Linux Kernel 6.8 Arrives With Future-Forward Features
How-To Geek, Monday, March 11th, 2024
Today marks the release of Linux kernel 6.8. This is a relatively "normal" release when compared to last year's Linux kernel 6.7, though it includes several future-forward improvements and bug fixes. Naturally, the merge window for Linux kernel 6.9 will open shortly after this 6.8 release.
Linux creator Linus Torvalds announced the 6.8 release in a Linux Kernel Mailing List message. As Linus notes, the "biggest single new thing" in Linux kernel 6.8 is probably the new Intel Xe DRM driver. This driver is currently disabled by default but provides support for the Intel Xe GPU architecture. It should deliver improved graphics performance on PCs that use Intel Core 11th, 12th and 13th Gen processors or Intel Arc GPUs.
The 6.8 release adds support for "boost" speeds on Intel Core Ultra processors. If you load Linux on a laptop like the ThinkPad X1 Carbon (12th Gen), you should receive the same performance as you would on Windows.