PC Engines apu platform EOL

Related, the ongoing coreboot-based firmware updates aren't being funded, so being discontinued as well:

https://docs.dasharo.com/variants/pc_engines/post-eol-fw-ann...

> Despite having used considerable quantities of AMD processors and Intel NICs, we don't get adequate design support for new projects. In addition, the x86 silicon currently offered is not very appealing for our niche of passively cooled boards.

Have Intel and AMD ceded low-power embedded systems to Arm and RISC-V?

Only a handful of Ryzen Embedded (v1000, v2000) board designs were announced. They took years to become available for purchase and cost several multiples of an APU2.

PC Engines offered unmatched flexibility in the sub-$200 x86 segment:

  low-power, fanless 
  open-source coreboot firmware
  Intel NICs (vs Realtek)
  open schematics
  USB, SD, SATA or mSATA storage
  ECC RAM
  GPIO
  TPM and DRTM
  3rd party cases for rack/wall mount
  supported by Linux, Xen, OpenBSD, FreeBSD, pfSense, OPNsense

earlier thread: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35614613

I always liked the idea of PC Engines small fanless computers/motherboards ... but one thing always bothered me - they were really pricey.

On the other hand - there are other multiple choices that serve similar role as PC Engines.

For example I recently switched to Dell Wyse 3030 LT boxes which are very cheap (20-30$ for used one) and they draw very little amount of power (3.8-4.2W measured with physical watt-o-meter).

Some details here:

- https://vermaden.wordpress.com/2023/04/10/silent-fanless-del...

> After about 20 years of WRAP, ALIX and APU, it is time for me to move on to different things.

The business will be shut down entirely?

This along with the recent Netflix DVD service news is disheartening.

I have two APU boards and get a lot of value out of them. It’s really awesome to be able to obtain small systems like this.

If the entire business will be closed, I hope the owner(s) will announce any new projects they might be starting.

I also wonder if other CPUs would be considered for boards, but the above text sounds like a final call for the whole business.

Discussion (100+ comments) continues at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35635900