Linux gets AMD Overclocking driver

Phoronix reported on Wednesday, October 21, that Shyam Sundar S K, an engineer at AMD, submitted patches to the Linux kernel adding a driver known as AOD, or AMD Overclocking. This driver enables users to adjust power and current limits on recent Ryzen processors, a feature long requested by Linux users.

Windows has Ryzen Master, Linux now has AOD

Under Windows, AMD provides Ryzen Master software for adjusting these settings, but until now, Linux users had no official tool for similar control. The AOD driver fills this gap by allowing users to modify three key limits: the processor's total power consumption (PPT), continuous current draw (TDC), and peak current acceptance (EDC).

AOD includes additional features and limitations

The driver also reads memory frequency and can disable SMT, a technology that allows each processor core to handle two tasks simultaneously. However, any changes made through AOD only take effect after a system reboot. All adjustments are made through sysfs, a kernel-created directory of virtual files, where users can change values by writing directly into files without needing a graphical interface.

No graphical application or release date yet

AMD has not released a graphical application for AOD, and the code is still under review on the Linux kernel developers' mailing list. As a result, the driver is not included in Linux 7.3, which was released on October 18, nor has AMD provided a specific integration date. Additionally, AMD confirmed on October 20 that its FSR upscaling technology will support Vulkan, a feature long requested by Linux gamers.