AMD Brings HDMI 2.1 Support to Linux, Boosting Steam Machine Prospects

In a significant development for Linux users and gamers, AMD is poised to add HDMI 2.1 support to its amdgpu driver, a move that bodes well for the upcoming Steam Machine. Last year, the company's open-source driver development and HDMI licensing complexities hindered official support for the HDMI 2.1 display standard on the Steam Machine. However, recent patch series notes suggest that AMD is making substantial strides in integrating HDMI 2.1 capabilities into its Linux driver.

AMD's Harry Wentland revealed in patch notes posted on Friday that the company is adding HDMI FRL (Fixed Rate Link) support to the amdgpu driver. This feature enables higher bandwidth on compatible HDMI cables, facilitating direct support for higher resolutions, dynamic HDR, and features like Variable Refresh Rate. These enhancements are not supported in HDMI 2.0 and earlier versions.

While this update represents a significant step forward, it only covers a subset of HDMI compliance, as it lacks support for Display Stream Compression (DSC). DSC allows for even higher resolutions and frame rates, up to 10K at 100 Hz. Wentland indicated that DSC support is still being tested and will be implemented later.

Moreover, a full compliance run for HDMI 2.1 is currently in the works. An AMD driver developer, agd5f, echoed Wentland's sentiments, stating that a full implementation of HDMI 2.1 will be available once the patches are ready and have completed compliance testing. This development is a welcome boost for Linux users and Steam Machine enthusiasts, who can look forward to enhanced display capabilities and improved gaming experiences.