What's Happening?
The open-source NVIDIA NVK Vulkan driver in Mesa has received a performance optimization aimed at improving the efficiency of GeForce RTX 20 'Turing' graphics processors. This enhancement involves the NVK driver's
NAK compiler, which now utilizes the hardware's maximum warps_per_sm value, potentially boosting performance for games that require extensive compute work on the GPU. While specific performance metrics were not disclosed, this update is part of ongoing improvements in the Nouveau/NVK open-source NVIDIA driver ecosystem.
Why It's Important?
This development is significant for users of NVIDIA's Turing GPUs, as it promises better performance in compute-intensive applications, particularly gaming. The continuous improvements in open-source drivers like NVK are crucial for maintaining competitive performance against proprietary drivers, offering users more flexibility and potentially reducing costs. For the broader tech community, advancements in open-source drivers contribute to a more diverse and innovative ecosystem, fostering competition and collaboration in the graphics processing industry.
