THE CRUNCH
AMD has submitted patches to its open-source graphics drivers for Linux, adding GDDR7 memory support. This update appears to be a precursor to the launch of the company's next-generation RDNA 5 GPUs, which are expected to use this faster memory technology.
The addition of GDDR7 support comes as AMD prepares for the RDNA 5 launch, with the company currently using GDDR6 for its consumer RDNA 4-based Radeon RX 9000 series. GDDR7 memory offers significantly higher speeds than GDDR6, with JEDEC specifications allowing for up to 36 Gb/s today and 48 Gb/s in future versions, compared to the 20 Gb/s top speed of GDDR6.
The move to GDDR7 will allow AMD to boost the memory bandwidth of its graphics cards and potentially increase capacity. This is expected to enhance performance in memory-bound workloads, particularly for gaming and workstation applications.