Update:

> Electrical schematics (alpha version) as of December 2018
> have been published.

From two days ago:

Electrical schematics as of September 2019 have been published.
Furthermore, the donation campaign for PCB design has started.

Hi all

Power Progress Community reached its first campaign goal about the notebook electrical schematics and few days ago we started the second one. Now the target is to fund the PCB design.

https://www.powerpc-notebook.org/2019/10/donation-campaign-for-pcb-design-of-the-powerpc-notebook-motherboard/

In addition to that Slimbook collaboration was announced. They will provide the enclosure we need for our Open Hardware PowerPC notebook. https://www.powerpc-notebook.org/2019/09/slimbook-to-provide-the-notebook-chassis

As you can see in the article, ACube and Slimbook are collaborating since the beginning of this year.

If you like the project we will be happy if you can support it in any way you prefer (donating, spreading, collaborating with the team...)

Thanks!

Just a quick reminder: If you like the idea of running Linux on one of the last NXP PowerPC processors, please go ahead and support this project.

If you are only interested in MorphOS, please note that there is no commitment to support this piece of hardware. As the MorphOS FAQ states:


Quote:

I'd say with this thread being 5 years old and the current state of the project, I expect my next MorphOS-Laptop to be AMD.


Note this NOT a statement on how fast I think that ISA switch will happen (or at all) !

> Now the target is to fund the PCB design. [...]
> In addition to that Slimbook collaboration was announced.

See comments #150 and #151 :-)

Unless a big spender joins in it will take a very long time to finish even the prototype. Now that they've proven their ability to actually opensrc the schematics i wonder who we can poke in the side to get interest and spend some serious money...

> Unless a big spender joins in it will take a very long time
> to finish even the prototype.

"we have to finish the PCB design (phase 1A), the fast SI bus simulations (phase 1B) and the prototypes (phase 2) around this summer. We fixed the end of April 2020 as the time-limit for phase 1A, so we have 3 months left to raise the remaining €12500."
https://www.powerpc-notebook.org/2020/01/pcb-design-started-carpe-diem/

Update:

>>> According to the block diagram, there's SATA2 connected (for whatever reason)
>>> and the 4 PCIe controllers are configured with 9 lanes as x4-gen3 (MXM/GPU)
>>> x2-gen2 (4×SATA3) x2-gen2 (MiniPCIe/LTE/WiFi) x1-gen2 (4×USB3).
>>> I just had a closer look at the SerDes lane assignment options of the
>>> T2080: [...] To me it seems the T2080 offers three better PCIe options,
>>> so that only the fourth-best option would be the one chosen by ACube:
>>> 14 PCIe lanes (x4 x4 x4 x2) without SATA2 (using 0xBC + 0x1F config)
>>> 12 PCIe lanes (x4 x4 x2 x2) with SATA2 (using 0xBC + 0x15/0x16 config)
>>> 11 PCIe lanes (x4 x4 x2 x1) without SATA2 (using 0xC8/0xD6 + 0x1F config)
>>> 09 PCIe lanes (x4 x2 x2 x1) with SATA2 (using 0xC8/0xD6 + 0x15/0x16 config)

>> Thanks, good analysis. I'll relay it.

> According to the most recent block diagram, it seems ACube switched
> to the "11 PCIe lanes (x4 x4 x2 x1) without SATA2" option, configured as
> x4-gen3 (MXM/GPU) x4-gen2 (LTE/WiFi) x2-gen2 (4×SATA3) x1-gen2 (2×USB3).

According to the most recent block diagram, it seems ACube finally took my advise (hehe) and switched to the "14 PCIe lanes (x4 x4 x4 x2) without SATA2" option, configured as x4-gen3 (MXM/GPU) x4-gen3 (M.2) x4-gen2 (LTE/WiFi/2×USB3/Audio) x2-gen2 (2×SATA3).

Update:

> (12600 + 11950 + 8800 + 14400 + 12500) EUR = 60250 EUR

Figures are now (12600 + 24000 + 10500 + 14000 + 12500) EUR = 73600 EUR. Seems the project (silently?) got significantly more expensive somewhen in the process.

Update:

> "We fixed the end of April 2020 as the time-limit for phase 1A,
> so we have 3 months left to raise the remaining €12500."
> https://www.powerpc-notebook.org/2020/01/pcb-design-started-carpe-diem/

"we decided to postpone the deadline of the Donation Campaign to the 30th of June 2020"
https://www.powerpc-notebook.org/2020/04/extended-time-of-pcb-donation-campaign-and-motherboard-design-update/

Block diagram revised:

- changed: Diodes PI7C9X2G612GP PCIe bridge/switch
- new: Microchip USB2514 USB2 hub
- new (on I/O board): Realtek RTL8111 GbE controller at PCIe bridge/switch
- new (on I/O board): Realtek RTS5170 card reader at USB2 hub

What I find questionable is that the new USB2 hub and the new I/O board allegedly "allow to decrease the number of components in the motherboard, will reduce the production costs, as well as will reduce the debug time", when their addition does in fact not entail the omission of any component already deployed previously.

Quote:

Perhaps the choices for the hub and I/O board are allowing them to decrease the number of components and reduce production costs, when compared to their other considered choices for these items? Don't know, just guessing, and I haven't been watching this project that closely, so I wouldn't really know what they are doing. It does appear that they have very little chance to reach the donation goal, even with the extended time they have added, unless they find some corporate/company donors with deep pockets, who feel the project is worthwhile, and come up with the majority of the remaining balance needed.

>> - changed: Diodes PI7C9X2G612GP PCIe bridge/switch
>> - new: Microchip USB2514 USB2 hub
>> - new (on I/O board): Realtek RTL8111 GbE controller at PCIe bridge/switch
>> - new (on I/O board): Realtek RTS5170 card reader at USB2 hub
>>
>> What I find questionable is that the new USB2 hub and the new I/O board
>> allegedly "allow to decrease the number of components in the
>> motherboard, will reduce the production costs, as well as will reduce
>> the debug time", when their addition does in fact not entail the
>> omission of any component already deployed previously.

> Perhaps the choices for the hub and I/O board are allowing them to
> decrease the number of components and reduce production costs, when
> compared to their other considered choices for these items?

They say explicitly that the mentioned benefits result from the mentioned schematic/design changes. As I said, the change from previous revision to current revision adds components (USB2 hub and I/O board) but does not remove any. The (µ)SD connector coming from the T2080's eSDHC controller is still there, and the previous RJ45 jack coming from the T2080's RGMII controller (via GbE transceiver) has been replaced by an 8-pin header. This means that the components and/or traces the new I/O board could have rendered redundant are in fact still there.
I'm confident there are good reasons for the recent changes, but the expressed rationale doesn't seem to fit those changes in my opinion.

Addendum:

> I'm confident there are good reasons for the recent changes, but the
> expressed rationale doesn't seem to fit those changes in my opinion.

The true rationale has been revealed at about 25:00 into this video. The explanation is that the selected Slimbook chassis (see comment #150) has been designed for and comes with that I/O board, so it makes sense to utilize it. There's no mention of decreased number of motherboard components in this video.

After watching that video and thinking about the whole project, I doubt that it is ever going to succeed at completing even a single working PPC T2080 laptop.

Shame that it won't, because the idea to have a completely Open Source laptop running Open Source OS and software, is a great idea.

Update:

> Block diagram revised: [...]

New block diagram released without any significant changes.

Also, new schematics released:
https://gitlab.com/power-progress-community/oshw-powerpc-notebook/powerpc-laptop-mobo/-/blob/master/PPC_notebook_electrical_schematics_v0.4.pdf
https://www.slideshare.net/RobertoInnocenti1/electrical-schematic-open-hardware-powerpc-notebook-motherboard-v-04

Furthermore:
"After receiving these new schematics, we already requested a new round of changes to the designer, in particular we would like to raise the motherboard power consumption footprint up to 90W in order to support higher ends MXM 3 video cards that consume a maximum of 55W. As an example, the AMD Radeon E9174 (GCN 4.0) has a TDP of 50W. The idea is to obtain a new version of electrical schematics before the end of May. [...] there are two SO-DIMM DDR3L slots that can host DDR3L non-ECC (max 1866 MT/s, PC3-14900). We opted for non-ECC modules as they are way easier to find on the market and are less expensive than ECC ones, so it will be easy to have 32GB of RAM (2x16GB), up to a limit of 64GB of RAM, if you can find 32GB SO-DIMM modules."
https://www.powerpc-notebook.org/2020/05/growing-up-collaborations-may-2020-updates/

Nice. T2080 not bad. I wonder if I'll live long enough to see next powerpc notebook after Powerbook era. Preferably with MorphOS.
It is a pitty, that NXP T2080RDB development board is too expensive - it looks like nice toy.

> next powerpc notebook after Powerbook era

*cough* LimeBook Z9 *cough* ;-)

> *cough* LimeBook Z9 *cough*
Yes, exactly.
Great plans - I remember there was AmigaOS POC on Limebook. And some discussions about Efika next developement with the same CPU ( some "three core" hybrid - one power core, one gfx core and third ??? )

>>> next powerpc notebook after Powerbook era

>> *cough* LimeBook Z9 *cough* ;-)

> Yes, exactly. Great plans

The THTF/MTC LimeBook Z9 was a real product, although sold mainly in Asia and South Africa (rebranded by Vodacom as the Linkbook there). So technically, this was the "next powerpc notebook after Powerbook". Of course, it was a downgrade from there in every imaginable way (except power consumption). So indeed, the T2080-based notebook can become the first Power-based successor (kind of) to the PowerBook.

> I remember there was AmigaOS POC on Limebook.

Nothing more than an initial, barely functional port. Or was there ever shown anything beyond the Kickstart screen?

> And some discussions about Efika next developement with the same CPU

Yes, and while Genesi abandoned the Efika 5121e project, THTF/MTC continued without Genesi and sold the LimePC X1 (rebranded by CherryPal as the C114/C120 outside Asia).

> some "three core" hybrid - one power core, one gfx core and third ???

Yes, MPC5121e has, beside e300 CPU core and PowerVR graphics core, the AXE (Auxiliary Execution Engine), a "32-bit RISC audio acceleration engine". I wouldn't call a SoC with a CPU core, a graphics core and some further custom core (AI, DSP, vector or whatever) a "hybrid" of any sorts, though, because such setup is quite usual for a SoC.

Update:

> new schematics released: [...]

New schematics released:
https://gitlab.com/power-progress-community/oshw-powerpc-notebook/powerpc-laptop-mobo/-/blob/master/PPC_notebook_electrical_schematics_v0.5.pdf
https://www.slideshare.net/RobertoInnocenti1/electrical-schematic-open-hardware-powerpc-notebook-motherboard-v-05

"We just received a new version of the schematics (v0.5) that raise the power consumption footprint up to 90W in order to support higher end MXM 3 video cards that may reach a maximum of 55W under heavy load. As an example, the AMD Radeon E9174 (GCN 4.0) has a TDP of 50W. [...] the work on the PCB design [...] can move forward and we estimate it could be completed by September 2020. [...] we decided to postpone the deadline of the current Donation Campaign (Phase 1A) to the 30th of July 2020."
https://www.powerpc-notebook.org/2020/06/pcb-ready-by-september-2020-more-time-for-donations/

"the work on the PCB design can move forward and we estimate it could be completed by the End of September 2020. [...] As we were unable to reach the goal by July, we are forced to postpone the deadline of the current Donation Campaign (Phase 1A) to the 30th of August 2020."
https://www.powerpc-notebook.org/2020/07/extended-time-for-donations/

How many "donation phases" is it now? It was five from the beginning.

> How many "donation phases" is it now? It was five from the beginning.

Over time it changed from originally:

1. 12600 EUR: Electrical schematics
2. 11950 EUR: PCB
3. 8800 EUR: Prototypes
4. 14400 EUR: Testing
5. 12500 EUR: Certification

...to now:

0. 12600 EUR: Electrical schematics [accomplished]
1A. 19000 EUR: PCB [81% done]
1B. 5000 EUR: Fast SI bus simulations [open]
2. 10500 EUR: Prototypes [open]
3. 14000 EUR: Testing [open]
4. 12500 EUR: Certification [open]

Number of phases depends on how you count ;-)

Thanks. So they added one phase. I donated to the first two, will skip 1B and donate again in the last tree phases.

Update:

> "As we were unable to reach the goal by July, we are
> forced to postpone the deadline of the current Donation
> Campaign (Phase 1A) to the 30th of August 2020."
> https://www.powerpc-notebook.org/2020/07/extended-time-for-donations/

"As we were unable to reach the goal by August, we are forced to postpone the deadline of the current Donation Campaign (Phase 1A) to the 15th of September 2020."
https://www.powerpc-notebook.org/2020/08/15-days-more-to-donate-2000-euro-left-for-the-pcb/

Isn't there a reason it's called deadline? ;-)

Quote:

15 more days is practically ”just two more weeks”...