Linus Torvalds announces significant new updates & improvements and also teases version 6.1
Linux users better get ready to use a fresh new version of the Linux kernel in form of 6.0. The main man himself – Mr. Linus Torvalds announced the big update. The new version offers several performance enhancements, AArch64 architecture support, security improvements, a new runtime verification system & many more.
A closer look at all the new feature additions
Processor
- AMD Zen processors would perform better with the new kernel, courtesy of better NUMA optimization.
- Ratbleed exploits have been fixed for both Intel & AMD systems.
- Lenovo Thinkpad laptops with AMD chipsets would get better power-handling, running the new kernel, thus improving efficiency.
- AMD Ryzen 7000 desktop processors would benefit from new audio hardware support.
- Multiple Broadcom SoCs get support for the new kernel.
- Several RISC-V processor codes were introduced with the objective of future support.
GPU
- More optimizations were made for Intel Alchemist GPUs & AMD RDNA-3 GPUs.
- More frame buffer fixes for Atari GPUs.
- Intel Meteor Lake’s in-built GPU gets support in this kernel.
Storage
- Popular file systems have been improved & updated.
- Improved memory handling in SSDs, better optimization & more.
- Improved multi-channel operation over the network.
Additional Improvements
- Includes future support codes for WiFi 7.
- Improved security via an improved run-time verification system.
- Raspberry Pi kernel driver support.
- LoongArch architecture support.
- Support for Qualcomm Snapdragon 8xc Gen3.
Final Thoughts
Linux Arch users should be able to get their hands on this kernel by 7th November 2023 via the monthly ISO update. Ubuntu & Fedora users would have to wait a bit longer. Users should also be excited about the 6.1 release. It is set to have support for Rust programming language & many more features. It looks like Linux users have their work cut out for them in the coming months!
