AMD RDNA 4 GPU Patches Merging Into Mesa’s RadeonSI Linux Driver, VCN5 Encode / Decode Capabilities Revealed

AMD’s next-generation RDNA 4 GPUs are on the horizon, and the company has been actively working on enabling support for these powerful graphics cards in the Linux environment. Recently, significant progress has been made, with the initial support for RDNA 4 GPUs and their VCN5 hardware being merged into the RadeonSI OpenGL driver.

RDNA 4 GPU Enablement

AMD has been pushing out patches at an impressive pace, demonstrating their commitment to providing timely support for next-gen GPUs. The recent merge of 24 patches into Mesa 24.2-devel brings essential changes to the RadeonSI OpenGL driver. These patches primarily focus on the platform’s fundamentals, including AMD AC code, ADDRLIB library code for GFX12 (RDNA 4 GPU), and other necessary adjustments.

VCN5 Encode/Decode Capabilities

In addition to RDNA 4 GPU enablement, AMD has also introduced VCN5 (Video Codec Next) encode/decode capabilities for these GPUs. This enhancement will significantly improve video processing performance, making RDNA 4 GPUs even more versatile for multimedia tasks. With VCN5, AMD aims to provide efficient video encoding and decoding features, catering to both content creators and gamers.

A New Approach

What’s noteworthy is AMD’s proactive approach this time around. Historically, the company has been somewhat hesitant to release patches promptly, often delaying support for new hardware until after the official launch. However, the recent developments indicate a positive shift. By merging these patches early, AMD is positioning itself to offer robust Linux support for RDNA 4 GPUs, potentially competing with alternatives like MESA’s RADV Vulkan driver, which has gained popularity due to its open-source nature.

Conclusion

As we approach the official launch of RDNA 4 GPUs, it’s clear that AMD is committed to delivering a seamless experience for Linux users. With improved support and exciting features like VCN5, Team Red is poised to make a significant impact in the graphics card market. Gamers, content creators, and developers can look forward to harnessing the power of RDNA 4 GPUs in their Linux-based systems.