Should work with all models 8000 series and newer.

First, open a terminal and run

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r) jockey-gtk pkg-config

This will install the necessary drivers. Next, run

gksudo jockey-gtk

Deactivate any driver other than NVIDIA, then select NVIDIA and activate that.

The NVIDIA drivers need the file /etc/X11/xorg.conf, so run

sudo nvidia-xconfig

to generate the file.

The last thing is to restart the X server - logging out will suffice, but I recommend a full reboot just to be sure.

To adjust the NVIDIA driver settings run nvidia-settings from a terminal or find it in the Main Menu → Applications → Preferences.

If your computer is equipped with NVIDIA Optimus graphics and running Bodhi 2.0, there are Bodhi packages available that install Bumblebee 3.0 (follow the link to read about Bumblebee on their website).

The bumblebee packages can be found through the Synaptic Package Manager.

• To enable Optimus using open drivers, install the bumblebee package.
• To enable Optimus using the NVIDIA proprietary drivers, install the bumblebee-nvidia package.

You can of course install using command line.
First, open a terminal and enter:

sudo apt-get update

then, for the open source drivers version:

sudo apt-get install bumblebee

or for the nVidia proprietary drivers version:

sudo apt-get install bumblebee-nvidia

After installation the X server needs to be restarted, log out then in again or just reboot.

If X does not start, use Ctrl-Alt + F1 to get to a virtual terminal, log in there, and run

sudo rm /etc/X11/xorg.conf

followed by

sudo reboot 

Many users have reported trouble using NVIDIA driver with 3.0.* kernels. A solution that has worked for many is to use and older kernel version. Several kernels can be found on the Bodhi Software Site Kernel Section and provide a one-click install. Many others can be found and installed using Synpatic Package Manager.

Users who have not had success with the above directions are advised to try the above directions again after installing and rebooting into an older kernel version.

See the Hardware section for a fix specific to Lenovo with multiple graphics cards.

Bodhi 2.0 users can try the Optimus instructions above.

In some configurations NVIDIA drivers won't play nicely with fonts in Gnome/GTK apps. Per a tip from devilhorns, a fix can be had by editing a couple of files:

#1: ~/.Xdefaults
If this file doesn't exist (probably not) it's OK to create it with a text editor and add just this one line: Xft.dpi: 75

#2 /etc/X11/xorg.conf (the same file that was made earlier)
This file needs the line “Option “DPI” “96 x 96” ” added to Section “Monitor”. You will need root privileges to edit this file, so open your text editor from a terminal with sudo. For example:

sudo leafpad

That whole section on my system looks like this:

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor0"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "Unknown"
    HorizSync       28.0 - 33.0
    VertRefresh     43.0 - 72.0
    Option         "DPI" "96 x 96"
EndSection

After these changes the X server needs to be restarted. The simplest way is to just reboot your machine.

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