Intel Sends Out New Linux Driver Patches For "XE_LPD" v13 Display Hardware

Intel sent out their latest open-source Linux driver patches today for their new "XE_LPD" display architecture that will be found with upcoming hardware platforms. XE_LPD features "version 13" display capabilities but not to be confused with "Gen13" graphics as they are beginning to more segregate their different Intel GPU IP blocks.

The Intel "XE_LPD" patches are for their next-gen display architecture, also referred to as version 13 of their display IP. XE_LPD is an evolutionary advancement over Tiger Lake / Rocket Lake / DG1 / Alder Lake. The kernel code sent out today isn't tied to a particular platform at this time but is preparing the Linux driver from the display side for handling this new architecture.

These XE_LPD patches are what in their initial form back in January were first referred to as Intel's "Display13" bring-up while now is carrying the XE_LPD references.

The patches do make clear XE_LPD isn't tied to any Intel "Gen13" graphics, "The arrival of this new display architecture coincides with a general disaggregation of Intel GPUs' architecture version numbering for the different component IP blocks. Going forward it isn't accurate to talk about a platform using INTEL_GEN() anymore since the various IP blocks (graphics, media, display) are moving to independent internal numbering schemes that may have different granularity and move at different cadences."

So this XE_LPD enablement work also includes the restructuring of the Intel Linux kernel driver to rely less on the Intel "Gen" versioning. XE_LPD supports plane strides up to 128KB, power well handling changes, a maximum of 255 watermark lines compared to 31 previously, and VRR changes. Overall though the new XE_LPD "Display13" patches don't reveal much that is exciting as the juicier patches will come with the new hardware platform enablement code.

At the moment this XE_LPD / Display13 work consists of 23 patches out for review. Hardware having this new display block isn't expected for at least another calendar year so there is still plenty of time for this open-source Linux driver work to get squared away and mainlined, thanks to Intel's punctual Linux hardware enablement work they've been keeping up with now for more than one decade of generally rigorous support ahead of launch.