Basic Steps

1. Create bootable installation medium, DVD or USB stick
2. Configure the Bios (if needed)
3. Install Ubuntu 16.04-x64
4. Install Ubuntu updates
5. Install NVidia drivers
6. Enable temperature/fan control
7. Install Boinc
8. Add Boinc Projects

Summary

1. Create a bootable USB stick
Download and install Universal USB installer, http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/
Download the Linux image, http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop (1.4GB .iso file)
Run the USB installer program and write the image to disk

2. Configure the Bios (step might not be needed)
Press Del or F2 to boot into the BIOS.
Configure the Bios to boot first from USB devices
Save changes and Exit the Bios

3. Install Ubuntu
Insert the bootable USB stick
Turn on the computer and boot to the USB stick (if system boots to internal disk see step 2)
Follow the Ubuntu instillation steps (setting language, location, entering user name and password…)
When the instillation is complete remove the USB stick and reboot the system (top right icon, shutdown, restart)

4. Install Updates
Open System Settings, Software & Updates. Under the Updates Tab select Daily, Download and install automatically and Display immediately (you can undo this later if you wish).
Ensure you have an active Internet connection (Ethernet or Wi-Fi).
When Linux finds updates it will notify you. Install the updates and restart. Note you can also force the operating system to look for updates from a Terminal.

5. Install NVidia drivers
I’ve included this step because it’s what I did and it worked for me, however you may not need this after the update and system restart.
Open System Settings, Software & Updates and go to the Additional Drivers Tab. Select, ‘Using NVIDIA binary driver – version 361.42 from nvidia-361 (proprietary, tested). Assumes it was, ‘Using X.Org X server’. Apply changes. Allow the changes to be applied and then exit out of the settings and restart the computer.

6. Enable Temperature/Fan control
Run the Coolbits command from a Terminal and restart (won’t work until you restart):

cd /etc/X11
sudo nvidia-xconfig --cool-bits=4

Open NVidia X Server. Under your GPU check that Thermal Settings are now manually controllable (note any settings are for session only)

7. Install Boinc and restart
Open Ubuntu Software. Search for Boinc and then install it.
Restart (might not need to restart but better safe than sorry).

8. Add Boinc projects and configure Temperature control
Open Boinc, Check the Boinc Manager log files (advanced view, Tools Event Log). They should indicate that there is a usable GPU [might need to add a project first then switch to advanced view].
Add GPUGrid (&/or other Boinc projects); Tools Add project.
Open X-Server, go to Thermal Settings (under your GPU) and increase the fan speed to 80% (as a starting point). When you start running GPU tasks keep an eye on the temperature and adjust the fan speed (up or down) to keep the GPU below a reasonable temperature (70C).

Note this is a guide only. Intended for spare/secondary/crunching systems. It's a work in progress and I'll add some verbosity later.

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Discussion of Ubuntu 16.04-x64 LTS installation and configuration

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