Intel preps for PCIe 6.0 inferno with PCIe thottling driver for Linux — mechanism reduces SSD bandwidth when the drive gets too hot

Intel’s work on developing a PCIe Cooling Driver for Linux users has reached a significant milestone. According to a report published by Phoronix, the driver is ready to merge with the upcoming Linux 6.13 kernel. That means Linux systems packing PCIe storage with thermal challenges should handle better when the updated OS becomes available sometime in November. Such measures will probably become all the more important with PCIe 6.0 on the horizon.

We previously reported that Intel’s dev team was preparing this PCIe Cooling Driver for Linux in May, and now we have the first harvestable fruit from their labor. Tom’s Hardware readers will be aware of the ramp-up in thermal issues with the move from PCIe 3.0 to the current pinnacle of PCIe 5.0 storage. The best SSDs available for PCs and consoles, like the PS5, use PCIe 5.0 technology – but cooling needs to be considered.