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#1 2026-09-03 19:12:30

dwaas
Member
Registered: 2026-09-03
Posts: 3

Display output much darker with Linux 7.2.2

Ever since upgrading to kernel to 7.2.2 I've noticed that the display output has become considerably darker, causing many darker details to be lost when for example viewing video content. This only shows up on this display itself, not in screenshots taken with Plasma's screenshot app.

This system is using a Vega 64 with amdgpu (see full output of lspcie below), connected directly to a Sony TV using HDMI and running latest KDE Plasma. The issue is most visible in SDR mode but the HDR image seems to darken as well however nowhere near as much as with SDR (see the comparison screenshots below). Rolling back to linux-7.1.11-arch1-1 (and headers) fixes the issue.

Anyone have any idea what could be going on here?

SDR 7.1 vs 7.2

jI2lXyQ.jpeg

SDR 7.1 vs 7.2 (another one for comparison)

SR30mh9.jpeg

SDR 7.1 vs 7.2 (desktop screenshot, no difference)

cf7RYGo.jpeg

HDR 7.1 vs 7.2

20qMBpy.jpeg

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 4th Gen Core Processor DRAM Controller (rev 06)
	Subsystem: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd. [MSI] Device 7917
	Kernel driver in use: hsw_uncore
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor PCI Express x16 Controller (rev 06)
	Subsystem: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd. [MSI] Device 7917
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport
	Kernel modules: shpchp
00:01.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor PCI Express x4 Controller (rev 06)
	Subsystem: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd. [MSI] Device 7917
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport
	Kernel modules: shpchp
00:14.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 9 Series Chipset Family USB xHCI Controller
	Subsystem: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd. [MSI] Device 7917
	Kernel driver in use: xhci_hcd
	Kernel modules: xhci_pci
00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation 9 Series Chipset Family ME Interface #1
	Subsystem: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd. [MSI] Device 7917
	Kernel driver in use: mei_me
	Kernel modules: mei_me
00:1a.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 9 Series Chipset Family USB EHCI Controller #2
	Subsystem: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd. [MSI] Device 7917
	Kernel driver in use: ehci-pci
	Kernel modules: ehci_pci
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 9 Series Chipset Family HD Audio Controller
	Subsystem: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd. [MSI] Device d917
	Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
	Kernel modules: snd_hda_intel
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 9 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 1 (rev d0)
	Subsystem: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd. [MSI] Device 7917
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport
	Kernel modules: shpchp
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 9 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 4 (rev d0)
	Subsystem: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd. [MSI] Device 7917
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport
	Kernel modules: shpchp
00:1c.6 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 9 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 7 (rev d0)
	Subsystem: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd. [MSI] Device 7917
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport
	Kernel modules: shpchp
00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 9 Series Chipset Family USB EHCI Controller #1
	Subsystem: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd. [MSI] Device 7917
	Kernel driver in use: ehci-pci
	Kernel modules: ehci_pci
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation Z97 Chipset LPC Controller
	Subsystem: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd. [MSI] Device 7917
	Kernel driver in use: lpc_ich
	Kernel modules: lpc_ich
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 9 Series Chipset Family SATA Controller [AHCI Mode]
	Subsystem: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd. [MSI] Device 7917
	Kernel driver in use: ahci
	Kernel modules: ahci
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 9 Series Chipset Family SMBus Controller
	Subsystem: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd. [MSI] Device 7917
	Kernel driver in use: i801_smbus
	Kernel modules: i2c_i801
01:00.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Vega 10 PCIe Bridge (rev c1)
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport
	Kernel modules: shpchp
02:00.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Vega 10 PCIe Bridge
	Subsystem: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Vega 10 PCIe Bridge
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport
	Kernel modules: shpchp
03:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Vega 10 XL/XT [Radeon RX Vega 56/64] (rev c1)
	Subsystem: Sapphire Technology Limited Device e37f
	Kernel driver in use: amdgpu
	Kernel modules: amdgpu
03:00.1 Audio device: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Vega 10 HDMI Audio [Radeon Vega 56/64]
	Subsystem: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Vega 10 HDMI Audio [Radeon Vega 56/64]
	Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
	Kernel modules: snd_hda_intel
04:00.0 Non-Volatile memory controller: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd NVMe SSD Controller SM981/PM981/PM983
	Subsystem: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd SSD 970 EVO/PRO
	Kernel driver in use: nvme
	Kernel modules: nvme
06:00.0 Ethernet controller: Qualcomm Atheros Killer E220x Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 13)
	Subsystem: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd. [MSI] Device 7917
	Kernel driver in use: alx
	Kernel modules: alx
07:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (rev 1a)
	Subsystem: Intel Corporation Wi-Fi 6 AX200NGW
	Kernel driver in use: iwlwifi
	Kernel modules: iwlwifi

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#2 Yesterday 01:10:48

mrjxtr
Member
Registered: Yesterday
Posts: 2

Re: Display output much darker with Linux 7.2.2

I am having the same exact issue.. my laptop display looks fine but external display is much darker... I booted LTS and its back to normal... I am staying on LTS for now until this gets fixed.

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#3 Yesterday 04:22:41

loqs
Member
Registered: 2014-03-06
Posts: 19,040

Re: Display output much darker with Linux 7.2.2

dwaas wrote:

Ever since upgrading to kernel to 7.2.2 I've noticed that the display output has become considerably darker,

Have you checked for upstream issues? Are you able to bisect the kernel to find the causal commit?

mrjxtr wrote:

I am having the same exact issue.. my laptop display looks fine but external display is much darker... I booted LTS and its back to normal... I am staying on LTS for now until this gets fixed.

Please do not post the equivalent of me too.

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#4 Yesterday 06:27:28

seth
Member
From: Won't reply 2 private help req
Registered: 2012-09-03
Posts: 77,682

Re: Display output much darker with Linux 7.2.2

x-ref, https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php … 0#p2308630

possibly related upstream issue (not exactly same syptoms): https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/drm/amd/ … items/5743

* Can you test other monitors/connections (displayport)?
* Does this also happen on the console (or startx to run a basic TWM session) or only w/ KDE?
* Does the TV report the input signal (frequency, depth, …)? Does it differ between the kernels?

@mrjxtr could detail whether they've the same kind of GPU (notably "amdgpu") and/or output configuration and what display server they're running or the generally relevant context.

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#5 Yesterday 06:30:37

dwaas
Member
Registered: 2026-09-03
Posts: 3

Re: Display output much darker with Linux 7.2.2

loqs wrote:

Have you checked for upstream issues?

I just searched Kernel.org Bugzilla for "contrast", "gamma",  "brightness" and "dark" and sorted by last changed and I can't find anything that matches what I'm describing here.

loqs wrote:

Are you able to bisect the kernel to find the causal commit?

Never done that before but I'll see if I can figure it out and report back. Do you think it would be alright to only bisect drivers/gpu/drm/?

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#6 Yesterday 10:21:04

dwaas
Member
Registered: 2026-09-03
Posts: 3

Re: Display output much darker with Linux 7.2.2

@seth

seth wrote:

* Can you test other monitors/connections (displayport)?

* Using a different monitor and connecting with displayport, the issue does not happen

* When using a different monitor connected via hdmi, the issue still happens, but only intermittently. The only way I can reproduce it on that monitor is to quickly switch from dp to hdmi, which makes the image darker. Unplugging and replugging the hdmi cable then restores normal brightness.

seth wrote:

* Does this also happen on the console (or startx to run a basic TWM session) or only w/ KDE?

It also happens with bspwm on 7.2.2. The tty doesn't look any different, though it's hard to tell without a wallpaper.

seth wrote:

* Does the TV report the input signal (frequency, depth, …)? Does it differ between the kernels?

Not that I know of, but I did find that when using kernel 7.2.2, changing the 'HDMI Video Range' on my TV from 'Auto' to 'Full' fixes the issue. The other option is 'Limited,' which looks just as dark as 'Auto.' Interestingly, on 7.1.11, 'Auto' used to look correct, while 'Full' was too light/washed out. I also checked the edid and they appear to be the same between the two kernels.

Effect of HDMI video range on 7.2.2

yHaDqua.jpeg

Effect of HDMI video range on 7.1.11

sRTXc0n.jpeg

Sony TV edid

Block 0, Base EDID:
  EDID Structure Version & Revision: 1.3
  Vendor & Product Identification:
    Manufacturer: SNY
    Model: 47365
    Serial Number: REDACTED (0x01010101)
    Made in: week 1 of 2021
  Basic Display Parameters & Features:
    Digital display
    Maximum image size: 170 cm x 96 cm
    Gamma: 2.20
    RGB color display
    First detailed timing is the preferred timing
  Color Characteristics:
    Red  : 0.6250, 0.3398
    Green: 0.2802, 0.5947
    Blue : 0.1552, 0.0703
    White: 0.2832, 0.2978
  Established Timings I & II:
    DMT 0x04:   640x480    59.940476 Hz   4:3     31.469 kHz     25.175000 MHz
    DMT 0x09:   800x600    60.316541 Hz   4:3     37.879 kHz     40.000000 MHz
    DMT 0x10:  1024x768    60.003840 Hz   4:3     48.363 kHz     65.000000 MHz
  Standard Timings:
    DMT 0x23:  1280x1024   60.019740 Hz   5:4     63.981 kHz    108.000000 MHz
    DMT 0x53:  1600x900    60.000000 Hz  16:9     60.000 kHz    108.000000 MHz (RB)
    DMT 0x15:  1152x864    75.000000 Hz   4:3     67.500 kHz    108.000000 MHz
    DMT 0x3a:  1680x1050   59.954250 Hz  16:10    65.290 kHz    146.250000 MHz
  Detailed Timing Descriptors:
    DTD 1:  3840x2160   60.000000 Hz  16:9    135.000 kHz    594.000000 MHz (1705 mm x 959 mm)
                 Hfront  176 Hsync  88 Hback  296 Hpol P
                 Vfront    8 Vsync  10 Vback   72 Vpol P
    DTD 2:  1920x1080   60.000000 Hz  16:9     67.500 kHz    148.500000 MHz (1705 mm x 959 mm)
                 Hfront   88 Hsync  44 Hback  148 Hpol P
                 Vfront    4 Vsync   5 Vback   36 Vpol P
    Display Product Name: 'SONY TV  *30'
    Display Range Limits:
      Monitor ranges (GTF): 23-121 Hz V, 14-136 kHz H, max dotclock 600 MHz
  Extension blocks: 1
Checksum: 0xe4

----------------

Block 1, CTA-861 Extension Block:
  Revision: 3
  Underscans IT Video Formats by default
  Basic audio support
  Supports YCbCr 4:4:4
  Supports YCbCr 4:2:2
  Native detailed modes: 0
  Video Data Block:
    VIC  97:  3840x2160   60.000000 Hz  16:9    135.000 kHz    594.000000 MHz
    VIC  96:  3840x2160   50.000000 Hz  16:9    112.500 kHz    594.000000 MHz
    VIC  93:  3840x2160   24.000000 Hz  16:9     54.000 kHz    297.000000 MHz
    VIC  94:  3840x2160   25.000000 Hz  16:9     56.250 kHz    297.000000 MHz
    VIC  95:  3840x2160   30.000000 Hz  16:9     67.500 kHz    297.000000 MHz
    VIC  98:  4096x2160   24.000000 Hz 256:135   54.000 kHz    297.000000 MHz
    VIC  31:  1920x1080   50.000000 Hz  16:9     56.250 kHz    148.500000 MHz
    VIC  16:  1920x1080   60.000000 Hz  16:9     67.500 kHz    148.500000 MHz
    VIC  20:  1920x1080i  50.000000 Hz  16:9     28.125 kHz     74.250000 MHz
    VIC   5:  1920x1080i  60.000000 Hz  16:9     33.750 kHz     74.250000 MHz
    VIC  19:  1280x720    50.000000 Hz  16:9     37.500 kHz     74.250000 MHz
    VIC   4:  1280x720    60.000000 Hz  16:9     45.000 kHz     74.250000 MHz
    VIC  32:  1920x1080   24.000000 Hz  16:9     27.000 kHz     74.250000 MHz
    VIC  34:  1920x1080   30.000000 Hz  16:9     33.750 kHz     74.250000 MHz
    VIC  60:  1280x720    24.000000 Hz  16:9     18.000 kHz     59.400000 MHz
    VIC  62:  1280x720    30.000000 Hz  16:9     22.500 kHz     74.250000 MHz
    VIC  18:   720x576    50.000000 Hz  16:9     31.250 kHz     27.000000 MHz
    VIC   3:   720x480    59.940060 Hz  16:9     31.469 kHz     27.000000 MHz
    VIC  17:   720x576    50.000000 Hz   4:3     31.250 kHz     27.000000 MHz
    VIC   2:   720x480    59.940060 Hz   4:3     31.469 kHz     27.000000 MHz
    VIC 101:  4096x2160   50.000000 Hz 256:135  112.500 kHz    594.000000 MHz
    VIC 102:  4096x2160   60.000000 Hz 256:135  135.000 kHz    594.000000 MHz
    VIC  63:  1920x1080  120.000000 Hz  16:9    135.000 kHz    297.000000 MHz
    VIC  64:  1920x1080  100.000000 Hz  16:9    112.500 kHz    297.000000 MHz
  Audio Data Block:
    Linear PCM:
      Max channels: 6
      Supported sample rates (kHz): 192 176.4 96 88.2 48 44.1 32
      Supported sample sizes (bits): 24 20 16
    AC-3:
      Max channels: 6
      Supported sample rates (kHz): 48 44.1 32
      Maximum bit rate: 640 kb/s
    DTS:
      Max channels: 6
      Supported sample rates (kHz): 48 44.1 32
      Maximum bit rate: 1504 kb/s
    Enhanced AC-3 (DD+):
      Max channels: 8
      Supported sample rates (kHz): 48 44.1
      Supports Joint Object Coding
    MAT (MLP):
      Max channels: 8
      Supported sample rates (kHz): 48
      Supports Dolby TrueHD, object audio PCM and channel-based PCM
      Hash calculation not required for object audio PCM or channel-based PCM
  Speaker Allocation Data Block:
    FL/FR - Front Left/Right
    LFE1 - Low Frequency Effects 1
    FC - Front Center
    BL/BR - Back Left/Right
  Vendor-Specific Data Block (HDMI), OUI 00-0C-03:
    Source physical address: 4.0.0.0
    Supports_AI
    DC_36bit
    DC_30bit
    DC_Y444
    Maximum TMDS clock: 340 MHz
    Supported Content Types:
      Graphics
      Photo
      Game
    Extended HDMI video details:
      HDMI VICs:
        HDMI VIC 1:  3840x2160   30.000000 Hz  16:9     67.500 kHz    297.000000 MHz
        HDMI VIC 2:  3840x2160   25.000000 Hz  16:9     56.250 kHz    297.000000 MHz
        HDMI VIC 3:  3840x2160   24.000000 Hz  16:9     54.000 kHz    297.000000 MHz
        HDMI VIC 4:  4096x2160   24.000000 Hz 256:135   54.000 kHz    297.000000 MHz
  Vendor-Specific Data Block (HDMI Forum), OUI C4-5D-D8:
    Version: 1
    Maximum TMDS Character Rate: 600 MHz
    SCDC Present
    Supports 12-bits/component Deep Color 4:2:0 Pixel Encoding
    Supports 10-bits/component Deep Color 4:2:0 Pixel Encoding
  Vendor-Specific Video Data Block (Dolby), OUI 00-D0-46:
    Version: 2 (12 bytes)
    DM Version: 4.x
    Backlt Min Luma: 100 cd/m^2
    Interface: Standard + Low-Latency
    Supports 10b 12b 444: Not supported
    Target Min PQ v2: 0 (0.00000000 cd/m^2)
    Target Max PQ v2: 3095 (1037 cd/m^2)
    Unique Rx, Ry: 0.67968750, 0.32031250
    Unique Gx, Gy: 0.26562500, 0.69140625
    Unique Bx, By: 0.14843750, 0.05859375
  Video Capability Data Block:
    YCbCr quantization: Selectable (via AVI YQ)
    RGB quantization: Selectable (via AVI Q)
    PT scan behavior: No Data
    IT scan behavior: Always Underscanned
    CE scan behavior: Supports both over- and underscan
  Colorimetry Data Block:
    xvYCC601
    xvYCC709
    sYCC601
    opYCC601
    opRGB
    BT2020YCC
    BT2020RGB
    Gamut Boundary Description Metadata Profile P0
  YCbCr 4:2:0 Capability Map Data Block:
    VIC  97:  3840x2160   60.000000 Hz  16:9    135.000 kHz    594.000000 MHz
    VIC  96:  3840x2160   50.000000 Hz  16:9    112.500 kHz    594.000000 MHz
    VIC 101:  4096x2160   50.000000 Hz 256:135  112.500 kHz    594.000000 MHz
    VIC 102:  4096x2160   60.000000 Hz 256:135  135.000 kHz    594.000000 MHz
  HDR Static Metadata Data Block:
    Electro optical transfer functions:
      Traditional gamma - SDR luminance range
      SMPTE ST2084
      Hybrid Log-Gamma
    Supported static metadata descriptors:
      Static metadata type 1
    Desired content max luminance: 162 (1670.838 cd/m^2)
    Desired content max frame-average luminance: 190 (3064.330 cd/m^2)
    Desired content min luminance: 6 (0.009 cd/m^2)
  Detailed Timing Descriptors:
    DTD 3:  1280x720    60.000000 Hz  16:9     45.000 kHz     74.250000 MHz (1705 mm x 959 mm)
                 Hfront  110 Hsync  40 Hback  220 Hpol P
                 Vfront    5 Vsync   5 Vback   20 Vpol P
Checksum: 0xa8  Unused space in Extension Block: 6 bytes

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#7 Yesterday 13:56:43

seth
Member
From: Won't reply 2 private help req
Registered: 2012-09-03
Posts: 77,682

Re: Display output much darker with Linux 7.2.2

So the GPU sends 4:4:4 but doesn't indicate that or the monitor picks up 4:2:2 - does your other monitor support 4:4:4 as well?
Are the colors still too light when moving to limited on DP?

The information you have is however already good enough for an upstream bug.

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#8 Yesterday 16:14:50

mrjxtr
Member
Registered: Yesterday
Posts: 2

Re: Display output much darker with Linux 7.2.2

@loqs This is my first time in the forums so pardon me if you think my message earlier was just a "me too". Rather, please let me know what to do to help diagnose the issue and I will do it. (I was also hinting to @dwaas that booting to LTS works for me but of course this is just a work around)

@seth I don't know if this helps but I have this result when running the command lspci -k | grep -A 3 -E "(VGA|3D)"

      Subsystem: Lenovo Device 50ec
      Kernel driver in use: amdgpu
      Kernel modules: amdgpu

System:

Linux 7.2.2-arch1-1
Hyprland 0.56.2 (Wayland)
LENOVO ThinkPad E14 Gen 6

Monitor: (output from hyprctl monitors)

Monitor HDMI-A-1 (ID 1):
	1920x1080@120.00000 at 1920x0
	description: Xiaomi Corporation Mi Monitor
	make: Xiaomi Corporation
	model: Mi Monitor
	physical size (mm): 600x340
	serial: 
	active workspace: 2 (2)
	special workspace: 0 ()
	reserved: 0 35 0 0
	scale: 1
	transform: 0
	focused: yes
	dpmsStatus: 1
	vrr: false
	solitary: 0
	solitaryBlockedBy: windowed mode,missing candidate
	activelyTearing: false
	tearingBlockedBy: next frame is not torn,user settings,missing candidate
	directScanoutTo: 0
	directScanoutBlockedBy: user settings,missing candidate
	disabled: false
	currentFormat: XRGB8888
	mirrorOf: none
	availableModes: 1920x1080@60.00Hz 1920x1080@199.98Hz 1920x1080@143.98Hz 1920x1080@120.00Hz 1920x1080@119.88Hz 1920x1080@100.00Hz 1920x1080@60.00Hz 1920x1080@59.94Hz 1920x1080@50.00Hz 1680x1050@59.88Hz 1600x900@60.00Hz 1280x1024@75.03Hz 1280x1024@60.02Hz 1440x900@59.90Hz 1280x800@59.91Hz 1152x864@75.00Hz 1280x720@60.00Hz 1280x720@60.00Hz 1280x720@59.94Hz 1280x720@50.00Hz 1024x768@75.03Hz 1024x768@70.07Hz 1024x768@60.00Hz 800x600@75.00Hz 800x600@72.19Hz 800x600@60.32Hz 720x576@50.00Hz 720x480@60.00Hz 720x480@59.94Hz 640x480@75.00Hz 640x480@66.67Hz 640x480@60.00Hz 640x480@59.94Hz 
	colorManagementPreset: srgb
	sdrBrightness: 1
	sdrSaturation: 1
	sdrMinLuminance: 0.2
	sdrMaxLuminance: 80
	hardwareCursorsInUse: false

Last edited by mrjxtr (Yesterday 16:19:44)

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#9 Yesterday 19:45:03

seth
Member
From: Won't reply 2 private help req
Registered: 2012-09-03
Posts: 77,682

Re: Display output much darker with Linux 7.2.2

The lspci output is to narrow because of the subsystem and the EDID would be useful

for OUT in /sys/class/drm/card*; do echo $OUT; edid-decode $OUT/edid; echo "================="; done

You'll need https://archlinux.org/packages/extra/x86_64/v4l-utils/

But it's amdgpu, HDMI and hyprland runs at rgb888 - so probably same situation.
The details might still help AMD to locate the bug.

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#10 Today 04:36:39

loqs
Member
Registered: 2014-03-06
Posts: 19,040

Re: Display output much darker with Linux 7.2.2

Do all three of the following kernels have the issue:

pacman -U https://pkgbuild.com/\~gromit/linux-bisection-kernels/linux-mainline-7.2-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst
pacman -U https://pkgbuild.com/\~gromit/linux-bisection-kernels/linux-mainline-7.2rc1-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst
pacman -U https://pkgbuild.com/\~gromit/linux-bisection-kernels/linux-mainline-7.3rc1-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst

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