AMD Adds HDMI FRL Support to Linux Driver, Moves Toward Full HDMI 2.1 on Steam Machines

*TL;DR: AMD’s Linux amdgpu driver now includes HDMI FRL support, bringing Steam Machines closer to full HDMI 2.1 capability, while DSC support remains in testing.*

Context Last year, licensing hurdles and open‑source driver delays left Steam Machines without official HDMI 2.1 support. The HDMI 2.1 standard requires higher bandwidth than HDMI 2.0, which older drivers could not provide.

Key Facts - AMD announced that its amdgpu driver for Linux now implements HDMI FRL (Fixed Rate Link). FRL replaces the older TMDS signaling and enables the bandwidth needed for 4K‑120Hz, dynamic HDR and Variable Refresh Rate. - The driver update covers only a “representative subset” of HDMI 2.1 features. Code for Display Stream Compression (DSC)—the algorithm that compresses video to allow resolutions up to 10K @ 100 Hz—is still being tested and will be released later. - AMD confirms a full HDMI 2.1 compliance run is underway. Once the remaining patches pass compliance testing, the driver will support the entire HDMI 2.1 feature set.

What It Means Steam Machines equipped with AMD GPUs can now leverage FRL on Linux, meaning users will see higher frame rates and richer color ranges on compatible displays without proprietary Windows drivers. However, the absence of DSC means the highest resolutions and refresh rates promised by HDMI 2.1 remain out of reach for now. Developers and hardware partners should monitor AMD’s upcoming patches; successful compliance testing will unlock the full promise of HDMI 2.1 for the Linux gaming ecosystem.

*Watch for AMD’s DSC release and the final compliance certification, which will determine when Steam Machines can fully exploit HDMI 2.1’s bandwidth on Linux.*