Post · bonfire.cafe

Post

@yogthos@social.marxist.network · last month

The Loongson 3A6000 mini-PC offers a glimpse into modern computing on a new, Linux-first RISC architecture. While not particularly fast or power-efficient, it provides usable performance for daily tasks.

Its LoongArch64 ISA, inspired by MIPS and RISC-V, represents an effort toward technological independence.For enthusiasts and developers, it’s an affordable and interesting platform to explore beyond x86_64 and ARM.

https://www.wezm.net/v2/posts/2026/loongarch-mini-pc-m700s

#linux #technology #riscv

Exploring Linux on a LoongArch Mini PC

MOREFINE M700S Mini PC Ever the fan of an underdog, I recently acquired a new mini-PC with a Loongson 3A6000 CPU. This CPU uses the LoongArch64 instruction set architecture (ISA). loongarch64 is a 64-bit RISC ISA inspired by MIPS and RISC-V introduced by Loongson Technology in 2021. From Wikipedia: A Loongson developer described it as “…a new RISC ISA, which is a bit like MIPS or RISC-V. LoongArch includes a reduced 32-bit version (LA32R), a standard 32-bit version (LA32S) and a 64-bit version (LA64)”.31 The stated rationale was to make Loongson and China not dependent on foreign technology or authorisation to develop their processor capability, whilst not infringing on any technology patents.32

iguess134

@iguess134@tonibot.ddns.net · 4 weeks ago

@yogthos
Maybe it's the distro they chose, but the fact that OpenGL failed to initialize does not inspire confidence in the GPU being well supported or open. Of course X.Org works because it probably uses just the CPU. X.Org works on anything with a framebuffer.

Maybe I'm just too burnt out by ARM Computers, but if using these Machines to their fullest means using an ancient Kernel with hacky patches and extra binary blobs then they're not really better than most ARMs out there. I really hope they don't end up like that.

Yogthos

@yogthos@social.marxist.network · 4 weeks ago

@iguess134 it's still very new, and I expect driver situation is going to improve as usage picks up. Personally, I'm very excited about having viable RISCV architecture becoming commercially available.

iguess134

@iguess134@tonibot.ddns.net · 4 weeks ago

@yogthos As long as the makers of the Hardware put in the work to publish documentation and make everything functional in Mainline.

I share your excitement and I actually want to eventually buy a LoongArch Machine, but first it needs to get to a point where you can just install a generic LA64 Mainline Linux or BSD OS on any generic LA64 Computer and have stuff "just work" like in x86-land.

Yogthos

@yogthos@social.marxist.network · 4 weeks ago

@iguess134 it's going to be a process, but it's nice to see first steps being taken

might_be_a_robot :sterntastatur: :gopnik_implant:

@BustaMarx@corteximplant.com · last month

@yogthos I'm not against developing new architectures but I am concerned that the US's stupid attempts to deny China access to an open standard will result in more digital fiefdoms rather than true open standards.

haui

@haui@mastodon.giftedmc.com · last month

@yogthos
This sounds promising! Thanks for sharing.

bonfire.cafe

A space for Bonfire maintainers and contributors to communicate

bonfire.cafe: About · Code of conduct · Privacy · Users · Instances

Bonfire social · 1.0.2-alpha.34 no JS en

Automatic federation enabled