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: sndiod v: N/A status: off tools: aucat,midicat,sndioctl
  Server-2: PipeWire v: 1.4.10 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse status: active
    2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin 4: pw-jack type: plugin
    tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: Intel Ethernet I219-V vendor: ASUSTeK driver: e1000e v: kernel port: N/A
    bus-ID: 00:1f.6 chip-ID: 8086:15b8 class-ID: 0200
  IF: eno1 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8822BE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WiFi adapter vendor: ASUSTeK driver: rtw88_8822be
    v: kernel pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: 2000 bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:b822
    class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlp2s0 state: down mac: <filter>
  Info: services: NetworkManager,systemd-timesyncd
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: ASUSTek Bluetooth Radio driver: btusb v: 0.8 type: USB rev: 1.1 speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1
    mode: 1.1 bus-ID: 1-13:7 chip-ID: 0b05:185c class-ID: e001 serial: <filter>
  Report: btmgmt ID: hci0 rfk-id: 0 state: down bt-service: enabled,running rfk-block:
    hardware: no software: yes address: N/A
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 6.48 TiB used: 1.35 TiB (20.8%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 maj-min: 259:0 vendor: Silicon Power model: SPCC M.2 PCIe SSD size: 1.82 TiB
    block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 31.6 Gb/s lanes: 4 tech: SSD serial: <filter>
    fw-rev: VC2S038D temp: 34.9 C scheme: GPT
  ID-2: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Silicon Power model: SPCC Solid State Disk size: 55.9 GiB
    block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: SSD serial: <filter>
    fw-rev: V3.7 scheme: GPT
  ID-3: /dev/sdb maj-min: 8:16 vendor: Silicon Power model: SPCC Solid State Disk
    size: 476.94 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: SSD
    serial: <filter> fw-rev: ae20 scheme: GPT
  ID-4: /dev/sdc maj-min: 8:32 vendor: Silicon Power model: SPCC Solid State Disk
    size: 953.87 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: SSD
    serial: <filter> fw-rev: AA20 scheme: GPT
  ID-5: /dev/sdd maj-min: 8:48 vendor: Seagate model: ST1000DM010-2EP102 size: 931.51 GiB
    block-size: physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: HDD rpm: 7200 serial: <filter>
    fw-rev: CC43 scheme: GPT
  ID-6: /dev/sde maj-min: 8:64 vendor: Silicon Power model: SPCC Solid State Disk
    size: 953.87 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: SSD
    serial: <filter> fw-rev: 115 scheme: GPT
  ID-7: /dev/sdf maj-min: 8:80 vendor: Silicon Power model: SPCC Solid State Disk
    size: 953.87 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: SSD
    serial: <filter> fw-rev: 916a scheme: GPT
  ID-8: /dev/sdg maj-min: 8:96 vendor: SanDisk model: SDSSDA480G size: 447.13 GiB block-size:
    physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 30RL
    scheme: GPT
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 476.64 GiB size: 476.64 GiB (100.00%) used: 269.32 GiB (56.5%) fs: btrfs
    dev: /dev/sdb2 maj-min: 8:18
  ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 300 MiB size: 299.4 MiB (99.80%) used: 664 KiB (0.2%) fs: vfat
    dev: /dev/sdb1 maj-min: 8:17
  ID-3: /home raw-size: 476.64 GiB size: 476.64 GiB (100.00%) used: 269.32 GiB (56.5%) fs: btrfs
    dev: /dev/sdb2 maj-min: 8:18
  ID-4: /var/log raw-size: 476.64 GiB size: 476.64 GiB (100.00%) used: 269.32 GiB (56.5%)
    fs: btrfs dev: /dev/sdb2 maj-min: 8:18
  ID-5: /var/tmp raw-size: 476.64 GiB size: 476.64 GiB (100.00%) used: 269.32 GiB (56.5%)
    fs: btrfs dev: /dev/sdb2 maj-min: 8:18
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 133 (default 60) cache-pressure:
 100 (default) zswap: no
  ID-1: swap-1 type: zram size: 46.73 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: 100 comp: zstd
    avail: lzo-rle,lzo,lz4,lz4hc,deflate,842 dev: /dev/zram0
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 36.0 C mobo: N/A
  Fan Speeds (rpm): N/A
Info:
  Memory: total: 48 GiB note: est. available: 46.73 GiB used: 6.3 GiB (13.5%)
  Processes: 383 Power: uptime: 22m states: freeze,mem,disk suspend: deep avail: s2idle
    wakeups: 0 hibernate: platform avail: shutdown, reboot, suspend, test_resume image: 18.62 GiB
    services: org_kde_powerdevil, power-profiles-daemon, upowerd Init: systemd v: 259
    default: graphical tool: systemctl
  Packages: 1591 pm: pacman pkgs: 1562 libs: 451 tools: octopi,paru pm: flatpak pkgs: 29
    Compilers: clang: 21.1.8 gcc: 15.2.1 Client: shell wrapper v: 5.3.9-release inxi: 3.3.40
Garuda (2.12.3-2):
  System install date:     2025-01-26
  Garuda release:          240428
  Last full system update: 2026-02-15
  Is partially upgraded:   No
  Relevant software:       snapper NetworkManager dracut nvidia-580xx-dkms garuda-hardware-profile-nvidia-580xx garuda-hardware-profile-standard
  Windows dual boot:       No/Undetected
  Failed units:            
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Hi

Both of your GPUs are in the Pascal list of Arch Nvidia so they use the same driver . It should be not a issue to swap it. These GPU uses more power so check your PSU Watt can handle it too.

NV130 family (Pascal)
Code name	Official Name
NV132 (GP102)	NVIDIA Titan (X, Xp), GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
NV134 (GP104)	GeForce GTX (1070, 1080)
NV136 (GP106)	GeForce GTX 1060
NV137 (GP107)	GeForce GTX (1050, 1050 Ti)
NV138 (GP108)	GeForce GT 1030

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These cards are no longer supported by the NVidia Main Branch.
This means in future you will only get securitiy updates for drivers. You will not receive updates for new games, new features or performance improvements.

3 Likes

@Apocalypticus and @Duke187
Thanks for the replies guys, 800 watts is recommended for my setup with a single titan xp, I already have a 1k psu so that should be plenty, I always over do the power for longevity, this psu is 8 years old, the 1070 never over taxed it.

After I tear this card down for a re-paste and re-pad I will drop it in and let you know how it went.

Thanks again

3 Likes