Linux 7.4 looks like it will be a very exciting kernel update for AMD customers. On the AMD Radeon graphics side [1]HDMI 2.1 is being enabled by default with the AMDGPU driver with the HDMI FreeSync, VRR, and ALLM features in tow. On the AMD Ryzen client CPU side, there will be Zen 6 tuning with the AMD P-State CPU frequency scaling driver.

Being submitted ahead of the Linux 7.4 merge window are [2]the AMD P-State Energy Performance Preferences (EPP) adjustments for Zen 6 client CPUs . The ACPI EPP will behave differently on Zen 6 client CPUs and it includes different tunings for the performance and dense/efficiency cores along with [3]the new AMD low-power core type .

Beyond different values for all three Zen 6 core types, the AMD P-State driver is seeing adjustments where the boost ratio is calculated from frequency values rather than an arbitrary performance scale.

The AMD Zen 6 client EPP tuning patches were sent out along with some other AMD P-State fixes via [4]this pull request to the Linux power management subsystem's "-next" branch. The pull is explicitly marked for Linux 7.4.

The Linux 7.4 merge window will open in the second half of October while thee stable kernel release may be out by the end of December depending upon how the remainder of the v7.3 and v7.4 cycles play out. With next-gen AMD Ryzen CPUs rumored for launch around CES in January or otherwise in H1'2027, it looks like Linux 7.4 will be out right on time and a wonderful Christmas gift for AMD Linux customers.



[1] https://www.p2horonix.com/news/Linux-7.4-AMDGPU-HDMI-2.1-Go

[2] https://www.phoronix.com/news/AMD-Zen-6-Client-CPPC-Changes

[3] https://www.phoronix.com/news/x86-Core-Types-Linux-7.3

[4] https://lore.kernel.org/linux-pm/03c0a0d4-20d2-475b-ab7c-5b1a3742cf92@amd.com/