Linux on non-Intel-compatible hardware
 

I'm trying to find reasonable hardware that is not from Intel, nor Intel-compatible (e.g. AMD is Intel compatible and therefore does not qualify) for which a Linux port has been made. I could not find a comparative table, maybe someone can help me.
Of course, I need reasonable CPU speed, graphics and DVI screen, disc size and also must be able to connect peripherals.

RC

Go to the Debian website. Debian supports 11(I think) different architectures. The most well known is PowerPC, which is basically Macintosh...

Thanks!
PowerPC is of course dead now that Apple produces just Intel PCs. I want to stay away from Microsoft AND from Intel (which is a bigger monopoly). So I'm actually looking for hardware that has some chance of being available and evolve into the next 5 years or so. I should probably have specified "no Apple hardware", since I've got that.

RC

Basically your choices for Desktop Processors are Intel or AMD. Although AMD is Intel Compatible, it is not part of Intel. I don't think it is a wise move to completely discount both AMD and Intel, they both make very good processors.

Other than that, Debian supports heaps of different architectures, so that would probably be your best bet if you can get a computer running a "non-intel" processor if you don't want PPC. I wouldn't say PPC is necessarily dead yet...

--Ian

I'm agree with you regarding M$, it does nothing for people, and cares only its pocket, shame on it, damned M$.. What about Intel, I can't say that's the monopoly, cause AMD has also marketshare, and AMD is not Intel's partner :). What about the architecture, desktop PC's are x86 and x86_64 family processors, so I think you should not go away from this, buy AMD if you dislike Intel (like me for example), AMD is cheaper and better.

non-intel
 

AMD began as second source for Intel (and I suspect it was a requirement of the US Department of Defence). Its processors are instruction-wise compatible with those of Intel.

So let me state my position more clearly: (I do not want to start a religious discussion here)

(1) if HW/SW is proprietary, then I want a choice of both HW and SW architectures.

(2) if HW/SW is going to be standard, i.e. I have no choice, then I want both to be open source.

For SW there are three large-distribution systems to choose from: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux. For HW I seem no longer to have any but Intel or Intel compatible (e.g. AMD). And of course I want to go into a store and buy a box, not solder my motherboard from scratch. Obviously I could put Linux on my brand-new Powerbook G4 (last of the lot), but that does not seem to be future-proof.
For open-source SW I have Linux, for HW I have nothing open-source whatsoever.

I know there is a Sun dual Sparc laptop, but it weighs more than cabin baggage allowances...

x86 processors may be good. So is Windows. But that is not the point.
The answer I am looking for is Linux on something that has a declared future but is not x86 architecture. The Sony playstation? Some other box? What?

I searched but was unable to find useful pages.

Well, you could put it on your Palm handheld. As for desktop pc's you could get an SGI box, if you have about 20 grand to spare. Well, they might port linux to the PS3 if that works for you... even though Sony is *almost* as bad as M$.

Uhh PPC is dead? Since when?!?! Apple wasn't the only machine using PowerPC chips.

• All Amiga products
• All Cisco routers
• Dozens of set-top boxes and multimedia systems
• Dozens of in-car PCs
• Xbox 360
• Playstation 3

They are all examples of PowerPC chips in current and future devices. The architecture is not dead.

Kthxbi.

How about a Sun UltraSPARC?

I just stumbled across this as well. You might want to also take a look at OpenSPARC.

how about Pegasos ppc

Linux runs on more than 20 platforms. I wouldn't consider any of them to be "dead."

"The real world" isn't really tied to Intel, nor to Microsoft, to the degree that is commonly supposed. There's a lot of hardware out there, and Linux, pretty much, runs on all of them. :)

AMD is created before Intel. Intel is a baby compared to AMD.

RobertCailliau, you need to stop spreading conspiracies. If it was not the US Department of Defence to develop computer to be faster, computers right now will not be the same. Computers will be the size of refrigerators companies like Intel, AMD, Apple, and many others will never be heard of. Linux will never be develop by Linus Torvalds.

There are ARM, Zylog, Transmeta. Tramenta chips can actually be program to execute any instruction not just 80x86 because they are VLIW (Very Large Intruction Word) processor. ARM chips are used for embedded devices like PDA. Zylog chips are for robotic and embedded devices. Zilog was almost picked by IBM to be an IBM compatible machine but Intel was picked instead.

PowerPC chips are in satellites and on distant planets.

You can use an ARM or Zilog chip and contruct a board that has PCI and PCIe (PCI Express) slots. AGP can not be used because you want non-Intel components. You will have to use PAL, GAL, or similar array logic chips to be used as a north bridge and south bridge controllers. GDDR3 could be used for memory.

or you could you use that chinese cut-down linux PC when it comes out.
Mind you, it might be intel compatible (do not remember), but all made "abroad".

PS3 already quoted. I think it is the so called cell processor,
to be found in other equipments probably in the future