Today the first Linux kernel patch was posted for Intel’s Nova Lake as the anticipated successor to the Intel Core Ultra Series 2 “Arrow Lake” processors. Today’s patch confirms that Intel Nova Lake will be the first Intel processors under their new “Family 18” umbrella.
Intel Linux engineers last year began preparing for the end of the Intel “Family 6” era of processors in use for 20+ years. Due to relying on “Family 6” CPU identification for so long and a long list of model IDs during that time, Intel engineers had to refactor a lot of their Linux kernel code to begin checking more for “Family 6” and quitting modern assumptions that the Intel CPUs were just in that family, unlike AMD processors that routinely shift their Family ID along with the Model ID.
That refactoring of the Intel Family and Model ID was wrapped up a few Linux kernel releases ago to prepare for the post-Family-6 Intel processors. Patches posted at the end of last year confirmed Xeon 7 “Diamond Rapids” will usher in Family 19 while there have also been patch references to Family 18 too. With today’s Nova Lake patch it’s confirmed to be the first processors in Family 18.
Today’s patch adds Nova Lake as Family 18 Model 1 and Nova Lake L as Family 18 Model 3. While a rather mundane patch at face value, this is needed for other Linux kernel patches to be published that will depend upon the new INTEL_NOVALAKE and INTEL_NOVALAKE_L definitions. Those other Intel Nova Lake patches for Linux drivers will be able to move forward once today’s patch is queued.
Now knowing Diamond Rapids is Family 19 and Nova Lake is Family 18, it will be interesting to see if Intel will be using Family 19 for representing their server processors moving forward and Family 18 for desktop/mobile processors.
Intel Nova Lake desktop CPUs aren’t expected to launch until late 2026 and the mobile parts after that, so there still is plenty of time for all the open-source Linux driver support to materialize. Given Intel’s traditions though we’ll likely be seeing more of their Nova Lake driver enablement patches to soon surface for ensuring the support is upstreamed well in advance of the retail hardware availability. We’ll see if they can even get it squared away by next spring for working Nova Lake into the likes of Ubuntu 26.04 LTS.
Stay tuned to Phoronix for coverage on the more exciting Intel Nova Lake patches that will come.
