Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS With COSMIC: Pick the Right ISO
Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS
Developer: System76 (opens in a new tab)
The download link points to the program’s official source; the file is not hosted on this site. Link address: system76.com
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Pop!_OS is a free, open-source Linux distribution made by System76. The current release is Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS with the COSMIC desktop; System76 recommends 4 GB of RAM, 16 GB of storage and a 64-bit processor.
Pop!_OS is System76’s own Linux distribution, popular with developers and gamers who want working graphics drivers from the first boot. Version 24.04 LTS introduces COSMIC, a desktop environment designed and built by System76.
Which image is yours?
The download page lists four images:
- Standard: for Intel or AMD graphics, and NVIDIA 10 Series cards or older.
- NVIDIA: for NVIDIA 16 Series graphics or newer, with the driver included.
- ARM: for ARM64 processors.
- ARM with NVIDIA: for ARM64 machines with NVIDIA 16 Series or newer graphics.
Picking the right one matters: the NVIDIA image saves you from installing the driver yourself.
Hardware and firmware
System76 recommends 4 GB of RAM, 16 GB of storage and a 64-bit processor. The download page also says to disable Secure Boot in your BIOS before installing.
Verify and write the USB
The page lists a SHA256 checksum for each image. Compute the hash of your file (for example with Get-FileHash in PowerShell or sha256sum on Linux) and compare. Then write the ISO with Rufus or add it to a Ventoy drive.
Before you install
Boot the live session to make sure Wi-Fi, display and audio work. Back up your data: if you share the disk with Windows, partitioning mistakes can wipe it. If you would rather stay with a desktop closer to stock Ubuntu, Ubuntu itself is the obvious alternative.
Pros
- Dedicated NVIDIA image with the driver included
- New COSMIC desktop
- ARM64 images available
Cons
- Secure Boot must be turned off
- COSMIC is not yet optimized for touch devices
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Pop!_OS ISO should I use with an NVIDIA graphics card?
For NVIDIA 16 Series or newer cards, use the NVIDIA image. NVIDIA 10 Series and older cards use the standard image.
Does Pop!_OS work with Secure Boot?
The official download page says to disable Secure Boot in your BIOS to install Pop!_OS.
Pop!_OSOpen source
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