--- title: Optimizing graphics memory bandwidth with compression... description: DRM format modifiers solve the problem of communicating non-linear buffer layouts (tiling, compression) across the Linux graphics stack. A 64-bit modifier... canonical: https://daily.dev/posts/optimizing-graphics-memory-bandwidth-with-compression-and-tiling-notes-on-drm-format-modifiers-wk8zxek1g twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:site: @dailydotdev og:type: website og:site_name: daily.dev og:title: Optimizing graphics memory bandwidth with compression and tiling: Notes on DRM format modifiers | daily.dev og:description: DRM format modifiers solve the problem of communicating non-linear buffer layouts (tiling, compression) across the Linux graphics stack. A 64-bit modifier... og:url: https://daily.dev/posts/optimizing-graphics-memory-bandwidth-with-compression-and-tiling-notes-on-drm-format-modifiers-wk8zxek1g og:image: https://api.daily.dev/og/posts/Wk8ZXEK1G.png og:image:alt: Optimizing graphics memory bandwidth with compression and tiling: Notes on DRM format modifiers og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 630 og:locale: en --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://daily.dev/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Optimizing graphics memory bandwidth with compression and tiling: Notes on DRM format modifiers **[Collabora Blog](https://daily.dev/sources/collabora)** · 5 min read · 0 upvotes · 0 comments ## Summary DRM format modifiers solve the problem of communicating non-linear buffer layouts (tiling, compression) across the Linux graphics stack. A 64-bit modifier field was added to DRM's kernel modesetting to carry vendor-specific layout info beyond what FourCC codes alone can express. The work covers plumbing modifier support through GBM, EGL (via the new EGL_EXT_image_dma_buf_import_modifiers extension), Mesa (with Skylake compressed color buffer support), and the Wayland protocol. This enables end-to-end tiled and compressed buffer pipelines, reducing memory bandwidth requirements transparently for users. Limitations include AMDGPU needing 256 bytes per texture for layout metadata, exceeding the 64-bit field, prompting discussion of the Unix Device Memory Allocation project for standardized cross-platform buffer sharing. ## Full article daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: ## Questions this post answers ### What problem do DRM format modifiers solve that FourCC codes cannot handle? DRM format modifiers carry vendor-specific buffer layout information that FourCC codes alone cannot express. When buffers use non-linear layouts like tiling or hardware compression, a 64-bit modifier field appended to the FourCC code communicates the full layout — including auxiliary metadata buffers for compression — enabling correct sharing across processes, IP blocks, and driver components without guesswork. _Linux graphics developers tracking DRM and Mesa changes like these find the relevant patches and discussions on daily.dev._ ### What is the EGL_EXT_image_dma_buf_import_modifiers extension and what does it add? EGL_EXT_image_dma_buf_import_modifiers is an EGL extension that allows creating EGLImages from dmabuf buffers carrying a format modifier via eglCreateImageKHR. It also adds format and modifier query entrypoints so compositors can negotiate buffer constraints against known GL capabilities upfront, avoiding hit-and-trial allocation failures. Mesa includes an implementation with Skylake driver support for importing and sampling compressed color buffers. _GPU driver and compositor developers working through EGL extension adoption keep up with ecosystem changes on daily.dev._ ### Why is the 64-bit DRM format modifier field insufficient for some GPUs like AMDGPU? AMDGPU associates 256 bytes of metadata with each texture buffer to fully describe its layout, far exceeding the 64-bit modifier field in DRM. This limitation prompted discussion of the Unix Device Memory Allocation project, aimed at standardizing buffer allocation and cross-platform sharing in a way that accommodates larger per-buffer layout descriptors. _Engineers working on cross-vendor GPU buffer sharing can follow the UDMABuf and DRM ecosystem discussions on daily.dev._ ## Similar posts on daily.dev - [Older AMD GPUs Score Another Open-Source Driver Win From Valve: DRM Format Modifiers](https://daily.dev/posts/older-amd-gpus-score-another-open-source-driver-win-from-valve-drm-format-modifiers-zfcdkxnci) · Phoronix · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [DRM Format Modifiers For Old AMD GPUs Coming With Linux 7.3: Thanks Valve](https://daily.dev/posts/drm-format-modifiers-for-old-amd-gpus-coming-with-linux-7-3-thanks-valve-opy7i19sc) · Phoronix · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [Two Six Technologies](https://daily.dev/posts/two-six-technologies-unazz2n8w) · Two Six Technologies · 1 upvotes · 0 comments --- Tags: [#linux](https://daily.dev/tags/linux), [#mesa](https://daily.dev/tags/mesa) [View this post on daily.dev](https://daily.dev/posts/optimizing-graphics-memory-bandwidth-with-compression-and-tiling-notes-on-drm-format-modifiers-wk8zxek1g) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://daily.dev/#organization","name":"daily.dev","url":"https://daily.dev","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://daily.dev/apple-touch-icon.png","width":180,"height":180},"sameAs":["https://twitter.com/dailydotdev","https://github.com/dailydotdev","https://www.linkedin.com/company/daily-dev-ltd"]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://daily.dev/#website","url":"https://daily.dev","name":"daily.dev","publisher":{"@id":"https://daily.dev/#organization"},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://daily.dev/search?q={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}}]} {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"TechArticle","headline":"Optimizing graphics memory bandwidth with compression and tiling: Notes on DRM format modifiers","url":"https://daily.dev/posts/optimizing-graphics-memory-bandwidth-with-compression-and-tiling-notes-on-drm-format-modifiers-wk8zxek1g","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://daily.dev/posts/optimizing-graphics-memory-bandwidth-with-compression-and-tiling-notes-on-drm-format-modifiers-wk8zxek1g"},"datePublished":"2026-08-11T08:55:39.679Z","dateModified":"2026-08-11T09:39:25.366Z","description":"DRM format modifiers solve the problem of communicating non-linear buffer layouts (tiling, compression) across the Linux graphics stack. 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