Intel Compute Runtime 26.35 Enables LEO by Default for Nova Lake-S
Friday, September 25, 2026By Indie Kings | September 25, 2026
Updated September 25, 2026: Intel Compute Runtime 26.35.39758.10 enables the OpenCL LEO driver by default for the Nova Lake platform on Linux. Intel's release lists Nova Lake as early support with OpenCL 3.0 and Level Zero 1.17, while Phoronix reports initial Portable ISA support in the same stack.
Important limit: Intel labels Nova Lake support “Early support,” which means no quality expectations. The release is driver and compute-stack news, not independent proof of application performance.
Image: Intel PISA compute runtime diagram. Credit: Phoronix.
What Intel released
Intel's official GitHub release 26.35.39758.10 was published on September 17, 2026. The release includes the Intel OpenCL ICD and Intel Level Zero GPU runtime packages, along with related components used to build the runtime.
The release page lists Nova Lake as an early-support platform. It also documents installation packages, SHA256 sums, supported quality levels, and known limitations. That level of detail makes this a useful software-release source for developers preparing Nova Lake systems.
| Release component | Intel listing | Nova Lake relevance |
|---|---|---|
intel-opencl-icd | OpenCL runtime package | Provides OpenCL support for the platform |
intel-level-zero-gpu | Level Zero GPU runtime package | Provides the Level Zero runtime used by newer compute paths |
| Compute Runtime version | 26.35.39758.10 | Current Intel release used for the reported LEO default |
| Nova Lake quality | Early support | No production quality expectation |
Why LEO matters for Nova Lake-S
Intel's release notes say LEO support is enabled by default for the NVL platform. Phoronix describes LEO as an OpenCL implementation built on Level Zero APIs, rather than direct OpenCL-to-hardware execution through the existing OpenCL driver.
That distinction matters for developers. A workload using OpenCL may reach the new runtime path, but the release does not guarantee that every application will use LEO or that the path will be faster than the existing driver.
- OpenCL LEO: Enabled by default for Nova Lake in this release.
- Level Zero: The runtime remains the underlying API path for LEO.
- Existing Intel GPUs: Phoronix says LEO remains experimental for older integrated and discrete GPUs.
- Software requirement: Older Level Zero runtime packages can prevent OpenCL from working correctly on Nova Lake.
OpenCL and Level Zero support
Intel's quality table lists Nova Lake as early support with OpenCL 3.0 and Level Zero 1.17. The same table lists production support for several existing Intel platforms, making the Nova Lake status difference explicit.
| Platform class | Quality listed by Intel | OpenCL | Level Zero | WSL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Lake | Early support | 3.0 | 1.17 | N/A |
| Arrow Lake | Production | 3.0 | 1.17 | Yes |
| Panther Lake | Production | 3.0 | 1.17 | Yes |
| Battlemage | Production | 3.0 | 1.17 | Yes |
“Early support” means Intel is not promising the same API conformance or deployment quality as the production rows. Developers should test their actual application, driver, kernel, and firmware combination rather than treating the table as a certification list.
What PISA adds
Phoronix reports initial Intel PISA support in the 26.35.39758.10 compute runtime. Intel describes PISA as a Portable ISA specification for Intel GPUs, intended to give compilers a stable, portable target and to support close-to-metal programming models.
The PISA work is separate from the claim that LEO is enabled by default. PISA is a programming and compiler interface; LEO is part of the OpenCL and Level Zero runtime path. Neither feature alone establishes a performance result for a Nova Lake-S workstation.
Runtime limits and test guidance
Intel lists a known limitation: OpenCL on Nova Lake does not work with Level Zero runtime packages older than 26.35.39758.10. Intel lists upgrading the runtime, removing the old package, or setting an environment variable as possible workarounds.
Developers should record the exact runtime versions and test both API discovery and actual workload execution. A runtime that loads successfully may still expose incomplete features, and an early-support platform may change as Intel updates the stack.
FAQ
What changed in Intel Compute Runtime 26.35.39758.10?
Intel says the release enables OpenCL LEO by default for the Nova Lake platform and adds initial PISA support according to Phoronix.
What quality level does Intel assign to Nova Lake?
Intel lists Nova Lake as early support, with no quality expectations.
Which APIs are listed for Nova Lake?
The release table lists OpenCL 3.0 and Level Zero 1.17, with WSL marked not applicable.
Does LEO mean every OpenCL application uses the new path?
No. LEO is enabled by default in the runtime, but application behavior and driver use still require testing.
What is the old-runtime limitation?
Intel says OpenCL on Nova Lake does not work with Level Zero runtime packages older than 26.35.39758.10.
Is PISA a performance guarantee?
No. PISA is a portable GPU programming model. The release does not provide an independent benchmark for Nova Lake-S.
Bottom Line
Intel Compute Runtime 26.35.39758.10 is a meaningful Nova Lake software-enablement release because it turns on LEO by default for the platform and documents the required Level Zero runtime version. The release also lays groundwork for PISA, but Intel classifies Nova Lake as early support. Treat this as a developer platform milestone, not a performance or retail-launch announcement.
Sources: Official Intel Compute Runtime release | Phoronix LEO and PISA report
Related: Intel Linux graphics tooling coverage | Nova Lake launch schedule coverage