AMD adds GDDR7 memory support to open-source Linux graphics driver

AMD has updated its open‑source Linux graphics driver with initial support for GDDR7 memory. A recent AMDGPU patch adds “GDDR7” to the driver’s recognised VRAM types, marking the first appearance of the standard in AMD’s upstream Linux code.

The patch, submitted to the AMDGPU mailing list and noted by Phoronix, introduces the new identifier alongside existing entries for GDDR6, HBM3E and HBM4. While the change is small, it signals that AMD is preparing its driver stack for future GPUs equipped with GDDR7.

Image credit: Phoronix

The GDDR7 update arrived alongside additional hardware‑enablement patches, including new revisions of AMD’s internal IP blocks such as IH 8.0 (Interrupt Handler) and NBIF 7.10 (New Bus InterFace). These follow recent upstream work on Display Core Next 6 and other GFX 13.x components, all of which point to ongoing preparation for next‑generation Radeon hardware.

Current Radeon RX 9000‑series GPUs use GDDR6, but AMD adding GDDR7 support to the driver aligns with recent rumours suggesting that RDNA 5 will begin rolling out in 2027, with a broader lineup expected in 2028.

KitGuru Says: Do you think we'll see the first RDNA 5 GPUs next year? 

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