Yes, Navi/Navi 2 and Navi 3 are compatible with Ubuntu LTS HWE.
Yes, Navi/Navi 2 and Navi 3 are compatible with Ubuntu LTS HWE.
After the pandemic subsides and finances stabilize, I’m thinking about a hardware upgrade. Likely I’ll move to an RX 6800 (non-XT) or a 7700 (XT) in Quake 2 with RTX 2 graphics. At full settings, even the RTX 40 series at 1080p still delivers solid performance. My preferred OS remains Ubuntu, mainly because it avoids the headaches of NTFS corruption—something I experienced with Windows 10 on my laptop, which eventually revealed thousands of bad sectors on the HGST drive. Although I use an SSD now, Ubuntu’s ext4 has always performed well.
Switching to an LTS version was important for me, as it promised reliable support for newer components. Until I found Ubuntu LTS HWE (Hardware Enhancement Version), I assumed future hardware would be incompatible. But now I’ve discovered that LTS HWE offers stability and full compatibility with the latest GPUs, including overclocking, underclocking, and voltage adjustments.
However, I’ve also read discussions about potential limitations—especially with GPUs like the 5600XT, which seems to be vbios-limited. Even with an unlocked GPU, it might not handle the demands of ray tracing or high-end ray-tracing features without issues. I’m still seeing frequent kernel updates, which gives me some optimism for future upgrades.
For those using Ubuntu LTS HWE (18.04 or upcoming 20.04.02), the stability and hardware support seem promising, especially if you’re targeting GPUs like the Vega 56 or newer RDNA/RDNA 2 models. The 5600XT’s vbios clock limit appears to remain relevant unless the BIOS is updated. Overall, I’m leaning toward keeping an eye on power limits, voltage settings, and GPU compatibility before committing to the next upgrade.
I won't upgrade my GPU until the pandemic ends and I have enough money; I'm not employed, so it won't be that long for Vulkan ray tracing to work on Linux for Quake II RTX.
You might want to post this in a Linux-focused community. Here are some solid examples of such forums:
- Reddit’s r/linux or r/sysadmin
- Stack Exchange’s Linux-related threads
- GitHub Discussions or developer forums
These platforms typically have higher engagement and better response rates.