Gregory's ServerWe're excited to share a preview of a Framework Laptop with a new CPU architecture today, and it's not the one you probably think it is. DeepComputing is creating the first partner-developed Mainboard, and it's powered by a RISC-V processor!
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DeepComputing is showing an early demo of the new RISC-V Mainboard at the RISC-V Summit in Munich next week. This board uses a StarFiveTech JH7110 with SiFive RISC-V CPU cores. DeepComputing is also working closely with the teams at Ubuntu and Fedora on Linux support. This Mainboard drops directly into any existing Framework Laptop 13, and is aimed at enabling developers, tinkerers, and hobbyists to start testing and creating on RISC-V. In this generation, it isn't directly optimized for end-consumer usage. You can sign up in our Marketplace to get notified when we have updates on availability of the RISC-V Mainboard: You can also see more detail in the DeepComputing press release: In case you're wondering what it looks like, here is an early peek at prototype board bring-up on Debian.  @frameworkcomputer  @joojmachine @frameworkcomputer judging by the top border which is not cut probably you are right. @frameworkcomputer The command shutdown can be found at /usr/sbin/shutdown. Default users on @debian don't have sbin in their PATH variable, but root does. @frameworkcomputer poor guy just wanted to turn off the pc :BlobhajSadReach: @frameworkcomputer I recommend sudo for running shutdown. ;) Which kernel is this booting - stock Debian, or a starfive or visionfive2 tree?  @frameworkcomputer This is exciting! I'm trying to figure out if there is a GPU or GPU equivalent on this. It looks like the JH7110 serves at least some of the purposes of a GPU? EDIT: I am having a little trouble navigating the vendor site but a third party says the GPU is an Imagination BXE-4-32? Is this correct?  @mcc @frameworkcomputer I'm not sure if the third-party site you mentioned links to the product brief, this one is from rvspace(dot)org. It does confirm the BXE-4-32. https://doc-en.rvspace.org/JH7110/PDF/JH7110_Product_Brief.pdf @mcc @frameworkcomputer No prob! I was looking at what the potential options are for USB and PCIe expansion and ran across the brief earlier this morning. I've seen the specs on the JH7100, but that uses a dual-core CPU along with a BXE-2-32 GPU, if I remember correctly. @qlp @mcc @frameworkcomputer See also: @mcc @frameworkcomputer it's the same SoC as the VisionFive 2, I think. So anything you can find about that is probably approximately correct. The soc definitely has a GPU, but it's nothing amazing. Neither are the cpu cores for that matter.  @frameworkcomputer oh no. I wish you better luck than the BeagleV Starlight had with its JH7100. I recall one particular issue was that the HDMI output was stuck at some ridiculously low refresh rate that hardly any monitors could handle.  @frameworkcomputer Yup, definitely not what I expected but already signed up for some risc-v goodness, it almost fell as if that ISA was dead already!    @frameworkcomputer OH SHIT I LOVE YOU GUYS!!! YOU DO MORE OF THIS! X86 MUST DIE! RISC-V WILL PREVAIL!  @drq @frameworkcomputer Hope sufficient developers over at @godotengine take notice. Would be awesome to see more indie games popping up on RISC-V architecture!   @covercash @drq @Natanox @frameworkcomputer @godotengine  @Natanox @drq @frameworkcomputer @godotengine I have played STK on risc v and it was nice  @Natanox @drq @frameworkcomputer did our part and put a link to this in the dev chat π @Natanox @drq @frameworkcomputer @godotengine Godot already has RISC-V support, to the extent that the platform allows us. Still fairly buggy due to bugs in GCC and the OS graphics stack. But it does run in some configurations.  @frameworkcomputer Just the thought that I could have a RISC-V board in a laptop chassis that's not total garbage makes me so happy.  > and it's not the one you probably think it is You got me here π
. @frameworkcomputer Holy shit.  @frameworkcomputer #arm is fun and all, but its proprietary nature is... questionable at best. #riscv however seems very promising. Can't wait until this is stable enough! Keep up the good work, my friends. Exciting times ahead! @frameworkcomputer about to be the slowest processor known to man  @sylv @frameworkcomputer Yes. This is the same chip that was in the VisionFive 2 over 18 months ago. Important first step, I guess. @keyboardg @frameworkcomputer Does it at least have speculative execution? @sylv @frameworkcomputer The manual says it can be enabled (edit: for memory reads). The pdf manual made in 2019-2021. Edit: dual-issue, in-order pipeline The youtube channel Explaining Computers reviewed Debian on the VisionFive 2 in January 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykKnc86UtXg   @frameworkcomputer This makes me wonder if you could also offer a RISC-V Single Board Computer/Pi-alike. @socketwench @frameworkcomputer If I see this correctly the board is based on the J7110 chip found on StarFive SBCs.  @frameworkcomputer well that's awesome! I sent a request to review it because my community has been hammering me for some time to review your products. RISC-V seems like a great move forward as it is the future of CPU computing IMHO. @alphasixtyfive I'm aware, but I wanted to review Framework as well, I've already covered a ton of Pine64 products. @chiefgyk3d I have an 11 gen Intel 13 inch Framework and I'm loving it. I wish I waited for AMD though. @frameworkcomputer Niceee!!! I always love what you guys do! Can't wait for the RISC-V board π    While this generation is probably not going to be for me, I can't wait to be able to upgrade my existing AMD 13 to RISC-V once it starts being too weak for my needs (that is probably not going to happen for a long time tho)  @frameworkcomputer Your website literally doesnβt scroll in Safari, neither in iOS nor macOS.    @frameworkcomputer Everyone is begging, crying, screaming, fighting, bribing, anything for a graphics card. I've been buying Steam games I can't play for more than 10 years now. And meanwhile we get bitcoin mining rigs and fake AI. Shitcoin mining being an excuse to stop making graphics cards is just tragic. I'd love a solid RISC-V laptop but I can't help think these tech fads are part just artificial scarcity to inflate semiconductor prices. So probably buying a Steam Deck... can I get one of these without the fake-AI garbage? Can we go back to CUDA doing stuff, and some games, as a treat? Android and the PowerVR 3D graphics architecture or whatever it is now is absolutely dominating computer (loosely interpreted sales) because of games and people don't think maybe *that* means something? Also sure seems like people hate matrix-autocomplete even more than they hated bored apes at about this stage of the hype bubble. @frameworkcomputer Do you intend to support @oreboot and #LinuxBoot? Get in touch with me if so. And have you solved the power management issues with the JH7110, i.e. suspend to RAM or even to NVMe? @frameworkcomputer And so begins the realization of a meta-platform from which many, many companies could build their own ecosystem through their own designed hardware and software stack. This is where being first to market actually matters. There won't be a good reason to build your own modular platform when someone else already does it for you, which allows you to outsource all the boring parts. For as long as the parts are quality, Framework will never be unseated.  @frameworkcomputer Mannnn this is just the best. Finally great hardware initiatives being pushed by the GNU/Linux community.  |
You can see the full announcement in our blog post at:
https://frame.work/blog/introducing-a-new-risc-v-mainboard-from-deepcomputing