Nova Lake S Adds 7 GPU IDs to Linux 7.3

Intel’s next-generation processor “Nova Lake S” is steadily gaining integrated GPU support in the Linux kernel. On July 4, 2026, local time, the first pull request for the Intel Xe driver targeting Linux 7.3 was submitted, adding new graphics PCI device IDs for Nova Lake S. According to Phoronix, this move follows the drm-intel-next pull request posted earlier this week, keeping the enhancement of Nova Lake support in the Intel GPU driver code a hot topic.

Nova Lake S Xe3P Graphics

The integrated GPU in Nova Lake S adopts the “Xe3P” architecture. This is Intel’s next-generation graphics core, and the Xe kernel driver for Linux is advancing its support.

The new PCI device IDs added in this pull request are 0xD74A and 0xD74B. Both are recognized as new parts for Nova Lake S. Meanwhile, the 0xD744 device ID was removed from the list. This ID may no longer correspond to a Nova Lake S product, or it may have been only a pre-production / early engineering model.

With this update, the Xe Linux driver now recognizes a total of seven PCI graphics device IDs for Nova Lake S. However, some may be reserved for pre-production hardware or intended for future products that are not yet planned.

What the Seven PCI IDs Imply

PCI device IDs are essential for an operating system to identify hardware and load the appropriate driver. Having seven IDs suggests that Nova Lake S will come in multiple SKUs or variations.

For the desktop-oriented Nova Lake S, like previous Intel processors, different device IDs will be assigned depending on the presence and performance tier of the integrated GPU. The number seven indicates that a wide lineup from entry-level to high-end is likely planned.

The removal of 0xD744 could be due to changes in product plans or the discontinuation of engineering samples. Intel sometimes revises device ID assignments during development, and this change is likely part of that process.

Resolving HuC Firmware Dependency

This pull request also includes an important change for hardware from Nova Lake onward: starting with the Media 35 engine, the Protected Xe Path (PXP) feature no longer requires HuC firmware.

PXP is a content protection feature in Intel graphics. Previously, the HuC (HEVC/H.265 coprocessor) firmware had to be loaded by the kernel for PXP to function. However, starting with the Nova Lake generation, the HuC firmware will be loaded by userspace. This eliminates the kernel driver’s dependency on HuC, relaxing the conditions for using PXP.

This change is delivered along with improvements to DRM (Direct Rendering Manager) RAS (Reliability, Availability, Serviceability) features, as well as other fixes and cleanups. The patches for the Xe driver targeting Linux 7.3 have already been published as a pull request, with further feature additions expected in the coming weeks.

Outlook for Linux 7.3 Merge

The merge window for Linux 7.3 is expected to open in late August 2026. This drm-xe-next pull request represents the first batch. More Nova Lake support patches and additional graphics features are anticipated.

Intel is prioritizing Nova Lake S support in its kernel driver development. The Xe driver is the next-generation Intel GPU driver that will replace the traditional i915 driver, and support for new architectures like Xe3P will be carried out in this driver.

For Linux users, it is crucial that the kernel correctly recognizes new hardware and maximizes performance. This set of patches lays the foundation for running Linux on machines equipped with Nova Lake S.

Editorial Opinion

The organization of Nova Lake S’s PCI device IDs into seven entries indicates that Intel is planning multiple product variations for this platform. In particular, the integrated GPU based on the Xe3P architecture is likely to cover a wide performance range from entry-level to mid-range. It will be interesting to see whether more IDs are added or removed before the Linux 7.3 merge window. The removal of the HuC firmware dependency is a step forward in both security and maintainability. Managing firmware in userspace reduces kernel-to-firmware version dependencies and enables more flexible updates. This change could improve the convenience of Linux environments for media use cases that require content protection. While such kernel-level groundwork is progressing, the actual release timing and performance of Nova Lake S products remain unclear. As with the BPF JIT hardening in Linux 7.2-rc2, infrastructure preparation is moving ahead.

References

• Phoronix — Published on 2026-07-04T10:26:48.000Z