MX Linux Forum

BEFORE I upgrade my GPU from a 5600 XT to an AMD 7800 XT, I should probably ask; Is Linux Kernel 6.1.0-10 (64-bit OS) going to be sufficient to support this GPU upgrade? I believe I installed the advanced hardware version of MX Linux if that matters. Or, should I update the kernel to something newer?

Please forgive my ignorance, if there is somewhere I can read more on this subject, I am happy to do so. I looked around here on the forums, but maybe I need to look into the Debian kernel details perhaps? I am not sure about that.

*EDIT: I did find this, but I cannot be sure this applies to MX Linux?
https://amdgpu-install.readthedocs.io/e ... er-package

Current Specs:

Operating System: MX Linux 23
KDE Plasma Version: 5.27.5
KDE Frameworks Version: 5.103.0
Qt Version: 5.15.8
Kernel Version: 6.1.0-10-amd64 (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: X11
Processors: 24 × AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 12-Core Processor
Memory: 31.3 GiB of RAM
Graphics Processor: AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT
Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
Product Name: X570 AORUS ELITE WIFI
System Version: -CF

*Also, just want to say MX Linux is by far the best (most stable) distro ever, and I love it. Been using it for a few years now and I've used them all over the past 20 years I think. Good job. I need to buy everyone a beer next time I am in New York and or The Netherlands.




Moderator: all caps in title removed, please don't shout

Since that cpu is just over a month old, it might be too new. My advice is to hold off on the upgrade until you have got proof that it is problem free with Linux.

AMD recommends Linux 6.4 and newer while the latest Linux 6.3 point releases work out too.

AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT & RX 7700 XT Linux Performance
https://www.phoronix.com/review/radeon- ... 00xt-linux

The AMD video driver stack is made up of several different parts: the kernel, non-free firmware that it needs, and a Mesa version that recognizes and supports it.

After a quick research, I would recommend you to switch to a higher kernel version, too - as @siamhie already suggested. You might even want to try the one from Liquorix. The 6.5.7 should be in your repository, for example.

As for Mesa, you should check the output of
and look for your version of Mesa. MX23.1 AHS is currently on Mesa 23.1.2-1~mx23ahs and that should theoretically support the 7800 XT.

You can also use the official AMD Linux driver, but personally I would try to stick with Mesa instead.

I think it's worth a try, but that's my personal opinion :)

Stevo wrote: Thu Oct 19, 2023 1:02 am The AMD video driver stack is made up of several different parts: the kernel, non-free firmware that it needs, and a Mesa version that recognizes and supports it.

I always thought of it as Kernel driver and Mesa. Could you elaborate on the non-free firmware you mention?

Trunglao wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 9:28 pm... I believe I installed the advanced hardware version of MX Linux if that matters...

Yes, KDE release is based on AHS. As already mentioned, you can install the latest Liquorix kernel with just 2 clicks from "MX Package Installer".

siamhie wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 10:18 pm

AMD recommends Linux 6.4 and newer while the latest Linux 6.3 point releases work out too.

AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT & RX 7700 XT Linux Performance
https://www.phoronix.com/review/radeon- ... 00xt-linux

Mucho appreciato. I think this is what I was needing. Hopefully this doesn't mess up my install, as I've just moved into a new MX23 install. I guess that would be another issue, or follow up question. What sort of impact would going from Kernel 6.1 to 6.4 have. I recall having to do this previously and ended up with several kernel versions I had to choose from a boot, ugh. Maybe I'm just inventing problems. Something the mind is expert at.

Trunglao wrote: Thu Oct 19, 2023 2:27 pm
Mucho appreciato. I think this is what I was needing. Hopefully this doesn't mess up my install, as I've just moved into a new MX23 install. I guess that would be another issue, or follow up question. What sort of impact would going from Kernel 6.1 to 6.4 have. I recall having to do this previously and ended up with several kernel versions I had to choose from a boot, ugh. Maybe I'm just inventing problems. Something the mind is expert at.

Newer kernels will support newer devices such as your 7800 card. I have a 6700 card so the 6.1 kernel is sufficient for that card. I do use the 6.5.7 kernel from liquorix and have no issues with my system.

Trunglao wrote: Thu Oct 19, 2023 2:27 pm... I recall having to do this previously and ended up with several kernel versions I had to choose from a boot, ugh. ...

"Don't Worry, Be Happy" :)

Once you decide which kernel works best, (when booted with that) you can use the "MX Cleanup" from menu and remove all un-needed kernels (one by one) with 2 clicks using the "Kernel Removal Tool" below that window.

Bamber wrote: Thu Oct 19, 2023 6:40 am

Stevo wrote: Thu Oct 19, 2023 1:02 am The AMD video driver stack is made up of several different parts: the kernel, non-free firmware that it needs, and a Mesa version that recognizes and supports it.

I always thought of it as Kernel driver and Mesa. Could you elaborate on the non-free firmware you mention?

Like the more recent Intel open source video hardware, and almost all wi-fi devices nowadays, even though the drivers are open, they still require closed source microcode firmware be loaded into the device by the kernel when it initializes them. For AMD, they are in the firmware-amd-graphics package we have installed by default.

https://packages.debian.org/sid/firmware-amd-graphics

There is also a relatively simple procedure to pull and install the latest firmware from the Linux kernel development repositories.

Thanks.