3 ms·

Any details on the graphics chip it apparently uses to drive the HDMI (so much for "workstation grade"…) output? Libre graphics hardware is quite rare, virtual

by creshal 11y ago

Any details on the graphics chip it apparently uses to drive the HDMI (so much for "workstation grade"…) output? Libre graphics hardware is quite rare, virtually everything on the market requires binary firmware blobs. (As do all mass storage devices…)

pgeorgi 11y ago
The brand is Aspeed, blob-free operation but 2d acceleration only, found in server boards. This is not an SGI-style Iris GL workstation.
- creshal 11y ago
  Ah, shame.
  - rbanffy 11y ago
    It has 4 x8 PCIe slots.
    - loeg 11y ago
      And 2 x16 PCIe.
    - creshal 11y ago
      I've seen that. But where would I find a completely blob-free graphics card to plug in there? Neither AMD nor Nvidia offer any right now.
      - rbanffy 11y ago
        Not sure if it'd work but if the blob is to be loaded on the card, it would be just like a x86 setup - it should work as long as the host part is compilable for POWER.
        dmm 11y ago
        Radeons work without kernel blobs, just binary firmwares that are loaded on the card.
        creshal 11y ago
        Yes, but the whole bloody point here is blob-free operations! Otherwise I can just stick to an x86 setup and enjoy its better processor.