AMD openSIL Adds EPYC "Turin" Support as "Phoenix" Remains in Development

[AleksandarK]

AMD's openSIL project, a solution for open CPU silicon initialization code aimed at replacing traditional AGESA, has reached another milestone. Back in February, we reported on AMD promising full support for "Turin" and "Phoenix" server and client SoCs. The company initially targeted the end of 2024 for the release of proof-of-concept code, but failed to meet this deadline. A new target was subsequently set for the first half of 2025. As we roll into the second half, AMD openSIL now supports only the EPYC 9005 series Turin server processors, with Phoenix client SoCs still in development. AMD firmware engineers explained: "Currently, the Phoenix openSIL PoC release is still being worked on internally at AMD. We have encountered some delays in obtaining the necessary approvals to open-source the code, which has impacted our timeline. We are actively working to resolve these issues and are making every effort to expedite the process."

The path towards a fully open-source silicon initialization code is difficult, as it can expose many microarchitectural details. These are usually closely protected, as IP from Zen cores is valuable. An AMD engineer also added, "We understand the importance of this project to the open-source community and are committed to delivering it as promised." Nonetheless, the primary goal remains achieving full production readiness with the upcoming Zen 6 architecture. The openSIL project promises to enhance Coreboot support and provide developers with full access to low-level system components.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[_roman_]

All binary blobs. Without linux-firmware nothing works in comparision with e.g. microsoft windows 11 pro 24h2.

The path towards a fully open-source silicon initialization code is difficult

... AMD firmware engineers

time for coreboot, libreboot and Risc-V or similar platform.

 

[sudothelinuxwizard]

So, no openSIL for Raphael/Granite Ridge?

 

[ncrs]

All binary blobs. Without linux-firmware nothing works in comparision with e.g. microsoft windows 11 pro 24h2.

Windows uses binary blobs as well, the difference is that they get shipped in vendor driver packages (often via Windows Update).

time for coreboot, libreboot and Risc-V or similar platform.

RISC-V only makes the ISA "free". It doesn't guarantee anything with regards to the actual SoCs containing RISC-V cores or the cores themselves, and that is where you will find binary blobs needed for support.
The only relatively modern and usable platform so far that's truly open down to lowest level firmware is IBM POWER 9 as seen in Raptor Computing products like Talos II Workstation.

 

[igormp]

time for coreboot, libreboot and Risc-V or similar platform

OpenSIL is sort of a requirement for coreboot to be able to initialize a Ryzen system, and would even be able to work with libreboot given that it's open.
No extra firmware should be required apart from microcode, which is optional from a boot perspective.

 

[Dr. Dro]

So, no openSIL for Raphael/Granite Ridge?

Probably not, at least not for now. They were talking 2027 at the earliest for consumer-grade client platforms, iirc.

Goodbye, AGESA. Don't let the door hit your ahh on the way out. And may you never return.

 

[sudothelinuxwizard]

Probably not, at least not for now. They were talking 2027 at the earliest for consumer-grade client platforms, iirc.

Goodbye, AGESA. Don't let the door hit your ahh on the way out. And may you never return.

Will that perhaps coincide with Medusa's launch?

 

[Dr. Dro]

Will that perhaps coincide with Medusa's launch?

At the absolute earliest, if not the architecture that comes after it