NVIDIA NVDEC Video Decode Support Sent Out For Linux 5.17, Better Power Management

[phoronix]

Phoronix: NVIDIA NVDEC Video Decode Support Sent Out For Linux 5.17, Better Power Management

After the open-source NVIDIA Tegra DRM driver changes intended for Linux 5.16 weren't pulled due to timing, they are back around for Linux 5.17 with most notably the open-source Tegra driver feature pull request introducing NVDEC video decoding...

https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=NVIDIA-Tegra-NVDEC-Linux-5.17

[middy]

so nvidia's tegra gpu uses open source drivers? but their regular gpu's don't? why can nvidia make tegra open but their regular gpu's?

[tuxd3v]

Nice to see them continuing to develop for it..

[mdedetrich]

so nvidia's tegra gpu uses open source drivers? but their regular gpu's don't? why can nvidia make tegra open but their regular gpu's?

There is so much intellectual IP/patents in their original driver that practically speaking its impossible to open source. The only way that NVidia could create an open source driver for their NVidia GPU's would be to do a clean room implementation, likely with a separate segregated team to avoid any legal issues.

[middy]

There is so much intellectual IP/patents in their original driver that practically speaking its impossible to open source. The only way that NVidia could create an open source driver for their NVidia GPU's would be to do a clean room implementation, likely with a separate segregated team to avoid any legal issues.

thank you. that makes sense. i do wonder how amd was able to get away with it though. similar with intel.

[Ladis]

thank you. that makes sense. i do wonder how amd was able to get away with it though. similar with intel.

AMD did it exactly that way. Separate OSS driver side by side their binary one.

[reavertm]

There is so much intellectual IP/patents in their original driver that practically speaking its impossible to open source. The only way that NVidia could create an open source driver for their NVidia GPU's would be to do a clean room implementation, likely with a separate segregated team to avoid any legal issues.

Patents like? H.264 is patented but has various open source implementations. Can you elaborate what patents could prevent their own implementation of various algorithms from being open sourced?

[Ladis]

Patents like? H.264 is patented but has various open source implementations. Can you elaborate what patents could prevent their own implementation of various algorithms from being open sourced?

It can be anything. E.g. a feature implemented by another company (a problem e.g. about the memory controller in POWER 10, thus not being able to have a fully open system from Talos). Or a patented algoritm (e.g. I remembered when Doom 3 had to have software implemented 3D sound to avoid some patent from Creative).

[creative]

Hey, just thought I would add to this comment section, Nvidia just released a new feature branch driver 495.46, if anyone does not know yet. A release later than 495.44

[mdedetrich]

Patents like? H.264 is patented but has various open source implementations. Can you elaborate what patents could prevent their own implementation of various algorithms from being open sourced?

I don't know, what is known that NVidia bought SG graphics ages ago and a lot of their tech plus other IP is in their driver. This is not unusual especially with software written at the time.