AMD has submitted a series of Linux kernel patches to the AMDGPU driver that introduce support for the HDMI 2.1 Fixed Rate Link (FRL) feature. The move follows years of rejection from the HDMI Forum regarding open-source implementations of the standard. This initial support enables higher bandwidth for Radeon GPUs on Linux, supporting resolutions such as 4K at 120Hz and 5K at 240Hz.

As noted by AMD Linux engineer Harry Wentland (via Phoronix), AMD had developed the code in 2024. Still, the HDMI Forum previously blocked its release, citing concerns about exposing proprietary intellectual property in open-source stacks. 

The current patch set submitted by Wentland implements FRL signalling, replacing the legacy TMDS mechanism used in HDMI 2.0. While FRL support has passed representative compliance testing, other HDMI 2.1 features such as Display Stream Compression (DSC) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) are currently in testing and will be submitted in future updates.

The patches are now under review on the Linux kernel mailing list. If approved, the code is expected to be integrated into the Linux v7.2 kernel release. This implementation would allow Linux users to access the full 48Gbps bandwidth of the HDMI 2.1 standard without relying on closed-source firmware or third-party workarounds.

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KitGuru says: With the Steam Machine supposedly right around the corner, this update comes right on time, allowing the console to be on par with equivalent Windows systems.

The post AMD submits HDMI 2.1 FRL patches for open-source Linux driver first appeared on KitGuru.

Over time we have seen an increasing amount of frustration towards Windows 11, with the ubiquitous PC OS suffering from all sorts of issues, including a substantial lack of optimisation. While Microsoft have promised previously that they are working on a solution, details surrounding the company’s ‘Project K2’ have now been unveiled.

As reported by the publication WindowsCentral, Microsoft is currently working on a project which is intended to address “the biggest complaints that people have about Windows 11 today.”

Alongside changes to the OS as a whole, benefiting both casual and power users, Project K2 is said to also be impacting the gaming side of Windows.

According to the report, Microsoft is looking to Valve for inspiration, with the Windows maker said to be viewing SteamOS “as the benchmark, and is working to optimize the platform so that steamOS and Windows gaming performance are comparable.”

Full details on what they are planning has not been shared, but per the insider, Microsoft is hoping to bring Windows up to the level of SteamOS “within the next year or two” thanks to “foundational changes that are being made to the platform in the coming months.”

Of course, all of this work is likely to also be in service of Microsoft’s next-gen Xbox, with the console said to be closer to a Windows PC than ever before.

Either way, Windows 11 is in serious need of a ton of work, and so hopefully this Project K2 proves to be the solution Windows users have been waiting for.

KitGuru says: What’s your experience been with Windows 11? Is it a notable downgrade compared to Windows 10? Will project K2 be the miracle cure we’ve been waiting for? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post Microsoft reportedly wants to make Windows 11 as good as SteamOS first appeared on KitGuru.

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