Arch Linux

RileyMathews

Member

Registered: 2024-07-11

Posts: 3

So how do we actually use AMD smart mux?

With 6.17 there were articles heralding the arrival of “smartmux” to the Linux kernel. I.e. https://www.phoronix.com/news/AMD-SmartMux-Linux-6.17. But like how do we actually utilize it? Is it actually even ready for prime time yet? The notes in the patch say “initial support for smart mux”. Are future patches coming to fully enable it?

My “best guess” is that now the core functionality is in the kernel and it’s up to distros and applications to utilize it from user space similar to how pipewire is a user space manager on top of the kernel features?? If so is anyone working on this yet?

As a framework 16 owner with a mux switch and dual AMD gpu I’m very interested to delve into this.

Lone_Wolf

Administrator

From: Netherlands, Europe

Registered: 2005-10-04

Posts: 14,399

Re: So how do we actually use AMD smart mux?

No idea, but it appears to be laptops using hybrid systems only.

SmartMux is a mechanism to switch the GPU being used for scanout in a hybrid configuration. This is used for devices with an eDP and two GPUs. This is only valid when the system has a physical switch (Multiplexer) in the board to switch between the two GPUs.

Is your framework 16 such a system ?

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Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.

clean chroot building not flexible enough ?
Try clean chroot manager by graysky

RileyMathews

Member

Registered: 2024-07-11

Posts: 3

Re: So how do we actually use AMD smart mux?

Yes the framework 16 has a mux switch in the motherboard. But initially it only worked on windows (and when you have it configured with a dedicated GPU module which I have). With this kernel addition I’m hoping it can be used in Linux as well.

Beefy Joe

Member

Registered: 2024-10-26

Posts: 5

Re: So how do we actually use AMD smart mux?

Yes the framework 16 has a mux switch in the motherboard. But initially it only worked on windows (and when you have it configured with a dedicated GPU module which I have). With this kernel addition I’m hoping it can be used in Linux as well.

I have been trying to find any documentation from AMD or the Kernel docs myself, spent much time using various search engines to find any shred of information on the new SmartMUX feature, but it's all returned a blank for me.
I also enjoyed the automatic switching that is present in the windows AMD drivers on MUX switch enabled laptops. My laptop, Asus FA617NT, is like your framework in that it is capable of this and it does work under Windows.

If you or anyone else finds the documentation for making use of this update to the amdgpu driver, I would love to see it.