Inquiries regarding Mainline Kernels
Inquiries regarding Mainline Kernels
I set up the gaming rig for my friend and managed to get him an RX 9070 XT. Since I'm running Linux Mint 22.1 MATE, I had to switch to Mainline to update the kernel to 6.13, which is needed for proper GPU functionality as Mint only supports 6.11 and 6.8 for long-term stability. In Mainline, you'll notice a small Ubuntu logo next to 6.13.7-061307.202503131244, which is the kernel I'm currently using. Question 1) The Ubuntu logo appears alongside 6.13 because it's the version Mainline is showing for that specific kernel. Question 2) When trying to install a new kernel via Mainline, you sometimes see "download failed" with no installable kernels specified. It seems inconsistent—Mainline works at times but not always. I've attached some screenshots for reference.
It isn't clearly mentioned where I can locate this, but I think the Ubuntu logo suggests the kernel is accessible in official repos. The issue might stem from problems with those repositories: https://github.com/bkw777/mainline/issue...2764340755
Mint relies heavily on Ubuntu, with numerous mentions of the operating system throughout. The logo might be based on the Ubuntu kernel fork, or it could come from Ubuntu repositories since the package is available there. I don’t use a graphical interface—try updating the kernel via the terminal using APT and check for errors if they appear. Likely the issue stems from a repository or mirror problem. Syncing and optimizing your APT mirrors might resolve the problem.
I’m not very comfortable with the terminal. I tried a tutorial on my machine to upgrade the kernel, but the same error kept appearing. Since I’m using the cappelikan PPA, I noticed a post from @Haswellx86 mentioning server-side problems. Could you suggest other kernel sources?
If you're interested, you can find the repository at https://github.com/torvalds/linux for building from source.
I don't rely on Mint and I'm not sure about it. I'm running Arch and always update my kernels. If you're getting new hardware, consider using an Arch-based distro like Manjaro. AI recommends avoiding GitHub mirrors because they often contain untested or merged changes. Many beginners also skip cloning with --depth 1, which can load unnecessary data. Stick to kernel.org for a cleaner experience.
It should work but it contains issues tied to the version string. Even with their own notes, the installed 6.13.7 shown in the screenshot is incorrectly labeled as non-mainline. The only reliable indicator is the red Tux icon that appears when the version includes "rc" or "unstable." Steer clear of those. Remember, Ubuntu mainline is still development-focused, not final release software. For newer AMD GPUs, you'll need Mesa 25, not just a recent kernel version.
I somehow got Mesa 25 up and running, but the instructions weren’t very clear. My GPU is working well, there are no crashes or lag in games, and performance matches expectations. Now I’m wondering what to tell my friend about it. Should I keep it as it is for now, or wait until a newer version supports the 9070xt? Or would changing it be risky? @Haswellx86 I could try installing Manjaro on his machine just to see how it performs. He mainly uses it for gaming and browsing, so it’s definitely worth a look. Maybe it’s time to expand beyond my current setup? Thanks to both of you for your advice.
Manjaro, Fedora, and OpenSUSE all have patent-restricted codecs in Mesa, meaning full compatibility or performance relies on community packages or Flatpak solutions for video tasks. Currently, Arch offers the only fully supported option with its own packages, while Mint can be used if it works and you plan to upgrade later. Ubuntu 25.04 is expected soon, which should improve support, and Mint is likely to follow with a new major release in late June or July.