Best libre desktop computer 2024 | Coreboot, Libreboot, Gnuboot

Hardware
82

Finally NVK on Maxwell. :heart_eyes:

/etc/modprobe.d$ vkcube
Selected WSI platform: xcb
Selected GPU 0: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti (NVK GM107), type: DiscreteGpu
Vulkan Version: 1.4.3

Still not on PPC, but X86 TOP LEVEL Vulkan 1.4 without signed blob firmware for Gnu System.
So the best controller it is: ‘GTX 750 Ti OC’.

This means that GNU is on the same level as Linux, Android, Microsoft, Apple regarding Vulkan versions.
So i hope that Maxwell still compatible with Vulkan 1.5 :crossed_fingers:

Next is if Maxwell support VulkanVideoDecode, also plug Vulkan-WEBGPU Accel for Gnu Icecat.

One of my plans on PPC is to have Vulkan level via VGA as DP and HDMI are DRM thanks to Sony and etc. I will super happy with 85hz - Full HD via Libre VGA output powered by Gnu Maxwell GPU.

PPC and GNU makes me very happy and i am always very motivated to do anything for ppc and gnu. :smiley:

NVK :heart:

EDIT 0:

SuperTuxKart Test:

GL Nouveau: 15FPS
GL Zink: 110FPS

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84

X86: I Do Not like this numbers, because something is not right. At the same time i will compare performance on: Amateur GTX and Professional Quadro for Gaming, i need deep more on maxwell - kepler on Zink.
STK: Antarctica Rendering Engine 2.0, still not happy with zink and nvk on my test, as a result: fixed pipeline(Like L5, GLES2). However it is super happy with Android and perhaps Windows too.

My Dream of having Zink and NVK for PPC has not yet come true, as still need to pass all test on x86 to move to ppc = (

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85

glmark2 2023.01

OpenGL Information
GL_VENDOR:      Mesa
GL_RENDERER:    NV117
GL_VERSION:     4.3 (Compatibility Profile) Mesa 25.2.3
Surface Config: buf=32 r=8 g=8 b=8 a=8 depth=24 stencil=0 samples=0
Surface Size:   800x600 windowed

glmark2 Score: 3512

glmark2 2023.01

OpenGL Information
GL_VENDOR:      Mesa
GL_RENDERER:    zink Vulkan 1.3(NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti (NVK GM107) (MESA_NVK))
GL_VERSION:     4.5 (Compatibility Profile) Mesa 25.2.3
Surface Config: buf=32 r=8 g=8 b=8 a=8 depth=24 stencil=0 samples=0
Surface Size:   800x600 windowed

glmark2 Score: 1953

I noticied that Zink is a copy of what Windows OS is doing…

So on my test, Nouveau is better than Zink ATM.

SuperTuxKart v1.5rc2

GL Nouveau: 11FPS
GL Zink: 8 FPS

= (

Of course still not make sense, i will more deeping, to see what is going on.

2 Likes
86

A question about ATI gpu, on Raptor computing I see

AMD Radeon Pro W7600 Workstation Graphics $850.00
AMD Radeon Pro WX7100 Workstation Graphics
AMD Radeon Pro WX9100 Workstation Graphics
Creative X-Fi 7.1 Sound Card
Intel Dual 10GBe Ethernet
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 GPU (Proprietary)
NVIDIA Quadro GV100 32GB GPU (Proprietary)
NVIDIA Tesla T4 16GB GPU (Proprietary)
NVIDIA Tesla V100 16GB GPU (Proprietary)

I see “proprietary” on nvidia gpu and not on amd/ati, this mean are with free firmware and will run on libre kernel without problems? I ever prefer ati to nvidia for graphic quality, font rendering, but my “need” is a gpu passive cooled and must run on libre kernel.

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87

=========================================================================

Looks like the best SuperTuxKart experience is in Steam Deck Oled, i not sure on old steam deck.
I mean full wheels control, and haptic feedback.

I tested STK on Steam Controller, but experience it is not same.
I mean NOT full wheels control, and NOT haptic feedback.

2 Likes
88

Meanwhile I found this as passive cooler, for opteron, what do you think about it?

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Dynatron-Cooler-Socket-Opteron-Passive/dp/B077TQJ9H3

1 Like
89

Your opinion about canoeboot? Seems a good alternative to gnu-boot, they wrote

“Canoeboot removes all binary blobs from coreboot, thereby providing a fully Free Software coreboot distro, unlike Libreboot which has a more pragmatic”

1 Like
90

Big news, nouveau will work in 64k-pagesize on Gnu Linux v6.18+, this will enable Petitboot bootloader on PowerPC.

powerpc

Currently i have blacklisted nouveau driver on Petitboot, otherwise crash on booting.
Currently X86 system it using a obsolete 4k-pagesize. So now i may use nouveau with 64k on powerpc.

So on my powerpc i have to 2 Gpus, 1 for Bootloader-64k and 1 for Gnu OS-4k, so with this news i can use only 1 gpu for all 64k

My other dream is to get Vulkan without BLOBs on Gnu OS on PPC, i very very near/close/whatever.

4 Likes
91

A question for users which already tried gnuboot on Asus KGPE-D16

I read here “missing images” for seabios, what does it mean? At least is readable from serial port the grub menu?

Thanks

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92

I wonder if you guys got the GTX 780 or the GT 730 working stable without freezes on the KGPE-D16. For me these frequent gpu freezes - especially on 2D when doing stuff like screenshots - have been a showstopper (apart from the horrific power consumption, especially with two cpu packages).

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93

A question: what’s wrong with Ubuntu and Fedora? Personally i’m Slackware user (I love it because no package manager so more free to customize it, replace main packages if expert, etc.), but on some containers I use RockyLinux, Fedora, Debian just for a more Linux knowledge (know Linux mean know Suse, Redhat, Centos, Debian, not only Slackware).

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A good alternative can be amd ati, there is only one problem, as I know all firmware for ati gpu modern, are proprietary, I hope i’m wrong.

Atm I will put a list of ati cards which DON’T WORK with gnu-libre kernel (tested)

06:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Caicos [Radeon HD 6450/7450/8450 / R5 230 OEM]

Amd Cedar (no more info atm, maybe in the future when I return to home)

Nvidia chipset which don’t work (tested by me)

Nvidia gp108

report please any chipset which work or not with Linux Libre kernel (which is the “proof” that your hardware is really free of proprrietary stuff)

A curiosity: old Workstation ibm 9111-285 works fine with libre-kernel, only one problem: is really outdated, slow and cpu is full of Bugs, ibm no more support it and firmware is ultra-proprietary even is called “open-firmware” (open? and the sources?), a good alternative is this but only for people with money

Another curiosity and “sadness”: Ibm 9111-285 is a workstation of the first years of 2k (2000-2003 circa) and works fine with gnu-libre kernel because old hardware were free of proprietary firmware, meanwhile modern is full of this spyware of “free-world” industry.

I had a dream: a modern pc without any proprietary stuff: from bios to system, will be reality someday?

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95

Hello. I think that the developer will definitely answer your question, write here:

https://www.gnu.org/software/gnuboot/contact.html

We have an IRC chatroom on Liberat.chat #gnuboot

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96

Ubuntu, Fedora, Steam OS are considered super evil.

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97

Ok. For what reason? Personally I prefer Slackware for more control (no rpm, no deps, you can change what did you want if you are skilled, etc). But Fedora and Ubuntu are not open-source?

I use it on virtual machines, just to be “trained” also for major Linux distributions.

Personally this is my “scale graduate” of “no way to use”

1st place: android (even the free distributions): very “large used” so very large attacked, with virus, fake apps and other, the hardware is usually ultra-proprietary and so no-reliable, i use as phone every kind of mobile phone without internet connection

2nd place: Windows (really heavy and proprietary, connected to a multi and not reliable), I only use Windows 2000 on Virtual machine for old games.

3rd place: Every OS proprietary or connected to majors.

Personally cause of proprietary hw and “delicious” like Intel ME and Amd PSP every pc is became a spyware, actually the solutions are those, I hope they not deserve surprises..

Solution 1:

A pc which run Gnu-boot as firmware, and a distro with gnu-libre kernel

Solution 2:

Buy Thalos workstation if you are rich

Solution 3:

Hope in the future the openppc will release something, even not too powerful also for non-rich people.

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Fedora, Ubuntu, LinuxMint, ArchLNX do not care Gnu but Vendor, thats why super evil as User is being used by this OSes. Slackware do not care Gnu either, however Slackware do not care Vendor either like BSD Philosophy.

Raptor Blackbird is considered for poor people.

:heart_eyes:

IBM is incredible!!!

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99

Only the mainboard is 2000$. Compared to the price of Thalos Workstation is Cheap, but is still too high. A good competitive price can be 400-500$ or maybe 800$. I hope in the future them or some other start to produce a real free workstation without the sh*t of proprietary firmwares, Intel ME or other spywares masked as “facility for remote control” or other bullshit.

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100

Meanwhile in this thread or where did you want report hardware which works on libre-kernel (better if running gnu-boot firmware or canoeboot) so we can support security and freedom as we can do, in the next days I start to put my hardware tested to work with this configuration (only libre-kernel atm, for gnuboot I have to wait months before install on real hardware).

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101

I love my IBM Thinkpad X60 too, which it is Completamente Libre as Gnu Boot and Gnu OS

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102

So I can start the list, I will update it in the future (i included also coreboot, libreboot, but I don’t recommend to use it, gnu-boot is the only real free alternative, coreboot and libreboot anyway are better than proprietary firmware, at least you can disable Intel ME), i also add some info about Intel ME and Amd psp.

CPU

AMD A10-Series A10 5800K A10 5800 (don’t work with gnu-boot as I know, works with some old version of coreboot (removed in the latest versions), no know about proprietary firmware needed, no amd psp

AMD Ryzen 3 3200G (avoid all ryzen serie, they had amd psp which is the “Intel me” of Amd, is impossible to disable it, no free bios support this cpu family atm (2025))

GPU

[AMD/ATI] Caicos [Radeon HD 6450/7450/8450 / R5 230 OEM] (don’t work with gnu-libre, require a proprietary blob, the driver radeon is opensource, the firmware not, X11 don’t start)

Nvidia GP108 (138000a1) (don’t work with gnu-libre, require a proprietary blob, the driver nouveau is opensource, the firmware for this card not, X11 start but no 3d, and a lot of error messages in the log)

LAPTOPS

IBM Thinkpad X60 (works with gnu-libre, gnu-boot) RECOMMENDED

NS5x_NS7xPU (works with dasharo firmware, not tested with other firmwares, expensive, possibility to disable Intel ME, not tested with gnu-libre)

Apple macbook 7.1 2010 (don’t work with any free firmware (gnu-boot, coreboot, libreboot) at 2025, i will test soon for gnu-libre kernel, cpu outdated full of hw bugs still not fixed)

MOTHERBOARDS

Asrock B450M Pro4-F (don’t work with any free firmware (gnu-boot, coreboot, libreboot) at 2025, amd psp

Asrock HDV R4.0 (don’t work with any free firmware (gnu-boot, coreboot, libreboot) at 2025, amd psp

ASUS PRO B550M-C/CSM (don’t work with any free firmware (gnu-boot, coreboot, libreboot) at 2025

ASUS A88XM-E (works with Coreboot 4.18, support removed since 4.19, no amd psp)

ASUS F2A85-M (works with Coreboot 4.18, support removed since 4.19, no amd psp)

ASUS F2A85-M PRO (works with Coreboot 4.18, support removed since 4.19, no amd psp)

WORKSTATIONS

IBM 9111-285 (works with gnu-libre, NO gnu-boot, very outdated, slow but usable, cpu with serious hw bugs still not fixed, kernel 6.* is not recommended because can hang on boot), a notice: is very old hw, it belong to another era in which states don’t use amd psp, intel me and other shit to track users, so I think even without a libre firmware is more safe than more modern hardware with coreboot (and proprietary firmware loaded), PROBABLY!

WIFI

BrosTrend 1800 AX (works with gnu-libre, use this driver) WARNING: works fine as client, give me a lot of problem as AP (disconnections) even with standard Linux kernel

2 Likes