How to Install Mesa 18.2.8 via PPA in Ubuntu 18.04, 18.10

Last updated: January 10, 2019

The latest Mesa graphics driver 18.2.8 is finally available to install in Ubuntu 18.04 and Ubuntu 18.10 via Ubuntu-X PPA.

Mesa 18.2.8 was released two weeks ago with following changes:

  • Add the new Vega M, Vega 10, and Vega 20 PCI IDs
  • Meson build system foxes.
  • Gallium “Nine” Direct3D 9 state tracker fixes.
  • VirGL driver fixes.
  • A RADV hang fix for the Windows Yakuza game under DXVK with Steam Play

For users sticking to the open source RadeonSI / RADV / Intel / Nouveau drivers, and want to enjoy some Linux games, you may follow below steps to install Mesa 18.2.8 in Ubuntu 18.04 and/or Ubuntu 18.10:

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or from software launcher. When it opens, run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/updates

Type user password (no asterisks feedback) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. After adding the PPA, do system update via command:

sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

apt-get update is not required any more in Ubuntu 18.04 since adding PPA automatically refreshes system repositories.

3. Finally check your driver version via command:

glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version"

Uninstall:

To restore changes and downgrade to the default drives shipped in Ubuntu 18.04, run command:

sudo apt-get install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/updates

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