Linux kernel update leads to performance decline on AMD GPUs

An upcoming Ubuntu kernel update brutally slows down AMD GPUs: The update to version 7.0.0-28.28 makes some ROCm workloads up to 43 times slower – 10 seconds of work suddenly becomes 430.

AMD users could have problems

An upcoming kernel update for Ubuntu is causing trouble for AMD users: Version 7.0.0-28.28 massively slows down GPU compute jobs – sometimes by 43 times, as reports now say. The problem is in the AMD GPU driver and primarily affects systems on which AMD’s ROCm stack is used for computing tasks.

Ubuntu engineers report on Throughput regressions for specific workloads: Tasks that were previously completed in around nine seconds sometimes take up to 388 seconds with the new kernel. The system remains fundamentally stable, but it reacts significantly more slowly as soon as the graphics card is used for computing-intensive tasks.

The focus is on Ubuntu 26.04 and users of Ubuntu 24.04 LTS with hardware enablement kernel who should switch from the previous 6.17 branch to the 7.0 series. The weakness is particularly evident in AI and GPGPU scenarios, such as when using Stable Diffusion XL or other ROCm-based applications. Classic gaming with AMD graphics, on the other hand, seems to be significantly less affected, as other parts of the driver stack dominate here.

Ubuntu still ships kernel 7.0.0-28.28 because it contains important security fixes. At the same time, the kernel team recommends that anyone who relies heavily on AMD GPU compute avoid the update for the time being or switch back to an older kernel if problems arise. Anyone who has already updated and notices significant drops in performance can often select an earlier kernel version via the bootloader and thus restore the usual performance.

Roadmap: The Ubuntu Kernel team is currently prioritizing the release of critical security fixes included in the upcoming kernel release to ensure the safety of our users. Although this particular regression bug will still be present in version 7.0.0-28.28, we have already found a solution. The fix is ​​on the waiting list and will be included in the immediate next update round with critical fixes. This approach allows us to balance the urgent need for security patches with the requirement for long-term performance stability.

For many desktop users with AMD graphics cards, the regression will likely remain invisible. However, if you use your GPU specifically for local AI, image generation or other computing-intensive tasks, you should keep an eye on the kernel version – and if in doubt, wait a little longer with the update until a bug-fixed version is available.