[PATCH v2 11/27] drm: Implement VRR rate limiting

From: Nicolas Frattaroli

Date: Thu Nov 05 2026 - 11:36:23 EST


Currently, VRR is allowed to use the entire range advertised by the
sink's EDID. Userspace may find it desirable, however, to limit this
range, or set a fixed target rate entirely. The latter is mainly useful
for multimedia playback applications, where judder can be avoided by
matching the content's frame rate precisely.

With the new VRR target frame rate properties, the necessary
infrastructure is in place to allow implementing this.

Add the necessary logic to hdmi_validate_vrr, as well as the VRR
helpers. Since not every target rate can be reached precisely, the
per-frame error is calculated, and dithered one row at a time across
subsequent frames. This means some frames are one vtotal larger than
others, so that averaged over the frames, the desired target rate is
achieved. Such dithering is explicitly permitted by HDMI, and is still
considered a constant target frame rate.

Co-developed-by: Derek Foreman <derek.foreman@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Signed-off-by: Derek Foreman <derek.foreman@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Signed-off-by: Nicolas Frattaroli <nicolas.frattaroli@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
---
drivers/gpu/drm/display/drm_hdmi_state_helper.c | 134 +++++++++++++++++++++---
drivers/gpu/drm/drm_crtc_helper.c | 34 +++++-
include/drm/drm_crtc.h | 3 +
include/drm/drm_crtc_helper.h | 2 +
4 files changed, 156 insertions(+), 17 deletions(-)

diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/display/drm_hdmi_state_helper.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/display/drm_hdmi_state_helper.c
index ce680eaa5047..846f7a72fddc 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/display/drm_hdmi_state_helper.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/display/drm_hdmi_state_helper.c
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@

#include <drm/drm_atomic.h>
#include <drm/drm_connector.h>
+#include <drm/drm_crtc_helper.h>
#include <drm/drm_edid.h>
#include <drm/drm_modes.h>
#include <drm/drm_print.h>
@@ -1051,15 +1052,60 @@ static int hdmi_calculate_vtotal(const struct drm_display_mode *mode,
return 0;
}

+static int hdmi_validate_vrr_limits(struct drm_crtc_state *crtc_state, u16 vrr_min)
+{
+ struct drm_crtc_vrr_state *vrr_state = &crtc_state->vrr_state;
+ const struct drm_display_mode *mode = &crtc_state->mode;
+ u32 limit_d;
+ u8 round;
+ int ret;
+
+ /* No limiter, don't need to validate, but reset the error */
+ if (!drm_crtc_helper_vrr_is_fixed_rate(vrr_state)) {
+ vrr_state->per_frame_err = 0;
+ vrr_state->cur_err = 0;
+ return 0;
+ }
+
+ /* Don't allow rates equal to or below the minimum VRR rate / 1.001 */
+ if (cmp_fraction(vrr_state->vrr_min_n, vrr_state->vrr_min_d,
+ vrr_min * 1000, 1001) < 0)
+ return -EINVAL;
+
+ if (check_mul_overflow(mode->crtc_htotal, vrr_state->vrr_min_n, &limit_d))
+ return -ERANGE;
+
+ ret = hdmi_calculate_vtotal(&crtc_state->mode, vrr_state->vrr_min_n,
+ vrr_state->vrr_min_d, &vrr_state->base_vtotal,
+ &vrr_state->denom, &vrr_state->per_frame_err);
+ if (ret)
+ return ret;
+
+ /* Allow rounding up for the vtotal check below */
+ if (vrr_state->per_frame_err >= vrr_state->denom / 2)
+ round = 1;
+ else
+ round = 0;
+
+ if (vrr_state->base_vtotal + round < mode->crtc_vtotal)
+ return -EINVAL;
+
+ return 0;
+}
+
static int hdmi_validate_vrr(struct drm_connector *connector,
struct drm_atomic_commit *state)
{
struct drm_connector_state *new_conn_state =
drm_atomic_get_new_connector_state(state, connector);
+ struct drm_connector_state *old_conn_state =
+ drm_atomic_get_old_connector_state(state, connector);
struct drm_crtc_state *new_crtc_state =
drm_atomic_get_new_crtc_state(state, new_conn_state->crtc);
struct drm_crtc_vrr_state *vrr_state =
&new_crtc_state->vrr_state;
+ struct drm_crtc_vrr_state *old_vrr_state;
+ struct drm_crtc_state *old_crtc_state = NULL;
struct drm_display_info *info = &connector->display_info;
const struct drm_display_mode *mode = &new_crtc_state->mode;
struct drm_device *dev = connector->dev;
@@ -1068,10 +1114,14 @@ static int hdmi_validate_vrr(struct drm_connector *connector,
u32 min_vfreq_d = 1;
u32 max_vfreq_n = info->hdmi.vrr_cap.vrr_max;
u32 max_vfreq_d = 1;
+ bool is_fixed;

if (!new_crtc_state->vrr_enabled)
return 0;

+ if (old_conn_state)
+ old_crtc_state = drm_atomic_get_old_crtc_state(state, old_conn_state->crtc);
+
if (!info->hdmi.vrr_cap.supported)
return -EOPNOTSUPP;

@@ -1087,6 +1137,21 @@ static int hdmi_validate_vrr(struct drm_connector *connector,
if (!max_vfreq_n || max_vfreq_n > mode_refresh)
max_vfreq_n = mode_refresh;

+ is_fixed = drm_crtc_helper_vrr_is_fixed_rate(vrr_state);
+ if (is_fixed && info->hdmi.vrr_cap.cinema_vrr)
+ min_vfreq_n = 24;
+
+ /* If the VRR target changed, make sure to reset the error accumulator */
+ if (old_crtc_state) {
+ old_vrr_state = &old_crtc_state->vrr_state;
+ if (drm_crtc_helper_vrr_is_fixed_rate(old_vrr_state) != is_fixed ||
+ cmp_fraction(vrr_state->vrr_min_n, vrr_state->vrr_min_d,
+ old_vrr_state->vrr_min_n, old_vrr_state->vrr_min_d) ||
+ cmp_fraction(vrr_state->vrr_max_n, vrr_state->vrr_max_d,
+ old_vrr_state->vrr_max_n, old_vrr_state->vrr_max_d))
+ vrr_state->cur_err = 0;
+ }
+
if (!min_vfreq_n) {
drm_dbg_kms(dev, "Could not get minimum VRR rate from sink\n");
return -EINVAL;
@@ -1098,25 +1163,64 @@ static int hdmi_validate_vrr(struct drm_connector *connector,
return -EINVAL;
}

- if (cmp_fraction(min_vfreq_n, min_vfreq_d, max_vfreq_n, max_vfreq_d) > 0) {
- drm_dbg_kms(dev, "Target max (%u/%u) > target min (%u/%u)\n",
- max_vfreq_n, max_vfreq_d, min_vfreq_n, min_vfreq_d);
- return -EINVAL;
- }
-
- ret = hdmi_calculate_vtotal(mode, max_vfreq_n, max_vfreq_d,
- &vrr_state->base_vtotal, NULL, NULL);
+ ret = hdmi_validate_vrr_limits(new_crtc_state, min_vfreq_n);
if (ret) {
- drm_dbg_kms(dev, "Couldn't calculate base_vtotal: %pe\n", ERR_PTR(ret));
+ drm_dbg_kms(dev, "Invalid VRR fixed target rate: %pe\n", ERR_PTR(ret));
return ret;
}

- /*
- * Even at its fastest, it can't go faster than the mode, so
- * clamp to avoid imprecisely rounded mode_refresh values we
- * can't do anything about from ruining our day.
- */
- vrr_state->base_vtotal = max(vrr_state->base_vtotal, mode->crtc_vtotal);
+ if (!is_fixed) {
+ vrr_state->dynamic = true;
+
+ if (vrr_state->vrr_min_n) {
+ if (!vrr_state->vrr_min_d)
+ return -EINVAL;
+
+ if (cmp_fraction(vrr_state->vrr_min_n, vrr_state->vrr_min_d,
+ min_vfreq_n * 1000, 1001) < 0) {
+ drm_dbg_kms(dev, "Target min (%u/%u) < supported min (%u/%u)\n",
+ vrr_state->vrr_min_n, vrr_state->vrr_min_d,
+ min_vfreq_n, min_vfreq_d);
+ return -EINVAL;
+ }
+ min_vfreq_n = vrr_state->vrr_min_n;
+ min_vfreq_d = vrr_state->vrr_min_d;
+ }
+ if (vrr_state->vrr_max_n) {
+ if (!vrr_state->vrr_max_d)
+ return -EINVAL;
+
+ if (cmp_fraction(vrr_state->vrr_max_n, vrr_state->vrr_max_d,
+ max_vfreq_n, max_vfreq_d) > 0) {
+ drm_dbg_kms(dev, "Target max (%u/%u) > supported max (%u/%u)\n",
+ vrr_state->vrr_max_n, vrr_state->vrr_max_d,
+ max_vfreq_n, max_vfreq_d);
+ return -EINVAL;
+ }
+ max_vfreq_n = vrr_state->vrr_max_n;
+ max_vfreq_d = vrr_state->vrr_max_d;
+ }
+ if (cmp_fraction(min_vfreq_n, min_vfreq_d, max_vfreq_n, max_vfreq_d) > 0) {
+ drm_dbg_kms(dev, "Target max (%u/%u) > target min (%u/%u)\n",
+ max_vfreq_n, max_vfreq_d, min_vfreq_n, min_vfreq_d);
+ return -EINVAL;
+ }
+
+ ret = hdmi_calculate_vtotal(mode, max_vfreq_n, max_vfreq_d,
+ &vrr_state->base_vtotal, NULL, NULL);
+ if (ret) {
+ drm_dbg_kms(dev, "Couldn't calculate base_vtotal: %pe\n", ERR_PTR(ret));
+ return ret;
+ }
+
+ /*
+ * Even at its fastest, it can't go faster than the mode, so
+ * clamp to avoid imprecisely rounded mode_refresh values we
+ * can't do anything about from ruining our day.
+ */
+ vrr_state->base_vtotal = max(vrr_state->base_vtotal,
+ mode->crtc_vtotal);
+ }

if (cmp_fraction(min_vfreq_n, min_vfreq_d, mode_refresh, 1) >= 0) {
/* refresh <= VRR min, don't do VRR vtotal adjustment */
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_crtc_helper.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_crtc_helper.c
index 4ffb3b0b7878..dd696f0c5016 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_crtc_helper.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_crtc_helper.c
@@ -838,6 +838,22 @@ int drm_crtc_helper_set_config(struct drm_mode_set *set,
}
EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_crtc_helper_set_config);

+bool drm_crtc_helper_vrr_is_fixed_rate(const struct drm_crtc_vrr_state *vrr)
+{
+ if (!vrr->vrr_min_n)
+ return false;
+
+ if (!vrr->vrr_min_d || !vrr->vrr_max_d)
+ return false;
+
+ if (mul_u32_u32(vrr->vrr_min_n, vrr->vrr_max_d) ==
+ mul_u32_u32(vrr->vrr_min_d, vrr->vrr_max_n))
+ return true;
+
+ return false;
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_crtc_helper_vrr_is_fixed_rate);
+
/**
* drm_crtc_helper_vrr_flush - Update VRR state on frame ready
* @crtc_state: pointer to &struct drm_crtc_state of CRTC that has a new frame ready
@@ -864,6 +880,9 @@ bool drm_crtc_helper_vrr_flush(struct drm_crtc_state *crtc_state)
return false;
}

+ if (drm_crtc_helper_vrr_is_fixed_rate(vrr))
+ return false;
+
if (vrr->cur_vtotal == vrr->base_vtotal)
return false;

@@ -889,10 +908,21 @@ bool drm_crtc_helper_vrr_vsync(struct drm_crtc_state *crtc_state)
struct drm_crtc_vrr_state *vrr = &crtc_state->vrr_state;
u16 old_vtotal = vrr->cur_vtotal;

- if (!crtc_state->vrr_enabled)
+ if (!crtc_state->vrr_enabled) {
vrr->cur_vtotal = 0;
- else
+ vrr->cur_err = 0;
+ } else if (drm_crtc_helper_vrr_is_fixed_rate(vrr)) {
+ if (vrr->cur_err >= (int) (vrr->denom / 2)) {
+ vrr->cur_err -= vrr->denom;
+ vrr->cur_vtotal = vrr->base_vtotal + 1;
+ } else {
+ vrr->cur_vtotal = vrr->base_vtotal;
+ }
+
+ vrr->cur_err += vrr->per_frame_err;
+ } else {
vrr->cur_vtotal = vrr->max_vtotal;
+ }

if (abs_diff(vrr->cur_vtotal, old_vtotal) > 1)
vrr->dynamic = true;
diff --git a/include/drm/drm_crtc.h b/include/drm/drm_crtc.h
index 9004f7c2f21e..cfd051ccbd2e 100644
--- a/include/drm/drm_crtc.h
+++ b/include/drm/drm_crtc.h
@@ -70,6 +70,9 @@ struct drm_crtc_vrr_state {
u32 vrr_min_d;
u32 vrr_max_n;
u32 vrr_max_d;
+ u32 denom;
+ u32 per_frame_err;
+ int cur_err;
u16 base_vtotal;
bool dynamic;
};
diff --git a/include/drm/drm_crtc_helper.h b/include/drm/drm_crtc_helper.h
index 0c8c11ea36dd..7d7b75045bd9 100644
--- a/include/drm/drm_crtc_helper.h
+++ b/include/drm/drm_crtc_helper.h
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ struct drm_framebuffer;
struct drm_mode_set;
struct drm_modeset_acquire_ctx;
struct drm_crtc_state;
+struct drm_crtc_vrr_state;

void drm_helper_disable_unused_functions(struct drm_device *dev);
int drm_crtc_helper_set_config(struct drm_mode_set *set,
@@ -63,6 +64,7 @@ int drm_helper_connector_dpms(struct drm_connector *connector, int mode);
void drm_helper_resume_force_mode(struct drm_device *dev);
int drm_helper_force_disable_all(struct drm_device *dev);

+bool drm_crtc_helper_vrr_is_fixed_rate(const struct drm_crtc_vrr_state *vrr);
bool drm_crtc_helper_vrr_flush(struct drm_crtc_state *crtc_state);
bool drm_crtc_helper_vrr_vsync(struct drm_crtc_state *crtc_state);


--
2.56.0