How to install X-server and graphics drivers

We now have to install the display server, graphics drivers and other crucial components before we install the final piece of an operating system: the desktop environment.

# pacman -S xorg-server xorg-server-utils

It will ask you to install libgl package, choose the one for your GPU. If you have Intel card, then use mesa-libgl, if you have latest nvidia card then nvidia-libgl. It’s time to now install GPU driver for the graphic card on your system:

Intel GPU:

pacman -S xf86-video-intel

Nvidia (latest card, for older cards, check this page):

pacman -S nvidia nvidia-libgl

ATI/AMD:

pacman -S xf86-video-ati lib32-mesa-libgl

If you are using a laptop you will also need to install the drivers for input devices like touch-pad:

# pacman -S xf86-input-synaptics

We are all set to install the desired desktop environment. I will try to include all those desktop environments that I have tried so far. If you want me to write about your preferred DE, let me know and I will give it a try.