System76 Announces Two Linux Laptops With Coreboot And Intel Comet Lake Chips
System76 has announced two Linux laptops that feature the open source BIOS alternative coreboot. The company will ship the Galago Pro and the Darter Pro with Intel Comet Lake processors from the end of October.
According to System76, coreboot boots 29 percent faster than the BIOS version that the company previously delivered on its laptops. Coreboot is an open source alternative to the closed bios and efi firmwares and Chromebooks, among others, use it. In addition, Purism, among others, uses it for its Linux laptops.
In addition, according to System76, the laptops must be more secure because “unnecessary functionality from the firmware has been disabled, such as network connectivity and execution environments.” For example, the Intel Management Engine is disabled. Phoronix points out that the coreboot firmware may still contain binary blobs from Intel’s Firmware Support Package.
The Galago Pro has a 14.1 “screen and has a starting price of $ 949, converted and with VAT 1043 euros. The Darter Pro has a 15.6 “screen and starts from 999 dollars, or 1097 euros converted and with VAT be delivered.
On the left the Dater Pro, on the right the Galaco Pro
| Operating system | Pop!_OS 19.10 (64-bit), Pop!_OS 18.04 LTS (64-bit), Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (64-bit) |
| Firmware | System76 Open Firmware (Coreboot, EDK2, System76 Firmware Apps) |
| Processors | Core i5-10210U: 1.6 – 4.2 GHz – 6MB Cache – 4 Cores – 8 Threads Core i7-10510U: 1.8 – 4.9GHz – 8MB Cache – 4 Cores – 8 Threads |
| Display | Galago Pro: 14.1″, 1920×1080, matte Darter Pro: 15.6″ 1920×1080, matte |
| graphics | Intel UHD Graphics |
| Memory | Up to 32GB Dual Channel DDR4 @ 2666MHz |
| Storage | Galago Pro: m2 SSD, 2.5″, up to 6TB Darter Pro: m2 sata or pci-e nvme ssd up to 2T |
| IO | Galago Pro: usb 3.1 type-c with Thunderbolt 3, 2 × usb 3.1 type-a, sd card reader Darter Pro: usb 3.1 type-c with Thunderbolt 3, 2 × usb 3.0 type-a, 1 x usb 2.0, sd card reader |
| Input | Multi-touch touchpad, backlit keyboard |
| Network | gigabit Ethernet, Intel Wireless-AC, bluetooth 5 |
| Video ports | hdmi, mini display port |
| audio | Stereo speakers, mic, headphone jack, mic jack, 5.1 (hdmi) |
| Camera | 720p HD Webcam |
| Security | Disabled ME, Kensington Lock |
| Battery | Galago Pro: Li-Ion – 35.3 Wh Darter Pro: Li-Ion – 54.5 Wh |
| charger | 40 W, AC-in 100–240 V, 50–60 Hz |
| Dimensions | Galago Pro: 18×330×225mm) Darter Pro: 19.8 × 360.4 × 244.6mm |
| Weight | Galago Pro: 1.3 kg Darter Pro: 1.6kg Depending on configuration |