The Linux kernel 6.19 update strengthens AMD’s reputation among Linux users by improving support for older GPUs based on the GCN 1.0 and GCN 1.1 architectures. Where these cards, including models like the AMD R9 390x, previously defaulted to the older Radeon driver, the kernel now uses the newer AMDGPU driver by default. This shift is the result of work by Valve engineers, who have been focused on enabling modern feature support on these GPUs and bringing the AMDGPU kernel driver to a level suitable for default deployment.
According to testing by Phoronix, the change to AMDGPU provides the performance uplift that was anticipated, and in testing, it has been revealed that this performance uplift often exceeds 40%, depending on the game. Phoronix evaluated the new configuration on an AMD Radeon HD 7900 3 GB from the Southern Island family, which is a 13-year-old graphics card, to see how the updated driver behaves in real workloads. In the publication’s testing, the new driver outperformed the older version in every test, providing a clear indication that the kernel level switch benefits even decade-old hardware.
The largest performance gains in the Phoronix benchmarks came from the GravityMark 1.87 OpenGL tests, where the updated driver delivered the most noticeable improvements. Unigine benchmarks also showed a handsome improvement, underscoring that the uplift is not limited to a single synthetic test. Beyond raw frame rates, the move to AMDGPU unlocks access to features like the Mesa RADV Vulkan driver, which, along with other capabilities, enables these older GPUs to run a number of games using Proton. This combination can improve performance further or make previously unplayable titles compatible, extending the practical life of long-serving AMD graphics cards on Linux.
