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Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite prototype that runs Linux emerges

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Re: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite prototype that runs Linux emerges

#11

Post by walterbell »

jasoneckert wrote: post #3

Qualcomm has previously announced their desire to support Linux, and they have an upstream roadmap: https://www.qualcomm.com/developer/blog/2024/05/upstreaming-...

HN discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40350408

https://www.tomshardware.com/software/linux/qualcomm-goes-wh...

> Qualcomm has most of the critical functions working inside.. Linux 6.9.. critical functions include UEFI-based boot support along with all the standard bootloaders like Grub and system-d.. Functions that are being worked on for future iterations of Linux include additions to battery support, on-board display connectivity, external DisplayPort connectivity, sleep and wake-up functions on the GPU, camera support, video support, better CPU frequency support, and speaker/mic/headset enablement. These functions are expected to arrive in Linux 6.10 and 6.11.

$900 dev kit ships later this month, Mac Mini form factor, 32GB RAM, 512GB SSD, https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40430579

Re: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite prototype that runs Linux emerges

#12

Post by redleader55 »

xgstation wrote: post #2

to be fair, Qualcomm runs on Linux (Android) all the time

Yes, but usually they run on very old kernels, with many of the drivers patched out of tree instead of being upstreamed. Because of that many system components(firmware, bootloader, etc) are either old, unmaintained, buggy, or affected by lots of CVEs.

This new SOC, has Qualcomm's commitment to be using the latest kernel - 6.9 and to have better support. We'll see what this means for the future, but it looks better already.

Re: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite prototype that runs Linux emerges

#13

Post by bobmcnamara »

pedalpete wrote: post #7

Isn't the Qualcomm chip just an ARM design? Seeing as Linux can run on ARM, is this new? I always just expected to be able to run an ARM based linux on these devices.

Not quite, Oryon is a custom design implementing AArch64 Instruction Set Architecture by Nuvia, a Qualcomm acquisition.

Re: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite prototype that runs Linux emerges

#14

Post by bobmcnamara »

wmf wrote: post #10
pedalpete wrote: post #7

Isn't the Qualcomm chip just an ARM design? Seeing as Linux can run on ARM, is this new? I always just expected to be able to run an ARM based linux on these devices.

Sure, the CPU is ARM but you need drivers for everything else. Fortunately Qualcomm is providing those drivers.

Not quite, Oryon is a custom design implementing AArch64 Instruction Set Architecture by Nuvia, a Qualcomm acquisition.

Re: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite prototype that runs Linux emerges

#16

Post by MBCook »

walterbell wrote: post #11
jasoneckert wrote: post #3

Qualcomm has previously announced their desire to support Linux, and they have an upstream roadmap: https://www.qualcomm.com/developer/blog/2024/05/upstreaming-...

HN discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40350408 https://www.tomshardware.com/software/linux/qualcomm-goes-wh... > Qualcomm has most of the critical functions working inside.. Linux 6.9.. critical functions include UEFI-based boot support along with all the standard bootloaders like Grub and system-d.. Functions that are being worked on for future iterations of Linux include additions to battery support,…

Does that well get good benchmarks soon?

Re: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite prototype that runs Linux emerges

#17

Post by wyldfire »

bobmcnamara wrote: post #14
wmf wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, the CPU is ARM but you need drivers for everything else. Fortunately Qualcomm is providing those drivers.

Not quite, Oryon is a custom design implementing AArch64 Instruction Set Architecture by Nuvia, a Qualcomm acquisition.

This distinction is important for the sake of performance but not (or only barely) about compatibility. This thread focuses on functionality and the linux support referred to in the title is devices and not the CPU, which -- as you've indicated -- should Just Work because it's implementing the ISA standard.

For the laptop to work, it means that the audio, display, camera, storage, external buses will work. As noted in other threads, this is interesting because of Qualcomm's re-invigorated engagement with kernel development.

Re: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite prototype that runs Linux emerges

#18

Post by alberth »

bobmcnamara wrote: post #14
wmf wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, the CPU is ARM but you need drivers for everything else. Fortunately Qualcomm is providing those drivers.

Not quite, Oryon is a custom design implementing AArch64 Instruction Set Architecture by Nuvia, a Qualcomm acquisition.

Are these the chips n Microsoft recent Surface arm launch?

EDIT: to answer my own question, yes - it appears so.

https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/20/24160498/microsoft-arm-su...

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