FAQ: note about external graphics cards

1 files changed, 23 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/site/faq/index.php b/site/faq/index.php
index f593811..7c4c39f 100644
--- a/site/faq/index.php
+++ b/site/faq/index.php
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@
 				</ul>
 			<h2>Freedom questions</h2>
 				<ul class="c">
+					<li><a href="#external-gpu">Are external GPUs (e.g. PCI-E) OK?</a></li>
 					<li>
 						<a href="#otherfirmware">What other firmware exists outside of libreboot?</a>
 						<ul>
@@ -538,6 +539,28 @@
 
 		<h1>Freedom questions</h1>
 
+			<h2 id="external-gpu">Are external GPUs (e.g. PCI-E) OK? <span class="r"><a href="#external-gpu">#external-gpu</a></span></h2>
+
+				<p>
+					The Video BIOS is present on most video hardware. On all current libreboot systems, this is implemented using free software.
+					The Video BIOS is responsible for initializing any sort of visual display; without it, you'd have what's called a
+					<i>headless</i> system.
+				</p>
+				<p>
+					For integrated graphics, the VBIOS is usually embedded as an <i>option ROM</i> in the main boot firmware. For external
+					graphics, the VBIOS is usually on the graphics card itself. This is usually proprietary; the only difference is that
+					SeaBIOS executes it (alternatively, you embed it in a coreboot ROM image and have coreboot executes it, if you use
+					a different payload, such as GRUB).
+				</p>
+				<p>
+					We're going to tentatively say no, they're not OK. Unless you're actively working to replace the VBIOS, or find out how
+					to get a visual display without it (possible in some cases, if the kernel driver can be modified to work without it,
+					possibly only needing certain non-executable data).
+				</p>
+				<p>
+					<a href="#pagetop">Back to top of page</a>
+				</p>
+
 			<h2 id="otherfirmware">What other firmware exists outside of libreboot? <span class="r"><a href="#otherfirmware">#otherfirmware</a></span></h2>
 
 				<p>