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Today NVIDIA put up a rather exciting blog post talking about RTX - with Arm. Not only that, they've showcased it using Linux too which is pretty amazing.

Shown off for the Game Developers Conference, NVIDIA has announced an expansion of their RTX SDKs to support to Arm and Linux. What they've added in includes support for:

  • Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), which uses AI to boost frame rates and generate beautiful, sharp images for games
  • RTX Direct Illumination (RTXDI), which lets developers add dynamic lighting to their gaming environments
  • RTX Global Illumination (RTXGI), which helps recreate the way light bounces around in real-world environments
  • NVIDIA Optix AI-Acceleration Denoiser (NRD), which uses AI to render high-fidelity images faster
  • RTX Memory Utility (RTXMU), which optimizes the way applications use graphics memory

What they presented was an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU paired with a MediaTek Kompanio 1200 Arm processor, setup with Arch Linux (likely something like Arch Linux ARM) along with testing out the likes of Wolfenstein: Youngblood.

“RTX is the most groundbreaking technology to come to PC gaming in the last two decades,” said PC Tseng, general manager of MediaTek’s Intelligent Multimedia Business Unit.“MediaTek and NVIDIA are laying the foundation for a new category of Arm-based high-performance PCs.”

Multiple companies sounded quite excited by it including Epic Games, Machinegames and Unity.

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There's also a separate post from NVIDIA to properly announce the new NVIDIA DLSS SDK, which adds full Linux support including for native x86 Linux games and Arm too. Quite an exciting move for the future of Linux. The DLSS SDK is also easier to get now, with no application to NVIDIA required as you can do a direct download now.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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47 comments
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ahoneybun Jul 19, 2021
It's pretty amazing though not crazy to use Linux for this since I think we have better support when it comes to using the hardware then Windows does since we've been shipping Linux on ARM for years (Thanks Android!).
Mohandevir Jul 19, 2021
This is pretty big if it gets official... AMD and Nvidia in the Linux push, all runing on Arch based distros... Interresting times for Linux gaming ahead!

Did Nvidia and Valve collaborate on this one? The timing is pretty weird, considering the Steam Deck reveal.
benjamimgois Jul 19, 2021
Suddenly arch seems the new standard ! that's an amazing time to be a linux gamer.
kuhpunkt Jul 19, 2021
The video is live now.

https://youtu.be/VBfci5hYN1c
Mohandevir Jul 19, 2021
What is making me wonder it's the fact that Microsoft and Nvidia always walked hand in hand, when it comes to gaming... What is happening?
kuhpunkt Jul 19, 2021
What is making me wonder it's the fact that Microsoft and Nvidia always walked hand in hand, when it comes to gaming... What is happening?

I guess they also just want to be future proof. Nvidia is working with Valve (enabling DLSS on Proton) and Nintendo on the Switch etc.
Mohandevir Jul 19, 2021
What is making me wonder it's the fact that Microsoft and Nvidia always walked hand in hand, when it comes to gaming... What is happening?

I guess they also just want to be future proof. Nvidia is working with Valve (enabling DLSS on Proton) and Nintendo on the Switch etc.

Sure, but a PC gaming laptop powered by ARM... It's directly playing on Microsoft's turf. Or is Microsoft trying to gradually abandon the said turf? Afterall, the new Microsoft did say that they envied Google's position...

Totally unfounded and speculative from my part... And probably wrong too (more a wish than a reality).


Last edited by Mohandevir on 19 July 2021 at 2:47 pm UTC
sub Jul 19, 2021
What is making me wonder it's the fact that Microsoft and Nvidia always walked hand in hand, when it comes to gaming... What is happening?

I guess they also just want to be future proof. Nvidia is working with Valve (enabling DLSS on Proton) and Nintendo on the Switch etc.

Is the Switch bit still valid?
I thought that was some rumour for the Switch Pro which obviously didn't happen.
wintermute Jul 19, 2021
I wonder if this is going to be part of the rumoured Chromebook + dedicated graphics card that will be perfect for running Steam?
WJMazepas Jul 19, 2021
This Mediatek SoC is running 4*A76 + 4*A55. Pretty impressive to run this on that CPU. If they ever use a SoC with Cortex-X2, then the results would probably be amazing
WJMazepas Jul 19, 2021
What is making me wonder it's the fact that Microsoft and Nvidia always walked hand in hand, when it comes to gaming... What is happening?

I guess they also just want to be future proof. Nvidia is working with Valve (enabling DLSS on Proton) and Nintendo on the Switch etc.

Is the Switch bit still valid?
I thought that was some rumour for the Switch Pro which obviously didn't happen.

Well, they are working on the Switch sucessor. We dont know if is going to be a Switch Pro or a Switch 2, but it would be dumb not to use DLSS on it
Mohandevir Jul 19, 2021
What is making me wonder it's the fact that Microsoft and Nvidia always walked hand in hand, when it comes to gaming... What is happening?

I guess they also just want to be future proof. Nvidia is working with Valve (enabling DLSS on Proton) and Nintendo on the Switch etc.

Is the Switch bit still valid?
I thought that was some rumour for the Switch Pro which obviously didn't happen.

Well, they are working on the Switch sucessor. We dont know if is going to be a Switch Pro or a Switch 2, but it would be dumb not to use DLSS on it

Nintendo just published a post saying that they have "no plans" for a Switch Pro, at this moment...
Read: "We want our customer's to buy the OLED Switch so no Switch Pro for the moment."


Last edited by Mohandevir on 19 July 2021 at 3:57 pm UTC
MayeulC Jul 19, 2021
What is making me wonder it's the fact that Microsoft and Nvidia always walked hand in hand, when it comes to gaming... What is happening?

I guess they also just want to be future proof. Nvidia is working with Valve (enabling DLSS on Proton) and Nintendo on the Switch etc.

Sure, but a PC gaming laptop powered by ARM... It's directly playing on Microsoft's turf. Or is Microsoft trying to gradually abandon the said turf? Afterall, the new Microsoft did say that they envied Google's position...

Totally unfounded and speculative from my part... And probably wrong too (more a wish than a reality).

Well, remember that nvidia wants to buy (or bought) ARM? Probably related! I'm all for it if it's good for the ecosystem, but I think that nvidia has always been a bit on the greedy side...
Mohandevir Jul 19, 2021
What is making me wonder it's the fact that Microsoft and Nvidia always walked hand in hand, when it comes to gaming... What is happening?

I guess they also just want to be future proof. Nvidia is working with Valve (enabling DLSS on Proton) and Nintendo on the Switch etc.

Sure, but a PC gaming laptop powered by ARM... It's directly playing on Microsoft's turf. Or is Microsoft trying to gradually abandon the said turf? Afterall, the new Microsoft did say that they envied Google's position...

Totally unfounded and speculative from my part... And probably wrong too (more a wish than a reality).

Well, remember that nvidia wants to buy (or bought) ARM? Probably related! I'm all for it if it's good for the ecosystem, but I think that nvidia has always been a bit on the greedy side...

Just had a quick look... Windows still runs like s...t! on ARM. Probably one reason for not using it, too. Let's wish it's going to stay like this long enough for Arch to eat away at Windows market shares.


Last edited by Mohandevir on 19 July 2021 at 4:09 pm UTC
kuhpunkt Jul 19, 2021
What is making me wonder it's the fact that Microsoft and Nvidia always walked hand in hand, when it comes to gaming... What is happening?

I guess they also just want to be future proof. Nvidia is working with Valve (enabling DLSS on Proton) and Nintendo on the Switch etc.

Is the Switch bit still valid?
I thought that was some rumour for the Switch Pro which obviously didn't happen.

I meant they are working with Nintendo in general, not that the Switch will have DLSS. Two separate examples :>
sub Jul 19, 2021
What is making me wonder it's the fact that Microsoft and Nvidia always walked hand in hand, when it comes to gaming... What is happening?

I guess they also just want to be future proof. Nvidia is working with Valve (enabling DLSS on Proton) and Nintendo on the Switch etc.

Is the Switch bit still valid?
I thought that was some rumour for the Switch Pro which obviously didn't happen.

I meant they are working with Nintendo in general, not that the Switch will have DLSS. Two separate examples :>

I see. Just thought this has popped up again. :D
F.Ultra Jul 19, 2021
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Considering how quickly they managed to port Wolfenstein Youngblood to not only Linux but also ARM Linux shows that those rumours that they had DOOM running natively on Linux way back where highly likely true.
F.Ultra Jul 19, 2021
View PC info
  • Supporter
What is making me wonder it's the fact that Microsoft and Nvidia always walked hand in hand, when it comes to gaming... What is happening?

I guess they also just want to be future proof. Nvidia is working with Valve (enabling DLSS on Proton) and Nintendo on the Switch etc.

Sure, but a PC gaming laptop powered by ARM... It's directly playing on Microsoft's turf. Or is Microsoft trying to gradually abandon the said turf? Afterall, the new Microsoft did say that they envied Google's position...

Totally unfounded and speculative from my part... And probably wrong too (more a wish than a reality).

Well, remember that nvidia wants to buy (or bought) ARM? Probably related! I'm all for it if it's good for the ecosystem, but I think that nvidia has always been a bit on the greedy side...

Just had a quick look... Windows still runs like s...t! on ARM. Probably one reason for not using it, too. Let's wish it's going to stay like this long enough for Arch to eat away at Windows market shares.

Well Microsoft's huge advantage is the enormous software catalogue, which is 100% x86, so to be able to maintain that advantage they have no other choice than go full on QEMU-type emulation and things will be slow.
BielFPs Jul 19, 2021
Are they using Wayland or x11?
Lofty Jul 19, 2021
Sure, but a PC gaming laptop powered by ARM... It's directly playing on Microsoft's turf. Or is Microsoft trying to gradually abandon the said turf? Afterall, the new Microsoft did say that they envied Google's position...

Totally unfounded and speculative from my part... And probably wrong too (more a wish than a reality).

Windows cloud desktop running ARM with some locally rendered graphics ? Just like ChromeOS really.

where are NVidia in a future where everything is cloud based ? Sure you may say they are in the data center of Microsoft but is that really where a company like wants to be ? as merely only a provider and not a leader and what happens when MS put out the next generation of cloud gaming to tender and Intel or AMD steps in (or even IBM/MS custom SOC). Do Nvidia just twiddle thumbs for a few years until they get a chance to provide GPU's again because in the fast moving corporate world they would be a dead duck in no time with that approach. There are a lot of long thought out strategic games being played out right now in the tech space.


Last edited by Lofty on 19 July 2021 at 6:07 pm UTC
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