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Another fresh release of Mesa is now available, the set of open source graphics drivers for Linux and Steam Deck with v23.1.0 out now.

This is actually quite an important one for AMD GPUs (like the Steam Deck), since it comes with enabled support for Vulkan Graphics Pipeline Libraries (GPL). With this feature, the shader stutter you would usually see before it's built up in a game should be vastly reduced and so overall we should see smoother gaming performance on Linux with AMD GPUs thanks to this.

From the release announcement:

Some highlights:
- Our OpenCL implementation Rusticl added support for AMD GPUs.
- Both ANV (Intel) and RADV (AMD) got initial support for Vulkan Video
  decoding.
- Vulkan Graphics Pipeline Libraries (GPL) are now supported in RADV.

New extensions & features (in no particular order):
- VK_EXT_pipeline_library_group_handles on RADV
- VK_EXT_image_sliced_view_of_3d on RADV/GFX10+
- VK_KHR_map_memory2 on ANV and RADV
- fullyCoveredFragmentShaderInputVariable on RADV/GFX9+
- VK_EXT_discard_rectangles version 2 on RADV
- VK_EXT_graphics_pipeline_library on RADV
- extendedDynamicState3ColorBlendEquation on RADV
- primitiveUnderestimation on RADV/GFX9+
- VK_KHR_fragment_shading_rate on RADV/GFX11
- VK_EXT_mesh_shader on RADV/GFX11
- RGP support on RADV/GFX11
- GL_NV_alpha_to_coverage_dither_control on r600/evergreen+

When you'll be able to get it depends on what Linux distribution you're on. They all have different update schedules so refer back to their roadmaps. As for Steam Deck directly, this should hopefully be in the next major SteamOS update with 3.5 coming out sometime soonish on Valve Time.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Klaas May 11, 2023
Excellent.
Eike May 11, 2023
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Can we give the award for the most stupid abbreviation in open source of at least the century to this new "GPL"?
wvstolzing May 11, 2023
Quoting: EikeCan we give the award for the most stupid abbreviation in open source of at least the century to this new "GPL"?

Yeah, I wonder if this GPL will improve the DRM subsystem of the kernel.
I mean, GPL'ed DRM; what a time to be alive I guess.
KROM May 11, 2023
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I'm specifically excited for this rusticl stuff. Not having access to a usable version of OpenCL with Mesa made a lot of things I wanted to play with pretty much impossible. Really looking forward to what it is capable of.
whizse May 11, 2023
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Mesa performance enhancements for the 1988 classic Grand Prix Legends? Finally!
Brisse May 11, 2023
Quoting: KROMI'm specifically excited for this rusticl stuff. Not having access to a usable version of OpenCL with Mesa made a lot of things I wanted to play with pretty much impossible. Really looking forward to what it is capable of.

I've just started poking around a bit with it too. Just keep in mind that it's still early, and I guess experimental. The way the release announcement is written can make one think it's production ready or something along those lines, but it is so experimental in fact that it's hidden behind an environment variable.

So unless you want to see:
 
Platform Name                                   rusticl
Number of devices                                 0

You will need to run:
 
RUSTICL_ENABLE=radeonsi clinfo
ridge May 11, 2023
It's been 3000 years...

(Seriously though, GPL is awesome, it really does help performance. I've been using it for a few months already by default and the improvement is noticeable on an RX 6700 XT)


Last edited by ridge on 11 May 2023 at 10:52 pm UTC
Shmerl May 12, 2023
How goes your quest for getting the RDNA 3 card Liam? There doesn't seem to be any shortages of them at present. Mesa has pretty good support for RDNA 3 now too.


Last edited by Shmerl on 12 May 2023 at 3:01 am UTC
Shmerl May 12, 2023
Quoting: ridgeIt's been 3000 years...

(Seriously though, GPL is awesome, it really does help performance. I've been using it for a few months already by default and the improvement is noticeable on an RX 6700 XT)

Which games does it help? I didn't particularly notice any major changes from it. But I also didn't play that many lately.
mr-victory May 12, 2023
Quoting: ShmerlWhich games does it help?
It helps all games that use DX9-11 but specifically Apex Legends, Warframe and possibly new AAA releases.
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