While new function code is not normally allowed after the end of the merge window for a given Linux kernel release cycle, Linus Torvalds has decided to merge the newly published open-source driver code for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 “Ampere” graphics cards for the Linux 5.11 kernel which will debut as stable in February.
Ahead of this weekend’s Linux 5.11-rc4 release, Linus Torvalds has merged the new initial open source code for the NVIDIA RTX 30 / Ampere GPUs via the Nouveau driver. He was fine with allowing this late addition to Linux 5.11, as the new hardware support is completely self-contained and does not run the risk of throttling existing NVIDIA GPU support within the Nouveau driver. So it’s one of the few times that he allows new code to be added after a merge window, as there is minimal risk of the hardware support status quo going down.
But as outlined yesterday in the previously linked article, this initial open-source GeForce 3000 series hardware support is only limited to setting kernel mode without any hardware acceleration. Initializing the different engines of the GPU depends on the signed firmware blobs yet to be published by NVIDIA. Even then, there is the re-clocking / performance situation as the major hurdle that remains for all GPUs outside of the GeForce GTX 950 series …
So at least for the upcoming Linux 5.11 kernel, the open-source Nouveau driver should be in good working order to make sure your screen lights up properly with an NVIDIA RTX 30 series GPU, giving you a pleasant viewing experience download the proprietary NVIDIA kernel graphics driver to enjoy a complete, high-performance experience. Until the 3D acceleration and all other limitations are addressed (including the lack of an open-source Vulkan driver), the only reasonable path with the RTX 30 series is to use NVIDIA’s high-quality, cross-platform but proprietary driver.
The initial code for setting up Ampere mode came to Linux 5.11 through this merge.
Also noteworthy in the Linux Git structure are this week’s DRM fixes, including some new AMD Renoir PCI IDs, a Sienna Cichlid graphics engine fix, and other random fixes. On the Intel side, the Intel Haswell GT1 is also stuck after half a year of borked support. Meanwhile with the next cycle (Linux 5.12) then is the option to optionally disable Intel graphics security restrictions that led to the problem in the first place and can also negatively impact Intel graphics performance.