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Considering AMD are in the middle of producing a brand new driver for Linux, it's not surprising they don't have Vulkan ready for Linux right from day one. Still, a shame for anyone on AMD hoping to test things out.

QuoteAMD has been participating in Vulkan’s development since its inception and providing builds of our Vulkan-enabled driver to game developers for many months. As we transition into the public phase, our initial driver release enables Vulkan support for select Radeon™ GPUs on Windows® 7, Windows® 8.1, and Windows® 10. An upcoming release of the amdgpu Linux driver will also feature Vulkan support.


Their Windows driver with Vulkan doesn't even support DirectX right now, so it doesn't seem like AMD are all that prepared on any platform, weirdly.

Here's a little interesting bit taken from it for you:
QuoteFinally, Vulkan has formal support for API extensions. API extensions allow AMD to design new hardware capabilities into future Radeon™ GPUs, then immediately expose those capabilities with a software plugin that interfaces with Vulkan in a compliant way.

I really do hope this doesn't turn into OpenGL all over again with such extensions, but only time will tell.

You can see the AMD Radeon article on Vulkan here. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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sub Feb 16, 2016
Well, AMDGPU will hit the kernel in a usable state in autumn, if things are going well. Let's face it, that's a bummer.

I too hoped for an intermediate Catalyst release with the Vulkan bits enabled. Just to show some initial support. From a PR perspective that's close to a desaster, imho. I'm a long-term loyal AMD user, btw. But that's just didappointing.

I appreciate all the open-source efforts and AMDGPU seems like a very clever idea. However, providing a good Vulkan driver on release feels like a one-time chance to help the brand when it comes to Linux. A missed opportunity. :/


Last edited by sub on 16 February 2016 at 9:43 pm UTC
Shmerl Feb 16, 2016
Quoting: subWell, AMDGPU will hit the kernel in a usable state in autumn, if things are going well.

Where did they give an ETA? Such a huge time until a usable Vulkan driver for AMD sounds pretty bad.
sub Feb 16, 2016
Quoting: Shmerl
Quoting: subWell, AMDGPU will hit the kernel in a usable state in autumn, if things are going well.

Where did they give an ETA? Such a huge time until a usable Vulkan driver for AMD sounds pretty bad.

I stand corrected, but AMDGPU is WIP and still requires stuff that will be merged at the very earliest in Linux 4.6. If they fail to get the patches accepted, it might take even longer. So they didn't give any ETA but the progress on AMDGPU gives us some hints.
Pecisk Feb 16, 2016
Quoting: Shmerl
Quoting: subWell, AMDGPU will hit the kernel in a usable state in autumn, if things are going well.

Where did they give an ETA? Such a huge time until a usable Vulkan driver for AMD sounds pretty bad.

That's just realistic time frame. If everything works out, you will get AMD drivers with Vulkan support in autumn distro releases anyway.
lvlark Feb 16, 2016
It's a missed chance, for sure. But there isn't much use for a Vulkan-capable driver yet anyway. I'm not sure AMD will be on time here, though.
For me, personally, all that matters is if they'll be able to get it in in time for my next GPU. Which is autumn at the very soonest.
Pecisk Feb 16, 2016
Quoting: lvlarkIt's a missed chance, for sure. But there isn't much use for a Vulkan-capable driver yet anyway. I'm not sure AMD will be on time here, though.
For me, personally, all that matters is if they'll be able to get it in in time for my next GPU. Which is autumn at the very soonest.

Isn't that important to get it right, you know? What's point of Vulkan driver which underperforms?
Nyamiou Feb 17, 2016
Did anyone saw their video featuring the Linux logo as big as Windows :
View video on youtube.com


Last edited by Nyamiou on 17 February 2016 at 12:26 am UTC
Sabun Feb 17, 2016
Quoting: NyamiouDid anyone saw their video featuring the Linux logo as big as Windows :
View video on youtube.com

If only a large image of the Linux logo was all it took to mean actual proper on-time Linux support. Sadly, that's not the case. Nvidia parades their technologies on Ubuntu when doing live conferences. Slapping a logo into a video can be done by any vendor.

Right now, those of us with AMD cards have once again nothing but vague promises that something will come sometime in the future. That future driver may not even support pre-GCN 1.2 cards, which is very bad at this point. It feels like things are deteriorating rapidly right now.

First the Crimson driver let down, now this. I cannot hold onto my 390 with confidence anymore.
Pecisk Feb 17, 2016
Quoting: Sabun
Quoting: NyamiouDid anyone saw their video featuring the Linux logo as big as Windows :
View video on youtube.com

If only a large image of the Linux logo was all it took to mean actual proper on-time Linux support. Sadly, that's not the case. Nvidia parades their technologies on Ubuntu when doing live conferences. Slapping a logo into a video can be done by any vendor.

Right now, those of us with AMD cards have once again nothing but vague promises that something will come sometime in the future. That future driver may not even support pre-GCN 1.2 cards, which is very bad at this point. It feels like things are deteriorating rapidly right now.

First the Crimson driver let down, now this. I cannot hold onto my 390 with confidence anymore.

Can you AMD supporters cut the drama for once? When AMD gets criticized objectively for having performance issues, it's Nvidia who's guilty (and sometime it is, but not for everything). Now AMD is bad because they take their time with getting their own turf in order.

It's tiresome.
STiAT Feb 17, 2016
QuoteI really do hope this doesn't turn into OpenGL all over again with such extensions, but only time will tell.

Oh, that we'll certainly see. The same as the windows drivers offer features not being in DirectX (in example the NVidia HarWorks). That are selling points for the hardware vendors, patented things to get into games, make games look better on their hardware and getting their logo into the loading screens.


Last edited by STiAT on 17 February 2016 at 10:37 am UTC
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