Author Topic: the microcode question  (Read 3058 times)

pocock

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 280
  • Karma: +31/-0
    • View Profile
the microcode question
« on: May 07, 2020, 05:18:02 pm »
Raptor's workstations come with the AMD WX7100 GPU by default

While AMD is officially engaged in the production of the free/open source amdgpu driver, the AMD cards still require some microcode / blobs.

From the perspective of Talos II buyers/users, can anybody make suggestions about the best links/documents for helping decide upon the graphics and GPU strategy?

To put that another way: given that Talos II has VGA and the Blackbird's built-in HDMI can only do Full HD (1080p), if somebody wants to have one or more 4K displays and they don't need 3D, what are the recommended options without any microcode?
Debian Developer
https://danielpocock.com

MauryG5

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 729
  • Karma: +22/-1
    • View Profile
Re: the microcode question
« Reply #1 on: August 09, 2020, 03:44:49 am »
I currently have a 4K display and can use that resolution on my Power system. Also if I run the command to check 3D acceleration enabled, it tells me that it is enabled on my board. I use an AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT to get all of this.

ClassicHasClass

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 443
  • Karma: +34/-0
  • Talospace Earth Orbit
    • View Profile
    • Floodgap
Re: the microcode question
« Reply #2 on: August 10, 2020, 11:16:59 am »
Maury, that doesn't help him because that still requires an AMD blob.

I'm not aware of a fully free 4K framebuffer ... yet. I'm told some people were putting RISC-V to such a task but I haven't heard much further and it might just be wishful thinking.

MPC7500

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 572
  • Karma: +40/-1
    • View Profile
    • Twitter
Re: the microcode question
« Reply #3 on: August 10, 2020, 05:37:05 pm »
What comes to mind is libreSOC. At first I was a bit skeptical, but now it looks promising.

MauryG5

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 729
  • Karma: +22/-1
    • View Profile
Re: the microcode question
« Reply #4 on: August 11, 2020, 07:58:42 am »
I didn't quite understand your question at the time. Sorry... :-)

ClassicHasClass

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 443
  • Karma: +34/-0
  • Talospace Earth Orbit
    • View Profile
    • Floodgap
Re: the microcode question
« Reply #5 on: August 11, 2020, 03:16:03 pm »
Wow, libreSOC seems to have gotten along further than I thought. Worth keeping an eye on.