Linux Kernel 6.11 Release Candidate 1 now available, brings support for Qualcomm SDX wireless chips and Intel Battlemage GPUs

With the recent launch of the latest stable Linux Kernel (6.10), all eyes are looking to the next version. The first Release Candidate for Linux Kernel 6.11 is now available. 

Linux Kernel 6.11-rc1 (as the candidate is called) brings a fair few updates to the most popular open-source operating system in the world. The feature most likely to catch users' interest is the new driver subsystem for wireless chips included in Qualcomm's silicon, particularly the Snapdragon X platform. This should make Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite laptops (like the Asus Vivobook S 15, curr. available on Amazon for $1299.99) more viable in the future.

(It should be mentioned that Linux currently has massive issues booting on Snapdragon X machines, and the new Kernel doesn't seem to address the main issues preventing usability.)

The new Kernel brings better support for Intel's Arrow Lake and Lunar Lake CPUs, NUMA support for RISC-V systems, and more. Speaking of Intel, Linux Kernel 6.11-rc1 brings support for Intel's Battlemage dGPUs. Support for AMD's RDNA4 (which landed earlier this month) continues to improve with this candidate.

There are also several updates focused on virtualization, including improved support for virtual CPU hotplugs in ARM64 ACPI systems, updates to KVM support across various architectures, and more. 

The final release for Linux Kernel 6.11 is expected to launch sometime in September of this year, and new Release Candidates are expected weekly as that release date grows closer. 

You can download Linux Kernel 6.11-rc1 here.