Linux Kernel 6.5 Has Been Released
The newest Linux kernel, version 6.5, now includes initial support for two very exciting features.
The latest iteration of the Linux kernel has arrived and it contains some pretty cool features. And, according to Linus Torvalds (the creator of Linux), this release "...has been going smoothly."
There are plenty of the usual code clean-ups, fixes, and upgrades to existing features. But taking the limelight for this release is the initial support for USB4 and WiFi 7.
WiFi 7 supports the 6Ghz band and has a max data rate of 23 Gbps, so getting this rolled into the kernel should give Linux a big boost in network speeds. As well, USB4 supports up to 80 Gps data transfer rate, so there's another area that will give Linux an increase. Remember, however, this is just initial support, so don't expect to see these newer technologies working just yet.
Other changes added to the 6.5 kernel include fixes for Intel P-State CPU scaling, three modes for amd-pstate (active, passive, and guided autonomous), Btrfs performance and storage optimizations, rumble support for the latest iterations of Xbox controllers, overclocking support for AMD Radeon RX 7000 GPUs, optimizations for AMD and Intel graphics drivers, more Rust code, support for new hotkeys found on ThinkBook 14s Yoga ITL, and much more.
You can read the full list of changes and fixes in this post by Torvalds.
When the Linux 6.5 kernel hits your distribution will vary. Rolling release distributions like Arch and Fedora (a semi-rolling release) should see it soon. Ubuntu (and its derivatives) should see 6.5 along with Ubuntu 23.10.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Linux Kernel 6.13 Offers Improvements for AMD/Apple Users
The latest Linux kernel is now available, and it includes plenty of improvements, especially for those who use AMD or Apple-based systems.
-
Gnome 48 Debuts New Audio Player
To date, the audio player found within the Gnome desktop has been meh at best, but with the upcoming release that all changes.
-
Plasma 6.3 Ready for Public Beta Testing
Plasma 6.3 will ship with KDE Gear 24.12.1 and KDE Frameworks 6.10, along with some new and exciting features.
-
Budgie 10.10 Scheduled for Q1 2025 with a Surprising Desktop Update
If Budgie is your desktop environment of choice, 2025 is going to be a great year for you.
-
Firefox 134 Offers Improvements for Linux Version
Fans of Linux and Firefox rejoice, as there's a new version available that includes some handy updates.
-
Serpent OS Arrives with a New Alpha Release
After months of silence, Ikey Doherty has released a new alpha for his Serpent OS.
-
HashiCorp Cofounder Unveils Ghostty, a Linux Terminal App
Ghostty is a new Linux terminal app that's fast, feature-rich, and offers a platform-native GUI while remaining cross-platform.
-
Fedora Asahi Remix 41 Available for Apple Silicon
If you have an Apple Silicon Mac and you're hoping to install Fedora, you're in luck because the latest release supports the M1 and M2 chips.
-
Systemd Fixes Bug While Facing New Challenger in GNU Shepherd
The systemd developers have fixed a really nasty bug amid the release of the new GNU Shepherd init system.
-
AlmaLinux 10.0 Beta Released
The AlmaLinux OS Foundation has announced the availability of AlmaLinux 10.0 Beta ("Purple Lion") for all supported devices with significant changes.