Support us on Patreon to keep GamingOnLinux alive. This ensures all of our main content remains free for everyone. Just good, fresh content! Alternatively, you can donate through PayPal. You can also buy games using our partner links for GOG and Humble Store.
We do often include affiliate links to earn us some pennies. See more here.
The open source OpenGL driver AMD radeonsi is now extremely close to having full OpenGL 4.4 support, and OpenGL 4.5 is now complete.

I’ve said it before, and I will say it again, the progress on open drivers in the past year has been pretty amazing.

Recently “GL_ARB_query_buffer_object” was added in for radeonsi (OpenGL 4.4), leaving only “GL_ARB_enhanced_layouts” left for full OpenGL 4.4 support.

The radeonsi driver already has OpenGL 4.5 support, as the last extension “GL_KHR_robustness" was implemented on the 5th of October.

Hopefully once the last OpenGL 4.4 part is finished, the developers can then focus on performance edge cases. This would be especially nice, as it would then enable game developers, like Feral for one example, to better support AMD GPU’s with their Linux ports.

You can track the level of support any time on the MesaMatrix website. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
0 Likes
About the author -
author picture
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
See more from me
The comments on this article are closed.
21 comments
Page: «2/3»
  Go to:

boltronics Oct 7, 2016
Quoting: meggermanJust waiting for AMD freesync to happen. Not only that, waiting for a decent QHD/UHD Freesync monitor with high refresh, most serious gaming monitors seem to use g-sync.

I use the BenQ XL2730Z which is QHD 144Hz with FreeSync, and I love it. Another popular option is the Asus MG279Q which is very similar but with an IPS panel, 4ms GTG response time (vs 1ms GTG for the BenQ), but only supports FreeSync between 30-90Hz. There are also monitors on the market with FreeSync at better resolutions, although not at 144Hz.

Quoting: meggermanOn a side note, if you buy a g-sync monitor your not guaranteed to be able to run higher refresh settings through AMD cards using the g-sync display port. Some work, some do not and thats on windows. adding linux drivers into the mix might actually limit your monitor choice to one vendor only.

Not amazed. G-Sync is Nvidia's proprietary technology, and Nvidia hates you doing anything with their hardware they don't approve of. G-Sync needs to die.
tuubi Oct 7, 2016
View PC info
  • Supporter
Quoting: boltronicsMy understanding was that OpenGL wouldn't be releasing new versions, and will just be adding extensions.
No, OpenGL isn't in maintenance mode yet. Khronos made it very clear that the Vulkan launch didn't mean OpenGL would stop evolving. There will be new extensions, and any deemed fit for core will be pulled into or influence future versions of the spec, same as always. Unless you've heard otherwise?

I have no doubt development focus has shifted towards Vulkan though. Some smart Vulkan-based abstraction libraries or shims could basically make OpenGL (not ES) irrelevant at some point, but Vulkan need to mature a bit for this to happen.
Liam Dawe Oct 7, 2016
Quoting: tuubi
Quoting: boltronicsMy understanding was that OpenGL wouldn't be releasing new versions, and will just be adding extensions.
No, OpenGL isn't in maintenance mode yet. Khronos made it very clear that the Vulkan launch didn't mean OpenGL would stop evolving. There will be new extensions, and any deemed fit for core will be pulled into or influence future versions of the spec, same as always. Unless you've heard otherwise?

I have no doubt development focus has shifted towards Vulkan though. Some smart Vulkan-based abstraction libraries or shims could basically make OpenGL (not ES) irrelevant at some point, but Vulkan need to mature a bit for this to happen.
Probably referring to this speculative piece from phoronix: http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Mesa-OpenGL-Version-Spoiler


Last edited by Liam Dawe on 7 October 2016 at 12:16 pm UTC
Guest Oct 7, 2016
Quoting: boltronics
Quoting: meggermanJust waiting for AMD freesync to happen. Not only that, waiting for a decent QHD/UHD Freesync monitor with high refresh, most serious gaming monitors seem to use g-sync.

I use the BenQ XL2730Z which is QHD 144Hz with FreeSync, and I love it. Another popular option is the Asus MG279Q which is very similar but with an IPS panel, 4ms GTG response time (vs 1ms GTG for the BenQ), but only supports FreeSync between 30-90Hz. There are also monitors on the market with FreeSync at better resolutions, although not at 144Hz.

Quoting: meggermanOn a side note, if you buy a g-sync monitor your not guaranteed to be able to run higher refresh settings through AMD cards using the g-sync display port. Some work, some do not and thats on windows. adding linux drivers into the mix might actually limit your monitor choice to one vendor only.

Not amazed. G-Sync is Nvidia's proprietary technology, and Nvidia hates you doing anything with their hardware they don't approve of. G-Sync needs to die.

That looks almost perfect. I have a 32" 1440p right now which is useful for editing but i was wanting a smaller 24" 1440p 144hz / 165hz with freesync for gaming. 27" is just a bit too big for fast gaming imo you need the whole frame in view, but that's just a preference.


Last edited by on 7 October 2016 at 12:33 pm UTC
tuubi Oct 7, 2016
View PC info
  • Supporter
Quoting: liamdawe
Quoting: tuubi
Quoting: boltronicsMy understanding was that OpenGL wouldn't be releasing new versions, and will just be adding extensions.
No, OpenGL isn't in maintenance mode yet. Khronos made it very clear that the Vulkan launch didn't mean OpenGL would stop evolving. There will be new extensions, and any deemed fit for core will be pulled into or influence future versions of the spec, same as always. Unless you've heard otherwise?

I have no doubt development focus has shifted towards Vulkan though. Some smart Vulkan-based abstraction libraries or shims could basically make OpenGL (not ES) irrelevant at some point, but Vulkan need to mature a bit for this to happen.
Probably referring to this speculative piece from phoronix: http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Mesa-OpenGL-Version-Spoiler
Larabel's speculation is what it is, mostly based on speculative (or hopeful?) comments from a couple of Intel developers who are influential but do not decide these things. We'll see. OpenGL-based games and software are being worked on, and will be for a long time still. If there's enough demand for a new version at some point, it will happen. I would be happy if the industry took a clean break and shifted towards Vulkan, but there are several reasons why this is unlikely in the near future.
libgradev Oct 7, 2016
Quoting: ElectricPrism
Quoting: crt0mega
Quoting: ElectricPrismIn fact I did just that earlier this week and expressed how I kicked $800 of Nvidia to the curb in favor of MESA and RX 480 – because it's important to me that they know what people like me are doing and how we're thinking so they can better service us and we can service them with $$$.
I'm still waiting for Vega to replace my aging HD7970 :D

And maybe me too depending on the performance difference of Polaris and Vega.

Polaris has turned out to be a good time to switch to Red Team for me.

Same here - will chuck the RX480 in another machine here if Vega's fast enough :)

Experience on Polaris has been just freaking amazing tbh (against my old GTX660)...
Shmerl Oct 7, 2016
I hope they'll finish it before next Mesa release.
F.Ultra Oct 7, 2016
View PC info
  • Supporter
Quoting: crt0mega
Quoting: ElectricPrismIn fact I did just that earlier this week and expressed how I kicked $800 of Nvidia to the curb in favor of MESA and RX 480 – because it's important to me that they know what people like me are doing and how we're thinking so they can better service us and we can service them with $$$.
I'm still waiting for Vega to replace my aging HD7970 :D

Couldn't wait and replaced my 7970 1Ghz with a RX480 and couldn't have been happier.
manero666 Oct 8, 2016
As an AMD user I'm extremely happy about this!
The development is constantly improving and thanks to the open-sourceness we can enjoy and incorporate many other projects and external improvements, such as Gallium Nine or the mentioned Vulkan.

If they can get closer to the Nvidia performances and provide us a good Nvenc counterpart, then for sure maaaany people would switch to AMD!
ziabice Oct 8, 2016
...aaand it's gone! :D

OpenGL 4.4/4.5 is finished!
While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon. Plain Donations: PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!
The comments on this article are closed.