I'm using an AMD GPU on Linux for the first time after years of using Nvidia. I've just installed Kubuntu 26.04 on my main PC, which has an RX 7800 XT, and I'm planning to use it for gaming as well as everyday tasks. I've heard that AMD graphics generally work without manually installing proprietary drivers, but I'm not sure whether Kubuntu includes everything needed for good gaming performance. Do I need to install anything extra, such as Mesa or Vulkan packages, or should the card work out of the box?
3 Answers
Kubuntu normally installs the important Mesa and Vulkan components automatically, but the exact package versions depend on the release. Keeping the system updated is usually enough. If you later need to install anything manually, the relevant packages are generally Mesa, Vulkan-Mesa, and Vulkan-Radeon packages, including their 32-bit versions for some games and compatibility tools.
For an RX 7800 XT, it should be essentially plug-and-play. The kernel’s open-source AMDGPU driver handles the hardware, while Mesa provides the OpenGL and Vulkan userspace drivers. Unlike Nvidia, you generally don’t need a separate proprietary driver package. Start a game and check that Vulkan and performance work normally before changing anything.
You don’t need an additional driver just to use the card on Ubuntu-based systems. A newer Mesa version or an HWE kernel can sometimes help with newer hardware or bug fixes, but those are optional upgrades, not requirements. I’d avoid adding a third-party repository unless you have a specific problem or need a newer feature.
Some gaming-focused distributions preinstall or update those packages for you, while a more minimal installation may not. It’s worth checking that Vulkan is working rather than assuming the presence of the kernel driver means every gaming library is installed.