Currently gaming on my 9020 OptiPlex with Libreboot (i7 4790K, 32GB DDR3 1600Mhz, 7900 XTX 24GB VRAM <-- GPU mostly for AI stuff) The 9020 is capable of having 100% free BIOS firmware.
Honestly, depending on what you’re looking for, anything above 4th generation CPUs require the FSP binary, which is nearly impossible to replace. There is a new machine in Libreboot, the 3050 Micro which has the potential to reverse engineer the microcode / Intel Management Engine completely, though again, the FSP blob is still there. I have spoke with the founder of Libreboot and they said that it can’t really do anything, but I need to do more research. They said in 5 years we should see the ME / microcode on this machine to be replaced. If I recall correctly, they said this vulnerability would allow you to replace the ME / microcode on any coreboot compatiable 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th generation machine.
Regardless, for real actual freedom you’d have to buy anything that’s pre-2009 (e.g. GM45, X4X). I also recently helped fund and test the Dell 780 MT/DT/USFF. It does not rely on any binary blobs in the flash (100% free BIOS) and the entire ME firmware on it can be fully removed. It’s currently as close as you’re going to get in terms of freedom and performance (Q9650 3Ghz Quad Core CPU and 4x4GB DDR3 1333Mhz RAM, Intel Integrated Graphics)
The way I look at it, using some 50% open BIOS firmware is kinda pointless. Sure, better than none, but any proprietary blob in your system can be a potential vulnerability.
Currently gaming on my 9020 OptiPlex with Libreboot (i7 4790K, 32GB DDR3 1600Mhz, 7900 XTX 24GB VRAM <-- GPU mostly for AI stuff) The 9020 is capable of having 100% free BIOS firmware.
Honestly, depending on what you’re looking for, anything above 4th generation CPUs require the FSP binary, which is nearly impossible to replace. There is a new machine in Libreboot, the 3050 Micro which has the potential to reverse engineer the microcode / Intel Management Engine completely, though again, the FSP blob is still there. I have spoke with the founder of Libreboot and they said that it can’t really do anything, but I need to do more research. They said in 5 years we should see the ME / microcode on this machine to be replaced. If I recall correctly, they said this vulnerability would allow you to replace the ME / microcode on any coreboot compatiable 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th generation machine.
Regardless, for real actual freedom you’d have to buy anything that’s pre-2009 (e.g. GM45, X4X). I also recently helped fund and test the Dell 780 MT/DT/USFF. It does not rely on any binary blobs in the flash (100% free BIOS) and the entire ME firmware on it can be fully removed. It’s currently as close as you’re going to get in terms of freedom and performance (Q9650 3Ghz Quad Core CPU and 4x4GB DDR3 1333Mhz RAM, Intel Integrated Graphics)
The way I look at it, using some 50% open BIOS firmware is kinda pointless. Sure, better than none, but any proprietary blob in your system can be a potential vulnerability.