Group: Hardware/Computers/Laptops/Freeable laptops/Pinebook PRO
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** This occupies the PCIe connector. It might be a better idea to try to find a way to connect an ath9k compatible card on that connector. | ** This occupies the PCIe connector. It might be a better idea to try to find a way to connect an ath9k compatible card on that connector. | ||
** The NVMe has a nonfree firmware and probably has DMA access to your RAM | ** The NVMe has a nonfree firmware and probably has DMA access to your RAM | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Other differences with a Libreboot Thinkpad == | ||
+ | |||
+ | {| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
+ | ! | ||
+ | ! Libreboot Thinkpad | ||
+ | ! Pinebook PRO | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | ! Architecture | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | * i686 on some laptops | ||
+ | * x86_64 on others | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | * ARM 64bit | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | ! Embedded controller firmware | ||
+ | | Nonfree | ||
+ | Handles: | ||
+ | * The keyboard | ||
+ | * The power up sequence (voltages, power rails) | ||
+ | * WiFi / bluetooth power on/off | ||
+ | * Battery charging | ||
+ | * etc | ||
+ | | Probably Free software | ||
+ | probably handles similar things. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | ! RAM | ||
+ | | 4G, 8G possible with specific RAM DIMMs. | ||
+ | | 4G soldered | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | ! Ethernet | ||
+ | | Integrated | ||
+ | | Through USB adapter | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | ! Debug | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | * UART in the dock on some laptops, or absent on other | ||
+ | * It might be possible to add an UART through the express card connector | ||
+ | * USB Debug (not very practical) | ||
+ | * Reinstalling Libreboot can be time consuming on some laptops | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | * External UART connector (multiplexed with sound?) | ||
+ | * TODO: What is the SOC/device boot order? | ||
+ | |} | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
<references/> | <references/> |
Revision as of 20:38, 13 October 2020
Contents
Introduction
This page research if it's possible to replace a Libreboot Thinkpad with a Pinebook PRO and how much freedom issue the Pinebook PRO has.
Research
Nonfree firwmares:
- Internal WiFi / Bluetooth [1]
- dptx.bin
- Video decoding offload?
- Others?
WiFi
An adapter [2] exists to enable to connect NGFF A/E key WiFi cards.
=> TODO: Look if ath9k compatible cards exist in that form factor.
Alternatively it's possible to use external USB WiFi cards, but they will be limited to 2.4GHz and there is a tradeoff to make between the range and the key size.
=> TODO: look if it's possible to put the USB WiFi card inside the laptop.
Storage
- 128M flash chip: can probably be used for the bootloader: This way you could encrypt fully the other storage which require nonfree firmwares.
- removable eMMC (64G or 128G available at the time of writing)
- MicroSD (SD3.0, MMC 4.5, up to 50MB/s)
- Adding an NVMe is also possible but this has some downsides:
- This occupies the PCIe connector. It might be a better idea to try to find a way to connect an ath9k compatible card on that connector.
- The NVMe has a nonfree firmware and probably has DMA access to your RAM
Other differences with a Libreboot Thinkpad
Libreboot Thinkpad | Pinebook PRO | |
---|---|---|
Architecture |
|
|
Embedded controller firmware | Nonfree
Handles:
|
Probably Free software
probably handles similar things. |
RAM | 4G, 8G possible with specific RAM DIMMs. | 4G soldered |
Ethernet | Integrated | Through USB adapter |
Debug |
|
|