Phoronix, the Linux-focused hardware website, highlighted patches for the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) that implement HSA. This will allow newer APUs, such as AMD's Carrizo, to accelerate chunks of code (mostly loops) that have been tagged with a precompiler flag as valuable to be done on the GPU. While I have done some GPGPU development, many of the low-level specifics of HSA aren't areas that I have too much experience with.
The patches have been managed by Martin Jambor of SUSE Labs. You can see a slideshow presentation of their work on the GNU website. Even though features froze about a month ago, they are apparently hoping that this will make it into the official GCC 6 release. If so, many developers around the world will be able to target HSA-compatible hardware in the first half of 2016. Technically, anyone can do so regardless, but they would need to specifically use the unofficial branch on the GCC Subversion repository. This probably means compiling it themselves, and it might even be behind on a few features in other branches that were accepted into GCC 6.
Now if they could get the
Now if they could get the System76 and others to begin offering laptops with the Carrizo FX8800P(35 watts)for the APU part available in Linux based laptops. Hopefully AMD APUs like the Carrizo FX8800P(35 watts) will begin to be offered from the Linux Laptop based OEMs! Windows 10 is not going to be on any of my hardware, and the new Lenovo Y700 with the FX8800P, I wonder if there are any OS downgrade options to 8.1 Pro or 7 Pro.
That would be very nice. I’d
That would be very nice. I’d like to see any Linux laptop vendors put in Carrizo. It’s kind of underwhelming to see Intel-only. Carrizo’s a good product, and besides that, I always like to see some variety.
Windows 10 Pro has downgrade
Windows 10 Pro has downgrade rights. You need to find your own installation media for 8.x or 7. When it fails to activate, you need to call Microsoft and say you're downgrading. Window 10 Home does not have downgrade rights, though.
https://www.microsoft.com/OEM/en/licensing/sblicensing/Pages/downgrade_rights.aspx#fbid=4sFprsSn3_a
And how many laptops besides
And how many laptops besides Business laptops ship with windows 10 Pro. I’m tired of M$’s OS products, there needs to be a Steam OS/Steam Machine branded laptop alternative so I can once again purchase an OEM laptop, because I’m not getting any laptop with Windows 10 Pre-installed! There are too many Linux based laptop makers wedded to Intel’s x86 based SOC SKUs, I want to avoid M$, and Intel, and have AMD’s integrated and discrete graphics working together on my next laptop!
I want makers like System76 to begin to offer AMD x86 APU options with the GCN integrated graphics based APUs paired with discrete AMD GCN GPUs. I also want to see Steam OS/Other Linux based laptops that support AMD’s APUs and GPUs. Hopefully as more Steam Machines come online for Desktops with the more available ODM hardware support the various brands of GPUs will lead to better support for the same GPU micro-architectures for laptops.
Hopefully Lenovo has options on the Y700 for at least 8.1 Pro and support for Windows 7 also. But until I can research the Y700’s ability to run Linux, I’ll hold off on getting the laptop. I really want a Linux Option on the Y700 with OEM support for the drivers, and I am willing to pay more for a Linux OS based laptop than a windows based laptop. I’m so F-ing tired of M$’s OS F-ups, and Intel’s expensive and crappy graphics!
You could probably upgrade to
You could probably upgrade to Pro for $99, then downgrade to 7 Pro or 8.1 Pro.
I’ll pay $200 more dollars
I’ll pay $200 more dollars for a Full Linux option, with OEM support for the drivers! 200 dollars more for any laptop that supports a full Linux OS with the product supported by the OEM for any driver issues. So that lenovo Y700 with that Carrizo FX8800P and hopefully running the APU part at 35 watts, with the discrete AMD GCN GPU also! I’ll pay to not have a M$ OS ever on the hardware! And that 200 dollars extra that I’m willing to pay for the software support, make it last 2 years and then I’ll pay more If I want software support after 2 years.
Someone in the Linux community should start offering Linux Builds certified to work with many brands of laptops, where the user can purchase driver support. So as a business someone/s with Linux Kernel development experience, and Linux Distro build experience, and Linux Driver build experience should maybe contract with the OEMs to offer a Free Linux laptop distro build with paid support offered for a price.
The service could offer a Linux OS cross Laptop OEM support for some of the OEM’s laptop hardware, with the OEMs and the service certifying the cross laptop OEM brand’s special Linux Build that offers Linux for Free with paid driver development/support for the Full Linux Build.
I will pay to buy a laptop WITHOUT A M$ OS that has OEM OS(OEM or OEM contracted) full Linux OS/driver support, the System76 folks will never get my business without offering some Carrizo FX8800P laptop options, laptop options that can Run the FX8800P APU at 35 watts/Don’t forget a discrete AMD GCN GPU option also. I really want that FX8800P(35 watts), or the new Carrizo mobile laptop APU refresh that AMD just announced with the APU having a 25 watts to 45 watts thermal option and the laptop able to run the APU at 45 watts, and a Full Linux OS option! Hell that laptop OEM should offers paid levels of laptop cooling options with the best cooling solution coming at a price(I’ll pay).
Last week I received my HP
Last week I received my HP EliteBook 755 G3 Notebook ( A12-8800B APU) from the HP store:
http://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/Laptops/hp-elitebook-755-g3-notebook-pc-(energy-star)-p-t3l78ut-aba–1?jumpid=ba_r329_hhocse&aoid=44661&003=6663635&010=T3L78UT%23ABA&ci_sku=T3L78UT%23ABA&ci_gpa=pla&ci_kw#
I’ll add another 8GB too. Soon I’ll try to port my Linux Mint project to it. I hope that Linux installs easily.