Here is my way to install the latest CUDA driver on RHEL 5.3:
step 1: ctrl+ alt + F1 , then log in your account
step2:
/sbin/init 3
// change the run level
step3:
rmmod nvidia
step4: go to the folder where you download the cuda driver and run
sh cudadriver_2.3_linux_64_190.16.run
then follow the instructions
step5: VERY IMPORTANT , you need to reload the new nvidia module
modprobe nvidia
ps: this is where i am in trouble previously. if you dont load the new module, the os seems always load the old one and return the kernel module and nvidia driver mismatch errors! for example :
Error: API mismatch: the NVIDIA kernel module has version 180.XX, but this NVIDIA driver component has version 185.XX.
step6:
init 5
startx
hope my share could save linux newbies like me a lot of time :)