Imagination PowerVR Driver Adds TI AM62P SoC Support for Linux 6.20~7.0

The Linux kernel's graphics subsystem is preparing for another significant addition to its open-source driver ecosystem. The latest DRM-Misc-Next pull request, submitted for the upcoming Linux 6.20 or 7.0 kernel cycle, includes the initial support for Texas Instruments' AM62P System-on-Chip (SoC) within Imagination Technologies' PowerVR graphics driver.

Technical Implementation and Hardware Context

The TI AM62P SoC represents a specific segment of the embedded ARM market, combining four 64-bit Arm Cortex-A53 application cores with a real-time Arm Cortex R5F core. This heterogeneous architecture targets industrial automation, automotive applications, and advanced human-machine interfaces where both application processing and deterministic real-time control are required.

The graphics subsystem centers on Imagination's PowerVR Rogue BXS-4 GPU. This is a tile-based deferred rendering (TBDR) architecture, a design philosophy that prioritizes power efficiency and memory bandwidth optimization—critical factors for embedded systems operating under thermal and power constraints. The BXS-4 represents a mid-range offering within PowerVR's Rogue family, providing sufficient performance for display compositing, user interface rendering, and light 3D workloads typical in automotive dashboards or industrial control panels.

The new DRM driver patches enable the kernel to manage the GPU's initialization, memory management, and command submission. This is the foundational layer required for user-space graphics stacks to function. With this driver in place, the PowerVR Vulkan driver in Mesa can be utilized, providing a modern graphics API for applications. The driver's integration follows the standard Linux DRM (Direct Rendering Manager) framework, ensuring compatibility with the kernel's existing graphics infrastructure.

Market Implications and Supply Chain Considerations

The inclusion of TI AM62P support in the upstream kernel carries weight beyond mere technical curiosity. Texas Instruments is a dominant supplier in the embedded processor market, with its Sitara AM6x series being widely adopted in industrial and automotive sectors. The AM62P, in particular, is designed for applications requiring a balance of application processing, graphics, and real-time capabilities.

Historically, graphics support for embedded SoCs has been a patchwork of vendor-specific, out-of-tree drivers. These drivers often lag behind kernel updates, create maintenance burdens for system integrators, and complicate long-term product support. The upstreaming of the PowerVR driver for the AM62P represents a shift toward a more sustainable model. It reduces the dependency on proprietary, closed-source kernel modules and aligns with the growing demand for open, auditable software stacks in safety-critical and regulated industries.

From a supply chain perspective, this development strengthens the value proposition of the TI AM62P for developers and OEMs. A fully upstreamed graphics stack simplifies the software development process, reduces time-to-market, and lowers the total cost of ownership by minimizing the need for custom kernel maintenance. It also provides a clear migration path for products built on earlier TI SoCs that may have relied on less mature or proprietary graphics solutions.

The Broader Open-Source PowerVR Ecosystem

This kernel driver is one piece of a larger, ongoing effort by Imagination Technologies to engage with the open-source community. The company has been progressively open-sourcing its PowerVR driver stack, a move that began in earnest with the release of the kernel driver and has since expanded to include user-space components.

For developers and enthusiasts interested in exploring this stack, the recent achievement with the BeaglePlay board is a notable milestone. The BeaglePlay, a $99 single-board computer, successfully achieved what was described as "100% open-source" upstream PowerVR graphics. This means the entire stack—from the kernel driver to the user-space graphics libraries—is available as open-source software, with no proprietary binary blobs required for basic graphics functionality. This accomplishment serves as a practical proof-of-concept for the viability of Imagination's open-source strategy and provides a tangible platform for testing and development.

The TI AM62P support follows a similar trajectory. While the hardware is different, the underlying driver architecture and the goal of a fully open-source stack remain consistent. This creates a positive feedback loop: as more SoCs are supported upstream, the driver matures, becomes more robust, and attracts more developers and users, which in turn encourages more hardware vendors to adopt or support the open-source stack.

What to Expect in Linux 6.20~7.0

The DRM-Misc-Next pull request is part of the standard kernel development cycle. The patches are currently queued in the DRM-Next branch and are slated for merging during the Linux 6.20 or 7.0 merge window in February 2026. The final naming of the kernel version (6.20 vs. 7.0) is at the discretion of Linus Torvalds and is not yet determined.

Once merged, end-users with hardware based on the TI AM62P SoC will be able to use the Imagination DRM kernel driver out-of-the-box with a standard mainline kernel. This eliminates the need to compile custom kernel modules or rely on vendor-provided patches. The driver will be maintained as part of the official kernel tree, benefiting from the collective review and testing of the kernel community.

The pull request also includes other updates, such as core fixes, warm boot handling for the Intel NPU6 in Nova Lake, and updates to the AMDXDNA accelerator driver. These additions highlight the continuous, collaborative nature of kernel development, where multiple vendors and contributors work in parallel to advance the platform's capabilities.

Looking Ahead

The upstreaming of the TI AM62P's PowerVR graphics support is a concrete example of the embedded Linux ecosystem maturing. It demonstrates that open-source drivers can meet the performance and reliability requirements of commercial embedded products. For system designers, this means greater flexibility and reduced risk. For the Linux kernel, it represents another step toward comprehensive hardware support, covering an increasingly diverse range of architectures and use cases.

As the driver lands in the mainline kernel, the focus will shift to user-space integration and performance optimization. The Mesa PowerVR Vulkan driver will see increased testing and tuning for the BXS-4 GPU. Developers can expect ongoing improvements in areas like power management, display handling, and compatibility with modern graphics APIs.

For those interested in tracking the progress, the DRM-Misc-Next repository and the Mesa project are the primary sources for code and updates. The BeaglePlay community, centered around the BeagleBoard.org platform, also serves as a valuable resource for practical implementation and testing.

This development underscores a broader trend: the convergence of high-performance embedded processing and open-source software. As embedded systems become more complex and connected, the demand for transparent, maintainable, and collaborative software stacks will only grow. The TI AM62P's journey to mainline Linux graphics support is a clear indicator of that direction.