- Linux 7.0 officially supports AMD Zen 6 and Intel Nova Lake processors
- Intel Xeon processors get specialized accelerators to reduce CPU core workload
- Monitoring tools now report L2 cache statistics on newer Intel CPUs
Linux kernel version 7.0 has officially been released, adding support for the latest AMD Zen 6 processors and Intel Nova Lake and Diamond Rapids chips.
The system can now automatically optimize performance on newer Intel CPUs, allowing applications to run more efficiently without manual adjustments.
Intel Xeon processors also get new accelerators that handle specialized tasks, reducing the load on the main CPU cores.
Specialized accelerators lighten CPU workloads
Monitoring tools like Turbostat now report additional hardware metrics, including L2 cache statistics for newer Intel chips, giving users and administrators better insight into performance.
These improvements are particularly relevant for Linux laptops, desktops, and servers that require efficient use of resources while running demanding workloads.
On the graphics side, Linux 7.0 adds support for upcoming AMD graphics hardware and integrated Intel Nova Lake displays.
The update also fixes bugs and improves stability on a wide range of existing configurations.
There is improved support for peripherals with Apple’s USB-C PHY controllers, improved sensor monitoring on laptops and motherboards, and better handling for storage devices like SPI NAND.
These changes make it easier for users to run Linux on different devices without worrying about driver issues, and should help ensure smoother daily operation on both custom Linux laptops and desktops.
Additionally, Linux 7.0 introduces multiple improvements to file systems and memory management.
EXT4, F2FS and exFAT file systems now handle large data transfers more efficiently, improving overall file performance, working alongside improvements to memory management that reduce lag and make the system feel faster.
Graphics drivers, including Nouveau, now benefit from optimizations such as large page support to improve performance on certain GPUs.
Non-blocking timestamps, standardized error reporting, and support for the Rust language continue to be integrated, helping to create a more predictable and stable environment for both developers and end users.
The update extends beyond AMD and Intel CPUs. ARM64 processors now support Atomic LS64 instructions.
RISC-V CPUs receive CFI support in user space and the SpacemiT K3 RVA 23 SoC is also supported.
This broad platform coverage ensures that Linux distributions can use Linux 7.0 effectively on desktops, servers, and cloud storage solutions.
The kernel is expected to become the default for Ubuntu 26.04 LTS and Fedora 44, providing millions of users with improved hardware compatibility and performance.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to receive news, reviews and opinions from our experts in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form and receive regular updates from us on WhatsApp also.
