1. Home/
    2. Archives /
  2. Mesa 3D graphics library

Archives For Mesa 3D graphics library

How to Install The Latest Mesa Graphics Driver in Ubuntu 20.04 / 21.04

Last updated: July 17, 2021 — 3 Comments

For those sticking to the open-source graphics driver, the latest Mesa 3D graphics library is easy to install via an Ubuntu PPA.

Mesa is an open-source software implementation of OpenGL, Vulkan, VDPAU, VA-API, and other graphics API specifications.

Ubuntu uses Mesa as OpenGL implementation if no proprietary driver is in use. It is however always old. For users want to play some games with the open-source RadeonSI, RADV, Intel, or Nouveau drivers, you may try the latest Mesa via PPA.

Install Mesa via Ubuntu PPA:

A trustworthy Ubuntu PPA is available that contains the latest stable Mesa packages for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04. It also provides packages for Ubuntu 20.10 and Ubuntu 21.04, but not tested.

1. Add the PPA:

Search for and open terminal from system app launcher. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kisak/kisak-mesa

Type user password, no visual feedback, when it asks. Read the PPA description as you want and hit Enter to continue.

2. Install Mesa packages:

For Ubuntu 18.04, Linux Mint, you need to update package cache though it’d done automatically in Ubuntu 20.04 and higher.

sudo apt update

Finally install available upgrades of all packages including Mesa library via command:

sudo apt full-upgrade

3. Check mesa version:

To find out the package version, use command:

glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version"

Restore Original Mesa packages:

To restore your graphics driver to the original status, firstly install ppa-purge via command:

sudo apt install ppa-purge

Next purge the Ubuntu PPA which will downgrade all the installed packages:

sudo ppa-purge ppa:kisak/kisak-mesa

For Linux Mint 20, it’s recommended to add -d focal flag to work safely:

sudo ppa-purge -d focal ppa:kisak/kisak-mesa
In Howtos
 permalink

How to Install Mesa 19.3 in Ubuntu 18.04, 19.10

Last updated: December 15, 2019

Mesa 3D graphics library 19.3 was released a few days ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.04, and Ubuntu 19.10.

Mesa 19.3 is a big release that features:

  • Intel OpenGL 4.6 support
  • New Vulkan extensions both for Radeon RADV and Intel ANV
  • Initial Intel Tiger Lake support
  • AMD Navi 14 support (Radeon RX 5500 XT!)
  • Zink is added for experimental OpenGL over Vulkan
Only for those sticking to the open-source RadeonSI / RADV / Intel / Nouveau drivers, and want to enjoy some Linux games.

1. Open terminal either from application launcher or by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard. When it opens, run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kisak/kisak-mesa

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) when it prompts and read the PPA description before pressing 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 package cache.

3. Finally check your driver version via command:

glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version"

Uninstall:

To restore changes and downgrade to the default drivers shipped in your Ubuntu, run command:

sudo apt-get install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:kisak/kisak-mesa
In Howtos, News ,
 permalink

How to Install Mesa 19.2.1 in Ubuntu 18.04 via PPA

Last updated: October 25, 2019

Mesa 3D graphics library 19.2.1 now is finally made into PPA available to install in Ubuntu 18.04 LTS.

Mesa 19.2.x is the latest development series that features:

  • Mesa 19.2 now pretty much at parity or beyond the i965 OpenGL driver.
  • OpenGL 4.6 support for the Intel OpenGL driver
  • Radeon RX 5700 series (Navi 10) support in RADV and RadeonSI Vulkan/OpenGL drivers.
  • Initial Navi 12/14 support.
  • A big RADV performance boost for AMD GPUs.
  • EGL platform device support.

Canonical’s Timo Aaltonen has made Mesa 19.2.1 package into “Ubuntu-X” team PPA, available to install in Ubuntu 18.04.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu. When it opens, run command:

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

Type user password (no asterisk 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 package cache.

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
In Howtos ,
 permalink

Mesa 19.1.4 Available to Install in Ubuntu 18.04 / 19.04

Last updated: August 16, 2019

Mesa 3D graphics library 19.1.4, which was released a week ago, now is made into PPA for Ubuntu 18.04, and Ubuntu 19.04.

For those sticking to the open-source RadeonSI / RADV / Intel / Nouveau drivers, Mesa 19.1.4 is the latest stable release with following release highlights:

  • Vulkan 24/48 bit formats are now not supported on Ivybridge.
  • R8G8B8_UNORM_SRGB is not supported on Haswell.
  • A fix for hair artifacts in Max Payne 3 on AMD/RADV.
  • Vulkan transform feedback extension is disabled on Intel gen7.

Canonical’s Timo Aaltonen has made Mesa 19.1.4 package into “Ubuntu-X” team PPA, available to install in Ubuntu 18.04 and Ubuntu 19.04.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu. When it opens, run command:

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

Type user password (no asterisk 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 package cache.

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
In Howtos, News
 permalink

How to Install Mesa 19.0.8 in Ubuntu 18.04 / 19.04

Last updated: July 18, 2019

Mesa 3D graphics library 19.0.8 now is available to install in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.04 via PPA repository.

For those sticking to the open-source RadeonSI / RADV / Intel / Nouveau drivers, Mesa 19.0.8 is the latest bug-fix release for 19.0 series which fixes a critical bug found in the 19.0.7 release.

Canonical’s Timo Aaltonen has made Mesa 19.0.8 package into “Ubuntu-X” team PPA for Ubuntu 18.04 and Ubuntu 19.04.

To get better open-source graphics driver performance, you may install Mesa 19.0.8 via following steps:

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 asterisk 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 package cache.

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
In Howtos
 permalink