TITLE: PC on Libre/Free Software: hardware selection, RockPro64
DATE: 2021-11-11
TAGS: aarch64 rockpro64 sbc hardware hw
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I've been using a [libreboot](https://libreboot.org)-ed ThinkPad T500, but USB
system started to show its age - only one port works, and it's a random one on
each boot.

Started to look for a replacement with these requirements:

* Supported by Libre/Free Software - [linux-libre]
  (https://www.fsfla.org/ikiwiki/selibre/linux-libre), upstream U-boot without
  vendor blobs
* Ability to install OS to SATA/NVMe drive. SD/eMMC/USB are too
  slow/unreliable
* Sharing Internet connection via twisted pair and WiFi
* Working Bluetooth
* Upstream software: linux-libre, U-boot. I don't want to install forks of
  outdated versions.

Main candidates:

* [Blackbird](https://www.raptorcs.com/content/BK1B02/intro.html), POWER9
  CPU. Has a BMC, all firmware sources are available. Firmware for built-in
  NIC is in development, described [here]
  (https://wiki.raptorcs.com/wiki/BCM5719). Drawbacks are price and the fact
  that you can't order it (logistical problems due to covid, [according to
  Talospace]
  (https://www.talospace.com/2021/02/blackbird-supply-chain-likely-to-improve.html))
* [MNT Reform](https://mntre.com/reform). ARM64 laptop, no vendor blobs except
  16KiB one to initialize RAM. Shipping next year
* [RockPro64](https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/ROCKPro64) - RK3399 SBC, 4G RAM,
  good-enough CPU (2xA72 + 4xA53), PCIe x4, 4xUSB, 1xRJ-45 (1 Gbit/s). [Gentoo
  approves](https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/PINE64_ROCKPro64)
* [Gigabyte GA-G41M-ES2L]
  (https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-G41M-ES2L-rev-10) for
  [libreboot treatment]
  (https://libreboot.org/docs/hardware/ga-g41m-es2l.html)
* [HoneyComb LX2](https://developer.solid-run.com/knowledge-base/honeycomb-lx2k)
  aarch64, 16 A72 cores, a full-fledged motherboard. More expensive than
  RockPro64 (it has much more functionality). I couldn't find if it requires
  vendor blobs, and it's not in U-boot repo (by name)

I chose RockPro64. Pine64 sells a SATA card for it but it uses an ASM chip.
Judging by forum threads and my experience ASM chips are not reliable - my
mPCIe card on ASM1061 works with HDD but not SSD for some reason. Found [this
card](https://www.pc-adapter.net/product/874.html) - 4 ports, [Marvell
88SE9215]
(https://www.marvell.com/products/system-solutions/sata-controllers/pcie-2-sata-controllers.html)
chip, supported by Linux. Bluetooth and WiFi adapters that do not require
vendor blobs were found on [H-node](https://h-node.org) (an excellent
resource).

Resulting BOM:

* SATA controller PCE4SAT-M02 (PCIe)
* Bluetooth controller Asus BT400 (USB)
* WiFi D-Link DWA-126 (USB) - Access Point mode
* Ethernet D-Link Dub-E100 100Mbit/s (USB) - for ISP connection
* 2 USB hubs
* Chipset cooler Zalman ZM-NB32J - fits, here is an [old review]
  (https://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/zalmanzmnb32j)
* Aluminum box 155x85x120 mm
* Regular PC PSU (I already had one)

DIY power connector Molex -> DC barrel:

![power-molex-barrel.jpg](../../assets/power-molex-barrel.jpg)

Bolted a small aluminum plate to SATA card to hold the cables:


![rockpro64-sata-1](../../assets/sata-1.jpg)

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![rockpro64-sata-2](../../assets/sata-2.jpg)

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More photos:

![rockpro64-hw-2](../../assets/rockpro64-hw-hdmi.jpg)

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![rockpro64-hw-2](../../assets/rockpro64-hw-usb.jpg)

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![rockpro64-hw-2](../../assets/rockpro64-hw-2.jpg)

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![rockpro64-hw-3](../../assets/rockpro64-hw-3.jpg)

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![rockpro64-hw-4](../../assets/rockpro64-hw-4.jpg)

***

![rockpro64-hw-5](../../assets/rockpro64-hw-5.jpg)

***

Next up: installing U-boot and Arch Linux ARM.