The Linux kernel is a fast evolving beast that gets a new version every few days. In fact it’s so fast that it’s hard to track new features and improvements. We’re going to check exactly that since Linux 5.3 rc1 was released today.
Phoronix is a web site dedicated to Linux news. Michael Larabel, the principal author of Phoronix, is always on track with anything Linux and he made a list of new features and improvements. Very handy. We’re going through a few entries:
Graphics:
- AMDGPU support for AMD Radeon RX 5000 series
- Nouveau support for Nvidia GTX 16 series
- Further HDR display support
- MSM DRM support for Qualcomm Adreno 540
- Computer shader support for Broadcom V3D driver (used by Raspberry Pi 4)
- Amlogic Meson video decoder driver
Processors:
- Intel Speed Select Technology support
- Intel Icelake NNPI support
- Many new ARM SoC support
- Further RISC-V support
- Raspberry Pi CPUFreq driver added to the kernel
- Better tracking of AVX-512 usage by applications
- Official x86 Zhaoxin support
Storage:
Laptops:
- New MacBook keyboard and trackpad support
- ASUS TUF Gaming laptop support
- Chrome OS hardware support improvements
So that’s a lot of improvements. Perhaps for us average users what matters the most is the new GPU drivers, Intel features and maybe the Macbook keyboard and trackpad support.
For more details read the upcoming change log or the phoronix web site.
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