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In the Linux world, AMD has been working very hard on AMDGPU recently, which is a high-quality open source driver now in the kernel. Does AMD have any similar open source drivers for Windows? What would it take for AMD to release great open source drivers for Windows?
Aaron Franke
Posted 2019-10-22T22:22:18.113
Reputation: 678
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Does AMD have any similar open source drivers for Windows?
Open source AMD display drivers, that are compatible with Windows, does not exist. Intel, AMD, nor Nvidia provide open source drivers for Windows.
Since the only GPUs on the market are from Intel, AMD, or Nvidia open source display drivers from those manufacturers do not exist on Windows.
What would it take for AMD to release great open source drivers for Windows?
By default only signed drivers can be installed on Windows 8+. In order to release open source drivers, AMD would have to release the source to their drivers, and provide signed compiled drivers.
It is not possible given the default configuration for the end user to compile their own display drivers on Windows.
Open source display drivers from AMD, that can be used on Windows, does not exist. AMD do not provide the source to their drivers on Windows.
Ramhound
Posted 2019-10-22T22:22:18.113
Reputation: 28 517
@SamAxe - Windows has a boot mode to handle driver developers. – Ramhound – 2019-10-23T17:52:11.443
So far as I know Linux drivers do not need to be certified. Windows Drivers must be certified by Microsoft so not much chance for open source Windows drivers at this point. – John – 2019-10-22T22:44:00.407
1@John: perhaps not open source in the "compile from source" sense, but AMD could get their binaries certified and still release the source. – Sam Axe – 2019-10-22T22:45:48.247