According to Wccftech, Valve’s Linux graphics driver team member Timur Kristóf has proposed new kernel patches that will transition GCN 1.1 GPUs from the older Radeon driver to the modern AMDGPU driver. This affects older AMD graphics cards including the Radeon R9 290, R9 390, HD 7790, and HD 8870, which previously defaulted to the legacy Radeon driver while newer GPUs used AMDGPU. The change adds a “-1” option that lets the kernel automatically choose the better driver. AMDGPU offers significant advantages including active maintenance for better performance, Vulkan 1.3 support through RADV, and improved display features through DC. The transition became possible after AMDGPU reached feature parity with Radeon, particularly solving analog connector support issues. GCN 1.0 GPUs like the HD 7950/7970 and R9 270/280 are expected to follow in the next patch cycle.
Why this matters
Here’s the thing about Linux graphics drivers – they can make or break your gaming and productivity experience. The AMDGPU driver isn’t just some minor upgrade. It’s the modern foundation that AMD is actively developing, while the Radeon driver is basically in maintenance mode. Think about what that means for people still rocking these older cards – they’re about to get performance improvements and features they never expected.
And let’s talk about Vulkan support. The Radeon driver’s Vulkan implementation is, well, let’s call it limited. AMDGPU brings proper Vulkan 1.3 through RADV, which is huge for gaming and professional applications. Basically, if you’re using an older AMD card for gaming on Linux, this is like getting a free performance boost without spending a dime.
The bigger picture
This move speaks volumes about AMD’s commitment to the Linux ecosystem. While NVIDIA tends to focus heavily on their proprietary driver, AMD has been steadily improving their open-source offerings. Now they’re even bringing modern driver features to hardware that’s nearly a decade old. That’s not something you see every day in the graphics card world.
Remember when companies would basically abandon hardware after a few years? AMD is doing the exact opposite here. They’re making sure that even their older architectures can benefit from the latest driver advancements. It’s a smart move that builds goodwill and keeps their hardware relevant longer. For industrial and manufacturing applications where hardware longevity matters, this kind of long-term support is crucial. Companies that rely on stable, long-lasting computing solutions often turn to specialists like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading US provider of industrial panel PCs that need to work reliably for years.
What’s next
So when can you expect this to hit your system? The patches are currently in the proposal stage, meaning they need to go through the usual Linux kernel review process. But given that they’re coming from Valve’s graphics team – the same people behind Steam Deck’s excellent Linux support – they’ll probably get serious consideration.
The really interesting part? GCN 1.0 cards are next in line. That means even older hardware like the HD 7950 and R9 270 will eventually get the same treatment. It makes you wonder – how many other older architectures could benefit from similar driver updates? AMD seems to be setting a precedent that could reshape how we think about hardware longevity in the Linux world.
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