AMD’s Linux kernel patches suggest enablement of next-gen Instinct MI400-series AI GPU accelerators

AMD has begun upstreaming Linux kernel patches for its next-generation GPU IP blocks, reports Phoronix. Such uploads typically indicate the start of enablement for a new GPU architecture, but in this particular case, the GFXHUB 12.1 may point to support of the CDNA5 architecture that powers the company’s next-generation Instinct MI430 and MI450-series accelerators for HPC and AI workloads. There is a chance that we are dealing with AMD’s next-generation integrated GPU, however.

The list of GPU IP blocks for which AMD adds hardware enablement includes PSP 15.0.8 (platform security), IH 7.1 (interrupt handler), MMHUB 4.2 (graphics IP), GFXHUB 12.1 (GPU IP), and GMC 12.1 (graphics and memory controller).

AMD has not officially disclosed which of its products use the GFX 12.1 IP, but its latest Radeon RX 9000-series GPUs based on the RDNA 4 architecture use GFX 12 IP. To that end, GFX 12.1 may either point to a superset of the GFX 12 IP for integrated GPUs, AMD’s next-generation RDNA 5-based GPUs, or next-generation CDNA 5-based accelerators. A leak from earlier this year indicates that the GFX1250 monikers are reserved for CDNA 5 accelerators, whereas GFX1300 monikers are reportedly meant for RDNA 5 GPUs.

GFX 12.1 IP could point to integrated RDNA 4-based GPUs that have tangible differences from the existing RDNA 4 graphics processors, which justify a new IP denominator, or it could point to the next-generation Instinct MI400-series accelerators based on the CDNA 5. The latter is more likely, as all Zen 5-based APUs rely on RDNA 3.5 GPUs, so it might be too early for RDNA 4-based iGPUs.

Best picks for you

• Intel cuts down price of Core Ultra 9 285K for Black Friday

• RAM Benchmark Hierarchy 2025: DDR5, DDR4 for AMD, Intel CPUs

• Best Black Friday gaming GPU deals 2025 — ongoing deals on cheap Nvidia, AMD, and Intel gaming graphics cards

HXL points out that AMD’s GFX1250 index belongs to the AI-oriented Instinct MI450-series GPUs, whereas the GFX1251 moniker belongs to the HPC-bound Instinct MI430-series processors. Of course, AMD has never confirmed this.