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.
Quoting: mr-victoryQuoting: ShmerlWhich games does it help?It helps all games that use DX9-11 but specifically Apex Legends, Warframe and possibly new AAA releases.
I see. Does it give better framerate or less stutter or something else?
mr-victory May 12, 2023
Quoting: ShmerlI see. Does it give better framerate or less stutter or something else?GPL optimizes shader compilation so it reduces stutter. It does nothing once all shaders are compiled. The difference it makes is huge, though.
I played a little bit some time ago, and clinfo hangs (for me), not displays anything, but I think that I installed rocm and I managed to run some benchmark.
GPL it's a bad acronym. I was thinking, but mesa it's on gpl licence already, no?
Great work.
Quoting: jordicomaGPL it's a bad acronym. I was thinking, but mesa it's on gpl licence already, no?No no, Mesa and GPL is MIT licensed!
Quoting: ShmerlQuoting: 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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U6b5jEVdmI
Basically any game that has a rather high amount of shaders and didn't have shader cache prior to gameplay ( aka non Steam copies, Steam by default ships Fossilize caches to help stutters ) will benefit from this.
Overwatch 2, Rocket League are also in that category.
forumcommunist May 12, 2023
Quoting: ShmerlWhich games does it help? I didn't particularly notice any major changes from it. But I also didn't play that many lately.
For me, significantly less stutters in star citizen. In fact, even less stuttering than with dxvk-async.
Quoting: lodQuoting: ShmerlWhich games does it help? I didn't particularly notice any major changes from it. But I also didn't play that many lately.
For me, significantly less stutters in star citizen. In fact, even less stuttering than with dxvk-async.
The quicker they go full Vulkan and native client the better !
Not that the latter is ever going to happen
Quoting: pete910The quicker they go full Vulkan and native client the better !
Not that the latter is ever going to happen
Weren't they supposedly very close to it already (i.e. Vulkan support)? Did you see any recent updates on it?
Last edited by Shmerl on 14 May 2023 at 6:33 pm UTC
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