NVIDIA Ends Linux Driver Support for Maxwell and Pascal GPUs in New 590.44.01 Release
NVIDIA has officially dropped support for its Maxwell and Pascal graphics card families in the latest Linux driver release, ending a decade of continuous updates for two of the company’s most widely used GPU generations. While these architectures continued receiving Game Ready drivers on Windows until October 2025, they have now fully transitioned to quarterly security updates only. The Linux driver update confirms the same shift for that platform.
The newly released Linux Driver 590.44.01 excludes GeForce GTX900 and GeForce GTX10 series GPUs from the list of supported products. This marks the end of standard driver enhancements for these graphics cards, including day one game optimizations or performance tuning.
Although NVIDIA has not yet introduced a Windows Game Ready version of the 590 branch, the company has rolled out the Linux version ahead of schedule. Maxwell and Pascal users on Linux will no longer receive gameplay oriented updates. Instead, they will only receive quarterly security patches, which ensure system stability but do not enhance performance for modern titles.
Industry watchers originally expected Linux support to end with the 580 driver branch. However, NVIDIA extended support slightly further by incorporating Maxwell and Pascal compatibility into the initial release of branch 590. The jump from branch 580 to 590, with only a single driver published under the former, created some uncertainty. With the latest update, NVIDIA’s intentions are now clear: ongoing support for these GPUs is ending across all major platforms.
While this change may disappoint users who continue running GTX 900 or GTX 10 series cards, the hardware remains functional. Players can continue using these GPUs for legacy or lightweight workloads. However, those seeking modern performance profiles or day one game compatibility will need to upgrade to a more current architecture. NVIDIA recommends transitioning to the RTX fifty series, which is currently priced lower than earlier in the year but may see rising costs soon due to increasing VRAM pricing.
The new Linux Driver 590 officially supports Turing and later architectures, including both desktop and mobile variants. NVIDIA has also included several bug fixes and improved compatibility enhancements. Based on Steam Hardware Survey trends, Maxwell and Pascal GPUs have already declined sharply in active usage, with most users having upgraded to more modern hardware.
As the industry moves forward and games grow more demanding, this change was inevitable. NVIDIA is now consolidating support around newer generations in order to streamline driver development and optimize performance for contemporary technologies.
Are you still using a Maxwell or Pascal GPU, and do you think the end of driver support will push you toward an upgrade soon
