[ILUG] Re: non american CPUs ?

[Mark Twomey]

John wrote:
>Are there any decent high-end linux-capable systems that use completely
>non-american components ?

> At the moment, it's a purely intellectual exercise...but it occured to me
>that anything decent is either sparc, intel or powerpc, all built with
>american IP or produced by american companies.

Best of luck with that one John.
Let's look at your options shall we;

Anything from Intel: Nope
Anything from AMD: Nope
Anything from Moto: Nope
Anything from IBM: Nope
Sparc (Ultra and Sparc64. The V9 core comes from Sun and is licensed to
SPARC International. For a couple of bucks you could buy your own SPARC
license and all the documentation you need to get into the chip making biz.
The 200 member chip design team and access to a mega-FAB to actually build
your processor it is your problem though.): Nope
ARM (Why yes, Have a look at the latest Acorn mobo's you can buy online, but
since ARM are fabless, chances are the processors are made & sold by Texas
Instruments.): Nope.
MIPS (Formerly SGI's internal CPU division.): Nope
Transmeta: Nope.
The 'Red' Processors: Nope (Ripped off ALPHA, (DEC) and standard x86
(Intel). Stolen IP isn't any better than licensed stuff for your needs.)
HP PA/RISC: God No.
Sony's Emotion Engine: (You could buy the Linux Kit for PS2 and you're set,
if the Emotion Engine didn't use a MIPS III Core): Nope.
Hitachi's SH line (Now called the SuperH line www.superh.com): Yes. Japanese
all the way. Go buy that, see if you can get a compliant mobo, buy RAM from
NEC and you're good to go...oh wait most of the memory patents are held by
US company's. As well as the bus stuff, and chip interconnect technology,
and...

My point is that I'm sure it is possible to build a computer that neither
uses US components or US IP, It is highly improbable that you'll manage to
get it built.

Get Linux running on a Gameboy Advance (The entire thing built by NEC using
Jap components, an ARM core and an LCD from Phillips who are not only
European but own their own LCD patents.), and you'll be nearly there apart
from the high performance part. ;-)

M.