AMD puts RDNA & RDNA2 GPUs into maintenance mode

Lounge EndeavourOS pub
1

Ouch, AMD is basically dropping support for RDNA & RDNA 2 outside of bug fixes.

That is terrible and absurdly anti-consumer. RDNA 2 GPUs were still widely available for sale earlier this year.

4 Likes
2

Guess it sucks to be a Windows user

1 Like
3

This is so disappointing..

So the question is, - I have a 6700XT, where do we stand as Linux users?

4

Most people use the opensource driver anyway I think. So no big change in our world, or am I wrong?

5

Aren’t the AMD Linux drivers open source and therefore able to be developed by the community?

6

yes

7

I found this article. But for Windows users, that really sucks. I hope AMD undoes this change.

1 Like
8

Yeah the AMD driver model has been merged, so there will only be the open source driver for Linux users going forward, so I guess this isn’t so much of a deal for Linux users I guess..

9

RDNA2 APU’s are still coming out in new windows handhelds, steam deck also RDNA2 APU. Would it effect them?

10

Windows handhelds yes, steam deck no.

Another article about it:

1 Like
11

Thanks, yeah that pretty much spells it out. We’re pretty much fine on Linux :slight_smile:

12

Just stumbled on this website

13

That seems like meaningless marketing speak. I would say that refutes or confirms literally nothing.

This is basically the equivalent of them saying this.

14

Just to clarify what this means. This isn’t about the cards not working on Windows or Linux. It is about the driver tweaks needed for new games. When a new big game is released, it often has performance issues or breakage in some configurations. AMD/nvidia/Intel frequently tweak their drivers to better support those games. Those optimizations will no longer be happening for RDNA & RDNA 2 cards according to their documentation.

This is a huge deal for gamers who play new AAA games and has not much impact on other users. To drop this support on models as new as RDNA 2 is baffling and terrible for gamers who own those cards.

5 Likes
15

This surely isn’t a marketing ploy to get people to buy GPU’s for Christmas. . . surely they wouldn’t do such a thing. I mean, obsolete products less than a month from Black Friday .. . .

Glad I just got my 9070xt I guess.

1 Like
16

But what about the other link that say’s the opposite?

17

I already shared my opinion on that as well:

Here is what is written in there formal release notes:

RDNA 1 and RDNA 2 graphics cards will continue to receive driver updates for critical security fixes and bug resolutions. To focus on optimizing and delivering new and improved technologies for its latest GPUs, AMD is placing the Radeon RX 5000 and RX 6000 series (RDNA 1 and RDNA 2) into maintenance mode with the AMD Software Adrenalin Edition 25.10.2 release. Future driver updates with targeted game optimizations will be focused on RDNA 3 and RDNA 4 GPUs.

and here is the new quote:

New features, bug fixes and game optimizations will continue to be delivered as required by market needs in the maintenance mode branch

The former indicates they won’t be doing it anymore and the latter is quote without a lot of meaning from an individual at AMD. We will continue to deliver them as “required by market needs” could mean anything or nothing at all.

2 Likes
18

Got ya! I see what you’re saying. Guess those who are gaming and have those cards will find out in due time. I’m only running an RX590 and don’t do any gaming. But interesting to say the least.

2 Likes
19

yeah its like amd is saying, we wont support older gpus so you better buy new ones.

1 Like
20

I can’t afford a 9000 series. I’m not spending $1000 + on a video card.