Intel has released the first release candidate for its Linux NPU driver, version 1.39.0, allowing developers to validate it before the final version is available. This update includes an upgraded NPU compiler and Level Zero, firmware for various chip families, and the newly documented intel-npu-smi monitoring tool for tracking NPU performance. The re-enabling of the Compiler-In-Plugin path allows for on-device runtime compilation, improving performance for AI workloads. Users are advised to test the release candidate before the final release and to prepare for changes in applications that utilize runtime compilation

Intel NPU Driver 1.39.0 RC1 Now Available for Linux Testing

Intel released the first candidate for its Linux NPU driver, version 1.39.0, to give developers a chance to validate before the final tag. The drop upgrades the bundled NPU compiler and Level Zero to v1.33.1, ships firmware for the 37xx, 40xx, and 50xx chip families, and re-enables the Compiler-In-Plugin path that Intel favors for on-device runtime compilation. A highlighted addition is the intel-npu-smi monitoring tool, now formally documented so users can watch NPU power, frequency, and utilization from the terminal. Production users should test the RC first and hold off on broad rollout until the final v1.39.0 release lands.

Intel NPU Driver 1.39.0 RC1 Now Available for Linux Testing @ Linux Compatible