Cobalt64
Cobalt64 logo

Cobalt64

The first open-source GPU-accelerated graphics driver for macOS.

Check your GPU View source
Read more

About Cobalt64

Apple's built-in AMD drivers end with RDNA 2. Cobalt64 is an open-source graphics driver that brings modern Radeon GPUs to macOS, with Metal acceleration and a native display engine. It is an early, experimental project: today it runs the macOS desktop and a growing set of apps on the GPU, on a single test PC.

It starts with the Radeon RX 9070 XT and will expand to every RDNA 3 and RDNA 4 desktop GPU.

Features

  • Metal accelerationA native Metal device backed by your Radeon GPU. The macOS desktop and many built-in apps already run on it, and more apps are being enabled one by one. Games are not a goal yet.
  • Multi-monitorThree displays at once over DisplayPort and HDMI, all composited on the GPU. Automatic display modes, 4K and high refresh rates are in progress.
  • Native window-content accelerationIn supported apps, window contents are drawn by the GPU, not just composited by it.
  • GPU-composited desktopWindowServer and Core Animation run on the Radeon. Smoother frame pacing and 120 Hz are being worked on.
  • Full hardware bring-upFirmware, power management, memory and display are all initialised by Cobalt64 itself.
  • Open sourceMIT licensed (bundled third-party components keep their own licences). The source is public, so you can read a kernel driver before you load it.

How it works

Cobalt64 runs in both user space and the kernel, sitting between Metal and the hardware.

  1. 1 Apps use Metal as usualApps, games and macOS itself talk to Metal. Nothing needs to be patched.
  2. 2 Cobalt64 Metal deviceImplements Metal on a macOS port of RADV, Mesa's Radeon Vulkan driver. Shaders are compiled to native RDNA code.
  3. 3 Cobalt64 kernel extensionBrings up the GPU, manages video memory, schedules work on the graphics, copy and scheduler engines, and drives your displays.
  4. 4 Your Radeon GPURDNA 4 first, starting with the RX 9070 XT, followed by RDNA 3.

Requirements

macOSTahoe 26 (tested on 26.6.2)
Computerx86_64 PC with a PCIe slot
BootloaderOpenCore
FirmwareResizable BAR on (recommended)
Graphics cardCheck your GPU InstallationStep-by-step guideComing soon

Download

Cobalt64 1.0 Cobalt64 Coming soon The first public preview is in development. It will ship once multi-monitor is stable and display modes are detected automatically. Released · Check your GPU first, then follow the installation guide.
Check your GPU

FAQ

Does Cobalt64 work on Apple silicon Macs?

No. Apple silicon Macs don't support third-party GPU drivers or external GPUs. Cobalt64 is for x86_64 PCs with a PCIe slot, booted with OpenCore.

Is my graphics card supported?

Use Check your GPU to detect your card or look it up by name or device ID.

When is the first release?

When it's stable enough to recommend: after automatic display modes, an installer and wider testing. Follow progress on GitHub. This site switches to a live download as soon as the release is published.

Is Cobalt64 free?

Yes. Cobalt64 is free and open source under the MIT licence.

Is this affiliated with AMD or Apple?

No. Cobalt64 is an independent community project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by AMD or Apple.

Credits

Cobalt64 builds on the work of these open-source projects.

Linux amdgpuRegister definitions and hardware documentation Mesa RADVThe Radeon Vulkan driver RDNA4FBDisplay-only RDNA 4 kext by Sunneva N. Mariudottir mac-amdgpuNavi 48 bring-up on macOS by lemonade-sdk metal2vulkanMetal AIR to SPIR-V translation by steelbrain