The HDMI Forum has rejected AMD’s request to make driver support for HDMI 2.1 open-source thus continuing limited display options for the GPU manufacturer. AMD’s engineers have been working for over three years to try and include driver support for HDMI 2.1+ in its open-source Linux kernel driver but continue to run into a roadblock with the HDMI Forum which will not grant them open-source implementation options. The topic has been ongoing and was revisited by AMD Linux Engineer Alex Deucher who explained the current lack of progress.
Comment on Gitlab (via Phoronix):
“The HDMI Forum has rejected our proposal unfortunately. At this time an open source HDMI 2.1 implementation is not possible without running afoul of the HDMI Forum requirements.”
Phoronix reports that bug reports spanning from resolution/refresh rates such as 4K@120 Hz and 5K@240 Hz not being available via the AMD Linux drivers. Other AMD graphics cards users on Gitlab have also reported issues with color depths and resolution/refresh rates when connecting multiple displays when using HDMI. They have requested that AMD add additional disclaimers to its product descriptions indicating limitations related to its drivers and HDMI usage. Most users on the forum are supportive of team red’s efforts but since the HDMI Forum has rejected its requests there is a growing number expressing sentiment that AMD should take further steps to inform consumers about the limited display options their GPUs currently have due to this issue.
Phoronix updated its report to add that AMD had been hard at work to create its own code to add HDMI 2.1+ features to its Linux driver but that seems to have now been done in vain.
Per Phoronix:
“Update for added context [20:30 EST]: Further insult to the injury is also that it sounds like AMD spent months of engineering time prototyping code for showing HDMI 2.1+ features within their internal open-source AMDGPU codebase to provide for review to the HDMI Forum. If that never sees the light of day now, it’s all a largely wasted effort of significant resources.”