**Intel Xe3P Graphics Architecture Linked to Nova Lake, Coming with Limited Ray-Tracing Support**
Intel has begun integrating support for its upcoming “Xe3P” graphics architecture into the Linux kernel and Mesa graphics libraries. Initially announced alongside the Xe3 architecture, Xe3P was primarily associated with the Crescent Island data center GPU. However, recent Linux kernel patches reveal that Xe3P will also be tied to Intel’s next-generation Nova Lake CPU family for desktop and mobile platforms.
### Xe3P Support Arriving in Linux 6.19
Phoronix reports that Intel has submitted the first patches for the Xe3P kernel graphics driver, expected to be included in the Linux 6.19 kernel cycle. These updates aim to expand open-source support for Intel’s next-gen GPU architecture, enabling Linux users to experience day-one compatibility when Nova Lake launches.
In parallel, Mesa 26.0 has introduced initial support for Xe3P. The merged patches reveal multiple Nova Lake variants, including the S, U, H, HX, and UL families. These are incorporated within Mesa’s Iris Gallium3D (OpenGL) and ANV (Vulkan) drivers, confirming Intel’s intent to provide broad platform coverage across its next-generation CPUs and integrated GPUs.
### Current State: Experimental and Limited Features
At this stage, the patches primarily add new PCI Device IDs to establish groundwork rather than fully enable all features. This approach mirrors Intel’s earlier rollout process for Xe3-based GPUs in Panther Lake and Wildcat Lake series.
Importantly, Xe3P graphics support on Nova Lake is still experimental. Both the Linux kernel and Mesa drivers require users to manually enable support using a “force_probe” environment variable, indicating that the code is not yet production-ready. It is anticipated that Xe3P support will stabilize over the coming kernel release cycles.
### Limited Ray-Tracing Support Across Nova Lake Variants
A key detail concerns ray-tracing (RT) capabilities. Not all Nova Lake variants will support hardware-accelerated ray tracing. Specifically, the Nova Lake-S, HX, and UL models appear to lack the necessary hardware. Conversely, the Nova Lake-U and Nova Lake-H families are expected to include RT support.
### Looking Ahead
With these developments, Intel is preparing a robust ecosystem for its upcoming Nova Lake CPUs, ensuring Linux users will have early access to the latest integrated graphics features. While full functionality remains on the horizon, the groundwork laid by these kernel and Mesa updates signals exciting updates for desktop and mobile platforms next year.
https://wccftech.com/intel-xe3p-spotted-in-latest-linux-kernel-patches-confirms-pairing-with-nova-lake-cpus/
