Laptop: Difference between revisions

From coreboot
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(added recent updates for VIA based netbooks)
Line 1: Line 1:
There has been much discussion about coreboot on laptops. A few of them are linked here, you might get useful information out of them:
==Recent Progress of coreboot on Laptops==
 
The VIA vx700 and vx800 chipsets have recently become popular in many netbook designs. Most of these netbooks are being produced by [http://www.quantatw.com Quanta] for several different OEM's.
 
VIA has recently released open documentation for the vx700 and vx800 chipsets at the [http://linux.via.com.tw/support/downloadFiles.action VIA Download Portal] and open documentation for the latest [http://www.x.org/docs/via/ Unichrome] graphics controllers. VIA is currently developing coreboot support for the vx800 chipset. [http://www.openchrome.org/ openChrome] support is also in the works for many new chipsets including the vx700 and vx800.
 
The remaining issue with supporting these and other similar netbooks is open firmware support for the Embedded Controller (EC). The most common EC's in these netbooks are the KB9110 or KB3886 from [http://www.ene.com.tw/en/index.asp ENE Technology]. The ENE EC's are 8051 based and are used to support keyboard scan, lid open/closed, battery charging, power management, etc.
 
The Quanta IL1 vx800 based reference design covers similar models/clones such as:
*[http://www.a110wiki.de/wiki/Main_Page One Mini A120/A150]
*Airis Kira 100/350/740
*Norhtec Gecko
*Pioneer DreamBook Light IL1
*CTL IL1
*ACi Ethos 7
*BDSI Deep Blue H1.
 
There are still a few netbook designs currently on the market that use the VIA vx700 chipset.
*[http://www.sylvaniacomputers.com/products.php?p=g Sylvania G]
*[http://www.everex.com/products/cloudbook/cloudbook.htm Everex Cloudbook]
*[http://h40059.www4.hp.com/hp2133/ HP 2133 Mini-Note PC]
 
 
A few earlier coreboot discussions on laptops are linked here, you might get useful information out of them:


* [http://www.coreboot.org/pipermail/linuxbios/2005-February/010985.html Any update on coreboot for laptops]
* [http://www.coreboot.org/pipermail/linuxbios/2005-February/010985.html Any update on coreboot for laptops]
Line 10: Line 33:
* [http://www.coreboot.org/pipermail/linuxbios/2006-September/015551.html coreboot on Laptops]
* [http://www.coreboot.org/pipermail/linuxbios/2006-September/015551.html coreboot on Laptops]


== Laptop Survey ==
== Laptop Survey (Old) ==


This page attempts to list laptops to find out which one might be easiest to port coreboot to.
This page attempts to list laptops to find out which one might be easiest to port coreboot to.
Line 70: Line 93:
Some Laptop ODMs are:
Some Laptop ODMs are:


* [http://www.quantatw.com/e_default.asp Quanta] makes laptops for Sony, Dell, and IBM  
* [http://www.quantatw.com Quanta] makes laptops for Sony, Dell, and IBM  
* [http://www.inventec.com/ Inventec] and [http://www.arima.com.tw/ Arima] make the Compaq line
* [http://www.inventec.com/ Inventec] and [http://www.arima.com.tw/ Arima] make the Compaq line
* [http://www.compal.com/ Compal] also makes IBM and Dell lines, as well as Hewlett Packard
* [http://www.compal.com/ Compal] also makes IBM and Dell lines, as well as Hewlett Packard

Revision as of 23:58, 12 December 2008

Recent Progress of coreboot on Laptops

The VIA vx700 and vx800 chipsets have recently become popular in many netbook designs. Most of these netbooks are being produced by Quanta for several different OEM's.

VIA has recently released open documentation for the vx700 and vx800 chipsets at the VIA Download Portal and open documentation for the latest Unichrome graphics controllers. VIA is currently developing coreboot support for the vx800 chipset. openChrome support is also in the works for many new chipsets including the vx700 and vx800.

The remaining issue with supporting these and other similar netbooks is open firmware support for the Embedded Controller (EC). The most common EC's in these netbooks are the KB9110 or KB3886 from ENE Technology. The ENE EC's are 8051 based and are used to support keyboard scan, lid open/closed, battery charging, power management, etc.

The Quanta IL1 vx800 based reference design covers similar models/clones such as:

  • One Mini A120/A150
  • Airis Kira 100/350/740
  • Norhtec Gecko
  • Pioneer DreamBook Light IL1
  • CTL IL1
  • ACi Ethos 7
  • BDSI Deep Blue H1.

There are still a few netbook designs currently on the market that use the VIA vx700 chipset.


A few earlier coreboot discussions on laptops are linked here, you might get useful information out of them:

Laptop Survey (Old)

This page attempts to list laptops to find out which one might be easiest to port coreboot to.

Make Type Model CPU Chipset Video Super I/O Micro Flash Chip Flash Size Flash Socketed Flash Type Still Made Major Obstacle Owner
Panasonic Toughbook CF-25 CF-25LJM8EAM P166MMX 430TX MagicGraph 128ZV NM2093 Renesas 3886 SST 29EE020 256 kB no no Miernik
Toshiba Libretto 50M PA1243CM P133 custom FPGA C&T 65550 no Miernik
Sony Vaio Picturebook PCG-C1XD P2 400 443ZX MagicMedia 256AV NM2200 M29W004BT 512 kB no no Miernik (broken)
Sony Vaio Picturebook PCG-C1X P266MMX 430TX MagicMedia 256AV NM???? no Miernik (stolen)
Gericom Webboy 340S2 PIII SiS630 SiS630 PC87393VJG PC87570 Winbond 29C020 256 kB yes PLCC Norbert Schmidt
Highscreen XD 14-C1700 Intel Celeron 1.7 GHz SiS650 SiS65x/M650/740 PC87391(?) ? EON EN29F040(A) 512 kB yes PLCC no No SIS650 docs Uwe Hermann
HP Omnibook XE3(L) PIII, 750 MHz Intel 82371MB PIIX4M ? SMSC FDC37N869 ? ? ? no PLCC ? ? Uwe Hermann
Fujitsu-Siemens Lifebook S-4572 PIII, 750 MHz Intel 82440MX ATI Rage Mobility P/M [1002:4c52] SMSC FDC37N769 ? Fujitsu MBM29F400T1 ? no SPI(?), TSOP(?) no No socketed PLCC, unknown EC Uwe Hermann

1 According to the vendor BIOS update tool.


Further Links:

Who really makes your laptop?

There are several various brands of laptops, but there are only a few actual laptop makers.

Name brand companies like Hewlet Packard, Compaq, IBM, Dell, Gateway, Sony, Micron, Toshiba and others; including Alienware and Voodoo do not make their own laptops. The exceptions are Asus and Apple, and even Apple doesn't make all of their laptops.

Original Design Manufacturers (ODM) make the laptops for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM). They in turn, add their preloaded hard drives and sell them to consumers. This is why a laptop is a bit more complicated to support with coreboot. The OEM's may not even have all the specifications for the laptop since the ODM has done all the design and assembly.

Some Laptop ODMs are:

  • Quanta makes laptops for Sony, Dell, and IBM
  • Inventec and Arima make the Compaq line
  • Compal also makes IBM and Dell lines, as well as Hewlett Packard
  • Clevo makes the popular Alienware and Voodoo gaming laptops

Further Links:

Retrieved from "https://www.coreboot.org/index.php?title=Laptop&oldid=7717"