As usual, a new Linux kernel release has arrived on schedule, bringing numerous improvements. Released just two months after the previous version, it continues the fast-paced development cycle we've come to expect.
So nothing horrible or unexpected happened last week, so I've tagged and pushed out the final 6.13 release.
It's mostly some final driver fixes (gpu and networking dominating - normal), with some doc updates too. And various little stuff all over. The shortlog is appended for people who want to see the details (and, as always, it's just the shortlog for the last week, the full 6.13 log is obviously much too big)
Linux Kernel 6.13: What's New?
Unlike the previous release, Linux 6.13 is not a long-term support (LTS) release, so expect a short period of official maintenance and updates—typically around 9–12 weeks—before it reaches end-of-life.
If you need longer support, sticking with an LTS release is a better option.
Let's dive into the key highlights of this release now:
AMD Upgrades
Intel Refinements
Miscellaneous Changes
AMD Upgrades
Owners of AMD 3D V-Cache CPUs will be happy to hear that Linux kernel 6.13 ships with a performance optimizer driver that helps improve the performance and handling of such processors on Linux.
If you didn't know, 3D V-Cache is a technique where additional layers of L3 cache are stacked on top of a processor to improve performance across various workloads that benefit from large, fast cache memory. AMD pulled this off in collaboration with TSMC, using their 3DFabric tech.
In the graphics department, the AMDGPU/AMDKFD kernel driver was improved to allow the AMDGPU Display Core (DC) code to build properly on LoongArch hardware. This enables recent AMD Radeon GPUs to work on LoongArch-equipped systems.
Similarly, there is an upgrade that enables the “zero RPM” fan feature for the Radeon RX 7000 series of graphics cards. This mode allows the fans to remain idle when the GPU temperature is low, reducing noise and power consumption during lighter workloads or idle periods.
Intel Refinements
On the other side, there are many refinements for Intel too, starting with initial display support for Xe3 graphics, which is set to debut on the upcoming Panther Lake CPUs. These processors are set for a mid-2025 launch, but things could change.
There is also additional preparation for the upcoming Intel Xeon Clearwater Forest CPUs, which are aimed at data centers. The Linux kernel now includes support for In-Field Scan (IFS) via the IFS driver, allowing for silicon testing during deployment and later monitoring as the hardware ages.
Miscellaneous Changes
We wrap this up with some other interesting changes that include:
Inclusion of atomic write support for EXT4 and XFS.
Improved behavior when performing USB4 debugging.
Support for many older Apple iPad and iPhone devices.
Real-Time kernel support (PREEMPT_RT) for LoongArch CPUs.
Support for Secure Digital Ultra Capacity (SDUC) memory cards.
Installing Linux Kernel 6.13
If you are running a rolling release distro, then you will be among the first ones to receive this kernel release on your system. But, for the rest of us, we will have to wait before our distro offers it as part of a point release or a major release.
Abhishek Prakash
