Linux 6.17 Kernel Gets a Performance Boost for Gaming Laptops

The new Linux 6.17 kernel introduces a unified standard for the so-called “performance button” increasingly found on gaming laptops. This key now has an assigned unique code—KEY_PERFORMANCE—allowing Linux systems to properly recognize it and respond to its activation.

Such keys appear, for example, on Dell and Alienware laptops—branded G-Mode on Dell devices and Performance Boost on Alienware. The core idea is to enable users to trigger a high-performance mode with a single press, without delving into the operating system’s power management settings. With kernel-level support, this function will now work natively, eliminating the need for workarounds.

The new key code—0x2bd—was proposed by developer Marcos Alano, who noted that a standardized designation will simplify integration for user interfaces and applications, enabling them to automatically launch the appropriate performance profile upon activation.

The update has already been merged into the Linux 6.17 input subsystem patch set, with the release of the first preview build—Linux 6.17-rc1—expected in the coming days.