NVIDIA's next-generation GPU architecture Blackwell-Next discovered in Linux 7.2 kernel patches; new architecture development underway.

Next-generation NVIDIA GPU architecture has appeared in Linux 7.2 kernel patches, cleverly listed as "Blackwell-Next."

NVIDIA's GPU architectures are not secret, as the company has long been publishing these architectures in its roadmaps. We knew years before Rubin's release that it would replace Blackwell, and now we also know that Feynman will replace Rubin. While NVIDIA is only just beginning mass production of Rubin, internally the company is already conducting substantial preparation work for the next-generation architecture, even before those architectures are launched.

Phoronix discovered NVIDIA's Blackwell-Next listing in a recent pull request. The update added "CXL DVSEC-based" readiness state polling for Blackwell-Next. However, it remains unclear what exactly NVIDIA means by Blackwell-Next, as both Blackwell Ultra and Rubin are successors to the original Blackwell chip. This update was made to the nvgrace-gpu vfio-pci variant driver.

Adding CXL DVSEC-based readiness state polling for Blackwell-Next to the nvgrace-gpu vfio-pci variant driver, including interruptible lock-free waits to support specification-defined worst-case timeouts. (Ankit Agrawal)

We know that Grace is the CPU paired with Blackwell GPUs, while Vera is the CPU paired with Rubin GPUs. But if we were to speculate, this looks very much like adding support for Rubin in the Linux 7.2 kernel.

Now, some might want to connect this addition to consumer-facing products, and while we would certainly like to see that, unfortunately such is not the case here. NVIDIA has not made any concrete announcements regarding its future consumer products. While there are rumors about an upcoming GeForce RTX 50 "SUPER," I would note that the current graphics memory situation has not been favorable for gamers.

That said, NVIDIA's AI and HPC product lines continue to roll out multiple products equipped with Blackwell, Blackwell Ultra, and now Rubin. Next, NVIDIA will launch Rubin Ultra and Feynman, both of which will bring substantial generational updates, with Feynman introducing an entirely new architecture.