AMD adds GDDR7 support to Linux drivers, signaling next-gen GPU architecture

AMD has filed its latest driver patches for Linux with a small but significant addition: the first indication of support for GDDR7 memory. As spotted by Phoronix, the AMDGPU patch adds the identifier "GDDR7" to the driver code, a single-line change that signals AMD's direction for future GPUs.

The current 9000 series uses GDDR6, while Nvidia has already moved to GDDR7 with the RTX 50-series. The patch aligns with expectations that AMD will adopt the newer memory standard in its next generation of graphics cards.

AMD also added support for Display Core Next 6, an as-yet unreleased architecture. The company is expected to launch RDNA 5 around the end of 2027 or into 2028, with initial limited availability followed by a wider lineup. This timing aligns with the expected launch of next-generation consoles built on a semi-custom Radeon architecture.

AMD CEO Lisa Su stated in February that the next-gen Xbox SoC is "progressing well to support a launch in 2027." A prolonged memory crisis could still affect these plans, though some industry figures suggest the shortage is less severe than widely believed. Nvidia is similarly expected to have limited new offerings until 2028.