PPC Laptop, something for MorphOS?
  • Just looking around
    Posts: 2 from 2014/10/10
    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!
  • »08.11.19 - 21:42
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  • ASiegel
    Posts: 1369 from 2003/2/15
    From: Central Europe
    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:

    The MorphOS development team cannot port MorphOS to hardware that does not exist. Furthermore, the developers do not make plans based on planned products. A product must exist and be for sale to be even considered for a port.

    We strongly urge you to not buy or otherwise finance any hardware for the purpose of running MorphOS until you have read an announcement on this website that clearly states MorphOS will support it.
  • »09.11.19 - 05:39
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  • Moderator
    Kronos
    Posts: 2232 from 2003/2/24
    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) !
  • »09.11.19 - 06:27
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12058 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > Now the target is to fund the PCB design. [...]
    > In addition to that Slimbook collaboration was announced.

    See comments #150 and #151 :-)
  • »09.11.19 - 08:58
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  • Acolyte of the Butterfly
    Acolyte of the Butterfly
    Posts: 132 from 2017/8/6
    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...
  • »16.11.19 - 08:40
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12058 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > 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/
  • »27.01.20 - 12:27
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12058 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    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).
  • »10.02.20 - 22:58
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12058 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    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.
  • »14.02.20 - 21:10
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12058 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    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.
  • »15.04.20 - 17:26
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    amigadave
    Posts: 2793 from 2006/3/21
    From: Northern Calif...
    Quote:

    Andreas_Wolf wrote:
    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.


    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.
    MorphOS - The best Next Gen Amiga choice.
  • »16.04.20 - 00:20
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12058 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    >> - 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.
  • »16.04.20 - 09:54
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12058 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    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.
  • »12.05.20 - 21:12
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    amigadave
    Posts: 2793 from 2006/3/21
    From: Northern Calif...
    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.
    MorphOS - The best Next Gen Amiga choice.
  • »13.05.20 - 03:21
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  • Order of the Butterfly
    Order of the Butterfly
    sailor
    Posts: 357 from 2019/5/9
    From: Central Bohemi...
    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.
    AmigaOS3: Amiga 1200
    AmigaOS4: Micro A1-C, AmigaOne XE, Pegasos II, Sam440ep, Sam440ep-flex, AmigaOneX1000
    MorphOS: Efika 5200b, Pegasos I, Pegasos II, Powerbook G4, Mac Mini, iMac G5, Powermac G5 Quad
  • »03.06.20 - 06:42
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12058 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > next powerpc notebook after Powerbook era

    *cough* LimeBook Z9 *cough* ;-)
  • »03.06.20 - 09:15
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  • Order of the Butterfly
    Order of the Butterfly
    sailor
    Posts: 357 from 2019/5/9
    From: Central Bohemi...
    > *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 ??? )
    AmigaOS3: Amiga 1200
    AmigaOS4: Micro A1-C, AmigaOne XE, Pegasos II, Sam440ep, Sam440ep-flex, AmigaOneX1000
    MorphOS: Efika 5200b, Pegasos I, Pegasos II, Powerbook G4, Mac Mini, iMac G5, Powermac G5 Quad
  • »03.06.20 - 10:23
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12058 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    >>> 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.
  • »03.06.20 - 16:20
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  • Butterfly
    Butterfly
    Posts: 78 from 2020/5/1
    How many "donation phases" is it now? It was five from the beginning.
  • »30.07.20 - 15:27
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Andreas_Wolf
    Posts: 12058 from 2003/5/22
    From: Germany
    > 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 ;-)
  • »30.07.20 - 16:08
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  • Butterfly
    Butterfly
    Posts: 78 from 2020/5/1
    Thanks. So they added one phase. I donated to the first two, will skip 1B and donate again in the last tree phases.
  • »30.07.20 - 21:03
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