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I've run a bit of diging on the SW64 chip that reportedly powered the new ShenWei supercomputer

Based on the info I've gathered from http://bbs.lemote.com/forum.ph...

Version 1 of SW64 was 'inspired' by DEC's Alpha 21364 architecture instruction

By Version 3 (circa 2010), according to the same source, they have something called EKOPath, which, reportedly integrate AMD's X64 instuctions onto Alpha's platform

As Version 3 of the SW64 chip only comes in (max) 16-core, I believe the SW64 chip that are being used in the ShenWei supercomputer is of the latter version (because they supposed to have 64 cores per node)

Version 1, 2, and 3 of the SW64 chip has L1, L2 and L3 cache built in. The SW64 chips that are being used for the new ShenWei supercomputer reportedly doesn't have L1, L2, nor L3 cache at all

Furthermore, the frequency of chip has also increased from 1.1GHz to 1.45GHz, indicating a possible chip node shrinkage from the 65nm to a possible 28nm node that China currently possesses

That is about what I manage to gather so far

Such a thing exists:

http://www.lemote.com/en/products/Notebook/2010/0310/112.html

AC is a total D-bag for ripping such a sweet, fast, open-hardware, low-power device. If any grownups are interested in the specs on this 12-watt, 4-core laptop that runs without any proprietary bios or drivers, check here: http://www.lemote.com/en/products/Notebook/2010/0310/112.html

Ubuntu provides specific repositories of nonfree software, and Canonical expressly promotes and recommends nonfree software under the Ubuntu name in some of their distribution channels. Ubuntu offers the option to install only free packages, which means it also offers the option to install nonfree packages too. In addition, the version of Linux, the kernel, included in Ubuntu contains firmware blobs.

Ubuntu's trademark policy prohibits commercial redistribution of exact copies of Ubuntu, denying an important freedom.

Instead, just send him a laptop. In fact, why even send him an expensive MacBook - he may not like it if it has an UEFI BIOS. If you can, mail-order a Lemote Yeeloong. It is not all that lackluster, and it has everything he wants - 'system source files(BIOS, kernel, drivers etc.) are free software, no close (sic) firmware needed.'. Heck, it even calls the OS GNU/Linux. Ask them to preload it w/ GNewSense, and arrange to have it sent to rms.

Only question - do you want to send him the laptop while he's still in Argentina1, or do you want to wait for him to get back? ;-)

This is not ARM, but it is still non-x86 with completely Free software and firmware. RMS uses one, I'm personally waiting for the new quad-core version.

http://www.lemote.com/en/products/Notebook/2010/0310/112.html
http://kd85.com/lemote.html

So if I'm a paranoid nut job, I'm supposed to trust a Chinese Lemote notebook not to spy on me?

Perhaps not, but you're likely going to trust it more than every other notebook. (which are all also built in China, and in addition contain non-free bioses, require non-free binary blobs running in kernel mode, etc, etc.)

Note also that Stallman may choose the yerloong notebook, so he is free to modify & improve drivers / bios / etc, rather than (or as well as) because he's paranoid about it spying on him.

Wouldn't it be awesome to port Irix to the Chinese MIPS laptop?

A pretty cool MIPS based laptop:

http://www.lemote.com/en/products/Notebook/2010/0310/112.html

No, you can't. Not a single store sells them and the company behind it doesn't even bother to put out a english version of their mandarin site.

Just click on the link on http://www.lemote.com/ that says "English" (in the upper-right corner) and it'll take you to the English version: http://www.lemote.com/en/

In fact, does this product even exist beyond press releases and marketing ploys?

Freedom Included sells them in the US: http://freedomincluded.com/

No, you can't. Not a single store sells them and the company behind it doesn't even bother to put out a english version of their mandarin site.

Just click on the link on http://www.lemote.com/ that says "English" (in the upper-right corner) and it'll take you to the English version: http://www.lemote.com/en/

In fact, does this product even exist beyond press releases and marketing ploys?

Freedom Included sells them in the US: http://freedomincluded.com/

Yeah baby, wintel, a proud member of the MAFIAA family.

The next chip I will be buying is a Loongson

on the essential car systems stuff but can auto manufacturers separate it from the user facing stuff? I'm thinking I'd like one of these to be driving the GPS, screen, and sound system.

Then Gdium or Lemote would be a good choice, if they actually sold these anywhere, that is.