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Non-86 hardware

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When IBM first released the PC in 1981, they chose the Intel 8086 processor launched in 1978. This marks the origin of the modern personal computer as we know it today. The x86 architecture, as of 2021 is 43 years old and during its existence (particularly in the past decade) it has amassed significant controversy, and so computer enthusiasts are now turning to more "unconventional" hardware with somewhat "exotic" architectures.

Available hardware

ARM

Anecdote goes like this: Acorn was working on a 6 MHz chip. One day, somebody noticed the chip was running without its power supply connected (ACKCHYUALLY it was powered by leakage from the power rails leading to the I/O chip). Thus, ARM1 was born, and with it, a new generation of personal computers, embedded devices and handhelds.

Pine64

Pine64 a Hong Kong-based organization that currently manufactures Linux-based devices using the ARM architecture. Their devices have been very well received, with some praising the absence of blobs on their single-board computers and others condemning the presence of such inside the LTE modem of the PinePhone.

Below is a table of some Pine64 ARM-powered devices:

PinePhone Pinebook Pro PineTab ROCKPro64 Quartz64 Model A SOPINE A64
Phone Laptop Tablet Single-board computer Single-board computer Computer-on-module
Quad-Core Allwinner A64 @ 1.152 GHz Hexa-Core Rockchip RK3399 Quad-Core Allwinner A64 @ 1.152 GHz Hexa-Core Rockchip RK3399 Quad-Core Rockchip RK3566 @ 2.0 GHz Quad-Core Allwinner A64 @ 1.152 GHz
Up to 3GB LPDDR3 RAM 4GB LPDDR4 RAM Up to 2GB LPDDR3 RAM Up to 4GB LPDDR4 RAM 4GB, 8GB LPDDR4 2GB of LPDDR3 RAM
Bootable microSD and 16GB/32GB eMMC Bootable microSD and 64GB eMMC

M.2 NVMe expansion option

Bootable microSD and 64GB eMMC Bootable microSD or optional eMMC module eMMC module socket (supporting up to 128GB) and microSD slot 128Mb SPI Flash

POWER/PowerPC

Once the pride and joy of the AIM Alliance, PowerPC hardware had been on decline since Apple decided to transition the Mac line of computers to the x86 architecture. Regardless, a few "renegades" decided to keep development of the platform alive, Which brigs us to:

Talos II

The Talos II is the first Power ISA workstation available to the general public since Apple discontinued the Power Mac G5 in mid-2006. It's built around the POWER9 processor from IBM. Available for pre-order since 2017, its price has gone up from $4,750.00 to $7,171.40 which makes it more of a luxury than a necessity (we're talking about the base model by the way!)

Below is a table of other offerings from Raptor Computing Systems:

Blackbird™ Mainboard (Board Only) Talos™ II Lite Mainboard (Board Only) Talos™ II Mainboard (Board Only) Blackbird™ Secure Desktop Talos™ II Entry-Level Developer System Talos™ II Desktop Development System
1 POWER9-compatible Sforza CPU socket

Supports up to an 8-core 160W TDP processor at full speed Higher core count CPUs are not officially supported

SMT4 capable

1 POWER9-compatible CPU socket

Supports up to a 22-core 160W TDP processor at full speed

SMT4 capable

2 POWER9-compatible CPU sockets

Supports up to TWO 22-core 160W TDP processors at full speed

SMT4 capable

1 POWER9-compatible Sforza CPU socket

Supports up to an 8-core 160W TDP processor at full speed

SMT4 capable

1 POWER9-compatible CPU socket

Supports up to a 22-core 160W TDP processor at full speed

SMT4 capable

2 POWER9-compatible CPU sockets

Supports up to TWO 22-core 160W TDP processors at full speed

SMT4 capable

2 DDR4 ECC registered RAM slots

Individual 128GB DDR4 DIMM support Supports up to 256GB total main system memory

8 DDR4 ECC registered RAM slots

Individual 128GB DDR4 DIMM support Supports up to 1TB total main system memory

16 DDR4 ECC registered RAM slots

Individual 128GB DDR4 DIMM support Supports up to 2TB total main system memory

2 DDR4 ECC registered RAM slots

Individual 128GB DDR4 DIMM support Supports up to 256GB total main system memory

8 DDR4 ECC registered RAM slots

Individual 128GB DDR4 DIMM support Supports up to 1TB total main system memory

16 DDR4 ECC registered RAM slots

Individual 128GB DDR4 DIMM support Supports up to 2TB total main system memory

Micro ATX form factor EATX form factor EATX form factor uATX mainboard in slimline chassis with 300W TFX power supply EATX chassis with 500W ATX power supply EATX chassis with 500W ATX power supply
1 PCIe 4.0 x16 slot

1 PCIe 4.0 x8 slot

1 PCIe 4.0 x16 slot

1 PCIe 4.0 x8 slot

3 PCIe 4.0 x16 slots

2 PCIe 4.0 x8 slots

1 PCIe 4.0 x16 slot

1 PCIe 4.0 x8 slot

1 PCIe 4.0 x16 slot

CAPI 2.0 capable

1 PCIe 4.0 x8 slot

3 PCIe 4.0 x16 slots (2 inactive with single CPU)

2 PCIe 4.0 x8 slots (1 inactive with single CPU)

NXP QorIQ AMP Series

A descendant of the mighty PowerPC G4 (MPC7400), the original QorIQ series is built around the e6500 core, which in turn is an evolution of the PowerPC e600 (developed after MPC7448, the last true G4). NXP has since switched to ARM cores for its Qoriq line. Regardless, development boards are still available, with the T2080 being sold for $1499.00 in 2021.