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NVIDIA Transitions Fully Towards Open-Source GPU Kernel Modules | NVIDIA Technical Blog (developer.nvidia.com)

submitted 4 months ago by lemmee_in@lemm.ee to c/linux@programming.dev

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We’re now at a point where transitioning fully to the open-source GPU kernel modules is the right move, and we’re making that change in the upcoming R560 driver release.

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[-] dinckelman@lemmy.world 40 points 4 months ago

Only 2000-series cards and newer are supported, but this is definitely a good change

[-] OsaErisXero@kbin.run 7 points 4 months ago

Makes me wonder if there was some critical component of the pre-rtx cards that they couldn't open for some reason

[-] Shayeta@feddit.de 17 points 4 months ago

I'm guessing the whole point of this is to boost AI. Pre-RTX have no tensor cores, therefore it would be a waste of time to open source.

[-] fossphi@lemm.ee 4 points 4 months ago

I guess it's the GSP which isn't there on the pre rtx cards. Also, most of the stuff is moved into the firmware as a blob (hence the need for the GSP) so the drivers are not really open open. But it's still a refreshing move

[-] Blackmist@feddit.uk 3 points 4 months ago

Call me Mr Cynical, but I'd guess that most of the super secret licensed proprietary stuff was moved to the firmware rather than being in the drivers.

[-] dinckelman@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago

I was kind of hoping that Pascal and Volta would still be included, given how much of a userbase still has those, however from Nvidia's standpoint, I can kind of see it? These are almost a decade old. But either way, i'm sure they have some other corporate bullshit in mind