HDMI Forum Rejects AMD's HDMI 2.1 Open-Source Driver Proposal, No 4K@120 Hz or 5K@240 Hz on Linux

[AleksandarK]

AMD recently tried to add support for key HDMI 2.1 features like 4K@120 Hz and 5K@240 Hz to their open-source Linux graphics driver called AMDGPU. They invested engineering resources over several months to prototype the necessary code internally before publishing. The goal was to showcase HDMI 2.1 capabilities and get the implementation approved by the HDMI Forum. Unfortunately, the Forum ultimately rejected AMD's request, blocking Linux users of new AMD Radeon GPUs from utilizing those cutting-edge display features over HDMI. In comments, AMD stated: "The HDMI Forum has rejected our proposal unfortunately. At this time an open source HDMI 2.1 implementation is not possible without violating HDMI Forum requirements." This outcome comes as a major disappointment given the time and effort AMD expended aiming to satisfy the Forum's guidelines. The months of work now feel wasted with this outright rejection. As reasoning, the HDMI Forum cited legal and compliance rules around not enabling open-source HDMI 2.1 code.

Legal issues and compliance are major problems for open-source HDMI developers, as HDMI Forum has decided to make the HDMI specification private in 2021. This directly translates into the newest open-source driver developments, where the latest features will probably remain behind a closed-source binary. Consequently, AMD is advising Linux gamers to use DisplayPort if they want access to features like 4K 120 Hz gaming. Meanwhile, Windows AMD users still get full HDMI 2.1 capabilities. This dichotomy spotlights the ongoing obstacles around open-source driver development. The rejection also strains the AMD - HDMI Forum relationship. AMD hoped spearheading open-source HDMI 2.1 drivers would position them as leaders in the open-source community. Instead, their flexibility plea was denied by the rigid HDMI Forum requirements. Ultimately, whether Linux-based AMD owners can ever utilize next-gen HDMI 2.1 displays fully remains to be determined. For now, AMD continues pushing open-source as the best approach, while the HDMI Forum refuses to budge on compliance demands. Both sides seem firmly entrenched, leaving consumers caught in the middle.



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[JohH]

Now I feel justified for preferring DisplayPort.

 

[Pepamami]

Wdym wasted? People now will start to talk about it.

 

[Tahagomizer]

That's what you get with proprietary rubbish.

 

[GerKNG]

last time i used HDMI was on a PS4. now i'll make sure that i will never use it ever again.

 

[Voodoo Rufus]

Just another example of why HDMI is for the TV realm and Displayport is the real PC interface.

I do use HDMI on the PC for several applications, but it's mainly multi-PC setups where the monitors just only have on DP in and one or two HDMI ins. Alternative is to use DP switches.

 

[qlum]

This illustrates pretty well why noone ever wanted to use hdmi alt mode on usb-c, HDMI should die at some point, but I expect that to take time.

I expect tv's to be offering usb-c ports with dp alt mode in the near time and that will expand until it becomes the standard. But it will take time.

Really sad to see open drivers to be hindered in such a way.

 

[Event Horizon]

Absolutely disgusting behaviour from the HDMI forum. Shame shame shame on you.

 

[MarsM4N]

"...implementation is not possible without violating HDMI Forum requirements." What requirements? Really lacking context. Is this of technical or political nature? Maybe the HDMI copyright protection doesn't work like it should on Linux or their members are in the pocket of Microsoft. Let's see if we get some more info down the road.

 

[Cheeseball]

I am not able to see what exactly those requirements are that AMD needs to meet to implement full HDMI 2.1 functionality in the open-source Linux driver. Is it specific to HDCP or what?

"...implementation is not possible without violating HDMI Forum requirements." What requirements? Really lacking context. Is this of technical or political nature? Maybe the HDMI copyright protection doesn't work like it should on Linux or their members are in the pocket of Microsoft. Let's see if we get some more info down the road.

This is funny because AMD is one of the major members.

 

[Ferrum Master]

Basically f*ck HDMI. Even PS5 uses a DP to HDMI transcoder IC to bypass this nonsense.

The only mystery why consumer TV makers are so turn on by HDMI.

 

[Panther_Seraphin]

The only mystery why consumer TV makers are so turn on by HDMI.

Movie Money!

 

[Ferrum Master]

Movie Money!

Just an old fashioned cartel.

 

[Noyand]

Tbh, I don't quite understand why the HDMI standard gained so much traction over display port ? Was there something that HDMI solved in the past that Display port couldn't do ?

 

[Panther_Seraphin]

Tbh, I don't quite understand why the HDMI standard gained so much traction over display port ? Was there something that HDMI solved in the past that Display port couldn't do ?

1st to the market after Component was lacking for 1080p. HDMI was 02/03 DP was 06 as well as things like CEC not being natively implemented.

The DP is owned by VESA which is mainly focused on the PC market where as HDMI is primarily TV markets.

 

[Ferrum Master]

Tbh, I don't quite understand why the HDMI standard gained so much traction over display port ? Was there something that HDMI solved in the past that Display port couldn't do ?

Only feature missing is probably HDMI-CEC.

It is a simple example of cartel behavior and blocking competition and free choice.

 

[JohH]

Tbh, I don't quite understand why the HDMI standard gained so much traction over display port ? Was there something that HDMI solved in the past that Display port couldn't do ?

HDMI supported HDCP before DP even existed and so it won in the space where hardware choices are decided by big media companies such as Sony (in televisions and their accessories like consoles and disk players).

 

[Ferrum Master]

HDMI supported HDCP

Who cares about that? It was cracked even before implemented in HW.

 

[JohH]

Who cares about that? It was cracked even before implemented in HW.

No user cares but guess who doesn't get to decide what ports their TV has? The user. It was all the big media companies clamoring for it.

The same companies that run the HDMI Forum and refuse to allow a single implementation to be open in fear that the details may be used to circumvent the newest HDCP standards.

 

[Ferrum Master]

No user cares but guess who doesn't get to decide what ports their TV has? The user. It was all the big media companies clamoring for it.

The same companies that run the HDMI Forum and refuse to allow a single implementation to be open in fear that the details may be used to circumvent the newest HDCP standards.

It does not matter now. Both ports support it. DP can support anything actually because it is packet based.

It is not about the HDCP... but royalties...

 

[Durhamranger]

$15000 Dollars to join, and guess what, one of the board of directors works at Nvdia........

 

[Panther_Seraphin]

It does not matter now. Both ports support it. DP can support anything actually because it is packet based.

True but when the market has adopted one port it takes something monumental for it to shift also what do you do about backwards/forwards compatability?

"Sorry your brand new $2000 AV reciever? Yeah dump it and get this new one in 6 months cause it supports the "new" connector standard.....Does nothing new.....just has the "new" connector"

 

[TechLurker]

True but when the market has adopted one port it takes something monumental for it to shift also what do you do about backwards/forwards compatability?

"Sorry your brand new $2000 AV reciever? Yeah dump it and get this new one in 6 months cause it supports the "new" connector standard.....Does nothing new.....just has the "new" connector"

I mean, that sort of happened in the past, and the result was either "buy an adapter" or "use included adapter". Heck, for awhile, some 1st and 2nd generation HDMI monitors came with a DVI or VGA to HDMI adapter while entirely using HDMI ports, and some 2nd and 3rd generation HDMI TVs eventually dropped RCA/S-Video ports and buyers had to either buy an adapter with the TV for 30-50 bucks, or spend time shopping around for similar TVs that still could use analog.

So companies can drag consumers forward kicking and screaming the whole way. It's just that right now there isn't sufficient incentive to do so.

 

[Voodoo Rufus]

I thought it was always about HDCP, where DP was open source (but now allows HDCP?).

 

[Panther_Seraphin]

I thought it was always about HDCP, where DP was open source (but now allows HDCP?).

The problem with HDCP historically is that they release the capability to HDMI first and thne there can be a delay for it to be pushed to Display port.

This has/is impacting things like 4k Netflix streams on PC etc.