Mesa’s NVK Vulkan driver now supports SM32 for NVIDIA Kepler 2.0 GPUs (GK110-GK180) via Rust-based NAK shader compiler. Learn how this update impacts GeForce GTX 780, Tesla K20/K40, and open-source GPU performance optimization.
Kepler 2.0 GPU Support: What’s New?
The NAK shader compiler, a Rust-written backend for Mesa’s NVK Vulkan driver, has officially merged support for NVIDIA SM32—the architecture behind Kepler 2.0 (KeplerB) GPUs. This update extends compatibility to:
GK110 to GK180 GPUs (codenamed NVF0-NVF1)
Flagship consumer/professional cards:
*GeForce GTX 780/TITAN*
*Tesla K20/K40 series*
GTX 780 Ti
Why does this matter?
Open-source Vulkan drivers gain critical optimizations for legacy NVIDIA hardware.
Compute & basic draw tasks are now functional, though advanced features (textures, shared atomics) remain in development.
Technical Breakdown: NAK’s SM32 Implementation
Lorenzo Rossi’s merge request outlines the current capabilities:
"This commit enables compute and basic draw tasks for KeplerB. Remaining work includes textures, surfaces, and shared atomics—scheduled for future updates."
Key milestones:
Initial SM32 support merged into Mesa 25.2-devel.
Targeted optimizations for data-parallel workloads (AI/ML, scientific computing).
Backward compatibility with older CUDA applications.
Performance implications:
Lower overhead vs. proprietary NVIDIA drivers in some workloads.
Foundation for future Vulkan extensions (e.g., ray tracing backports).
FAQ: NAK Compiler & Kepler Support
Q: Will NAK support full Kepler feature sets?
A: Textures/surfaces are planned for future updates—currently optimized for compute.
Q: How does this compare to NVIDIA’s official drivers?
A: NVK offers open-source flexibility but may lag in peak performance.
Q: Which games/apps benefit most?
A: Vulkan-native titles (e.g., Doom Eternal) and compute workloads.
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