Table of Contents
RAPTOR Computing Systems Blackbird
This platform is current owner-controllable hardware and is still sold despite its age. It remains relevant because of its open firmware stack, auditable design, and unusual high degree of owner control.
The Raptor Blackbird is a microATX mainboard based on IBM POWER9 and OpenPOWER technology released in 2019. It is designed as a single-socket desktop and entry-server platform with a strong focus on firmware openness and owner control.
Overview
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Vendor | Raptor Computing Systems |
| Product | Blackbird |
| Form factor | microATX |
| Platform | OpenPOWER / PowerNV |
| CPU sockets | 1 x LGA 2601 |
| CPU family | IBM POWER9 “Sforza” |
| Memory | 2 x DDR4 ECC registered DIMM slots, dual-channel, up to 256 GB |
| Networking | 3 x Gigabit Ethernet (Broadcom BCM5719) |
| Storage | 4 x SATA via Marvell 88SE9235 |
| BMC | AST2500 with OpenBMC |
| Expansion | 1 x PCIe Gen4 x16, 1 x PCIe Gen4 x8 |
| Audio | 5.1 audio with analogue and S/PDIF output |
| USB | 4 x USB 3.0 plus 1 x internal USB 2.0 Type-A |
Hardware details
Blackbird is a single-socket POWER9 system in the smaller microATX form factor. It provides one PCIe Gen4 x16 slot, one PCIe Gen4 x8 slot, four SATA ports, three Gigabit Ethernet ports, and an AST2500 BMC running OpenBMC. One of the rear Ethernet ports is shared with the BMC. [page:1]
The board also includes HDMI output via the BMC for a basic 2D framebuffer, audio output, and a Lattice ICE40HX1K FPGA controller. USB 3.0 is provided by a firmware-free TUSB7340 XHCI chip, and SATA is provided by a firmware-free Marvell 88SE9235 controller. [page:1]
Supported CPUs
Blackbird accepts one POWER9 Sforza CPU with a TDP of up to 160 W. Raptor states that 4-core and 8-core CPUs are officially supported on the board. [page:1]
Officially supported CPU options include:
- IBM POWER9 v2 4-core
- IBM POWER9 v2 8-core
CPUs above 160 W may work in some cases, but Raptor notes that operation without WoF may occur because of power regulator limitations. [page:1]
Owner-controllability
One of the main advantages of Blackbird is that it is designed as a fully owner-controlled system. Raptor states that the CPU domain is fully owner-controlled and that the open-source firmware can be audited and modified all the way down to CPU microcode level. [web:92][web:95]
This is highly unusual for a modern desktop-class system. In practice, the main benefits are:
- open and auditable firmware instead of opaque vendor blobs
- the ability to inspect and modify the boot chain
- improved long-term maintainability
- reduced dependence on proprietary platform management components
- stronger alignment with security, software freedom, and owner sovereignty goals
Use cases
Blackbird is particularly attractive for users who want a modern owner-controlled workstation or low-end server platform. It is also relevant for users who prioritise open firmware, software freedom, security reviewability, and long-term control over the machine.
Notes
Although Blackbird is highly open by modern standards, it remains a POWER9 platform and therefore has a much smaller ecosystem than mainstream x86 hardware. This should be considered when planning operating system support, PCIe device compatibility, and application deployment.
Links
- Manufacturer: Raptor Computing Systems
- Product page: Blackbird µATX Mainboard
- Board-only page: Blackbird mainboard
- Wiki page: Blackbird (Raptor CS Wiki)