Home » PC Tech & Gaming News » New AMD CPU & GPU features ready for Linux 6.3

New AMD CPU & GPU features ready for Linux 6.3

Here's all AMD has in store for Linux 6.3.

Updated: Feb 20, 2023 11:43 am
New AMD CPU & GPU features ready for Linux 6.3

WePC is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more

With the stable version of Linux 6.3 releasing in April, there’s a lot to be excited about if you’re in possession of an AMD CPU or GPU. AMD has a lot of optimizations and improvements for its hardware rolling out in Kernel version 6.3. Here are the new AMD CPU & GPU features ready for Linux 6.3

Now Read: Ryzen 7000 X3D series: everything we know

AMD’s new feature code is expected to land for Linux in the next few weeks for kernel version 6.3, introducing a plethora of new features. All that will benefit AMD’s latest hardware hugely when running Linux.

Let’s get into some of the features that AMD will be implementing into Linux 6.3


New AMD features for Linux 6.3

This information comes to us courtesy of Phoronix.com, where Micheal Larabel notes the features he has discovered will be landing during the Linux 6.3 merge window. The features include:

 AMD Automatic IBRS

AMD Automatic IBRS is a feature in AMD processors that enhances security by automatically enabling the Indirect Branch Restricted Speculation (IBRS) mitigation technique. IBRS is a security mechanism that helps to prevent Spectre variant 2 attacks by restricting the processor’s ability to speculate on indirect branches.

The update allows less costly Spectre V2 mitigations to help further the performance of AMD Zen 4 processors.

 AMD P-State EPP

The introduction of AMD’s P-State EPP is aimed at improving both performance and power efficiency in modern AMD desktops, laptops, and servers. This new feature provides support for the Energy Performance Preference (EPP) mode. This goes beyond the capabilities of your standard amd_pstate driver that is already present in the mainline kernel.

By incorporating this feature, some of the deficiencies that are presently observed in the AMD P-State CPU frequency scaling driver code can be addressed. In combination with the Auto IBRS feature, which enhances system security, the addition of AMD P-State EPP makes the Linux 6.3 release highly promising from a performance standpoint.

Support for Microsoft’s Pluton CRB TPM2

To enhance the security of devices, Microsoft developed Pluton CRB TPM2. Pluton is an integrated security processor that provides a hardware-based root of trust for Windows PCs and other devices.

Now the Pluton CRB TPM2 is available under Linux, as the feature is in-built into Zen 4 CPUs.

Better AMD Graphics driver support

For users who are using new hardware, there may be instances where the kernel driver does not have the required GPU support or the necessary GPU firmware binaries. In such cases, the use of this feature can be very helpful, particularly for early adopters of Radeon graphics cards on future hardware, or for users who upgrade to a new kernel but have not yet updated the linux-firmware.git binaries.

By leveraging this feature, users can avoid potential compatibility issues and ensure that their hardware functions properly. As this is especially relevant for your RDNA3 hardware. Many users may experience challenges with the availability of the necessary firmware and driver support. Overall, this feature provides an effective solution to address compatibility concerns and ensures a smooth user experience.

AMDGPU PCIe info

AMD’s AMDGPU driver has been updated to reveal additional PCIe information to user space.

The Radeon Mesa drivers can utilize to optimize buffer placement and other functionalities through the new uAPI.

This new update allows the Radeon Mesa drivers to take advantage of the added PCIe information and apply it to improve the overall performance of the graphics system. This means, with better buffer placement, the Radeon Mesa drivers can minimize the latency and optimize the throughput, which leads to a more responsive and efficient graphics rendering process.

The updated AMDGPU driver and the new uAPI enable more fine-grained control over the graphics system. This allows for optimized utilization of hardware resources and better performance for the end user. Overall, the updated AMDGPU driver and uAPI represent a significant enhancement to the graphics stack and can provide substantial benefits to users.

AMD SMBA and BMEC QoS

AMD’s Slow Memory Bandwidth Allocation (SMBA) and Bandwidth Monitoring Event Configuration (BMEC) have been implemented. These are available for Zen 4 server processors and will be available for use on the mainline kernel.

The SMBA feature provides improved control over the allocation of memory bandwidth. This enables server administrators to prioritize critical workloads and applications that require fast access to memory. Meanwhile, the BMEC feature allows for more precise monitoring of memory bandwidth usage. Also enabling administrators to identify potential performance bottlenecks and take corrective action.

With the implementation of these QoS features, server administrators can more effectively manage and optimize the memory bandwidth of their systems. Thus resulting in better overall system performance and resource utilization. The inclusion of these features in the mainline kernel provides a robust and reliable solution for addressing memory bandwidth management concerns.


Final word

Apart from some more power-saving benefits included in the new GPU drivers, that’s all there is to it. Thanks to Micheal for unveiling all this information and allowing us an insight into AMD on the next version of Linux.

We look forward to the efficiency and power AMD can bring to Linux when properly implemented, we’re taking steps towards Linux being as functional, if not more so than Windows. Here were all the new AMD CPU & GPU features ready for Linux 6.3.


Jack is a Tech and News Writer who has a vast and proficient knowledge of CPUs, Motherboards, and Computer technology.

Trusted Source

WePC’s mission is to be the most trusted site in tech. Our editorial content is 100% independent and we put every product we review through a rigorous testing process before telling you exactly what we think. We won’t recommend anything we wouldn’t use ourselves. Read more