System76, a leading US-based manufacturer of Linux computers, has partnered with chipmaker Ampere to unveil Thelio Astra, an arm64 developer desktop designed for autonomous vehicles, advanced driver-assistance systems, and software-defined vehicle development.
Leveraging Ampereโs Altra processors enables automakers to bring their vision of self-driving vehicles closer to reality through arm-native development.
Additionally, System76 provides lifetime in-house support from a team of production, QA, mechanical engineers, software engineers, and support technicians based under one roof at its Denver facility.
Until now, software development for SDVs, ADAS, and AVs has often relied on inefficient arm emulation or underpowered automotive ECUs. Thelio Astra changes the game by providing direct arm64 support along with NVIDIA GPU compatibility right out of the box.
โSystem76 is revolutionizing modern computingโfirst with their Thelio Mega AI/ML power desktop, and now with Thelio Astra, a developer desktop built to handle the rigors of autonomous vehicle development,โ said Tony Rosella, Product Manager of System76.
Joe Speed, Head of Edge at Ampere, adds, โEnd-to-end native parity is exactly what the automotive industry needs to deliver better quality software faster. This 128-core desktop runs dozens of virtual ECUs, executing thousands of unit tests. System76 is putting this power directly into developersโ hands, making advanced automotive development more accessible.โ
Thelio Astra: Designed for AI-Driven Autonomous Vehicles
For developers working on AVs, ADAS, and digital cockpits, having specialized tools to ensure peak performance, compatibility, and reliability is crucial. Thelio Astra is custom-engineered to optimize thermal performance and the powerful Ampere Altra processors it houses. This developer desktop offers the following:
- Compatibility: Arm64 and NVIDIA GPU support out of the box, eliminating the need for emulation.
- Power: A meticulously engineered thermal system that prevents thermal throttling, allowing sustained performance during intensive workloads.
- Support: Lifetime in-house support from System76โs highly responsive and knowledgeable team.
- Cost-Effectiveness: More powerful yet cheaper than bare metal cloud GPU instances, it pays for itself in a matter of months.
It’s also worth noting that the Ampere Altra CPUs powering Thelio Astra offer faster arm64 software testing than arm64 emulation on traditional x86 workstations. Under the hood, configurations can include:
- Up to 128-core Ampere Altra (3.0 GHz)
- 512GB 8-channel DDR4 ECC memory (3200 MHz)
- NVIDIA RTX 6000 Ada GPU
- 8TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 NVMe storage
- Dual 25 Gigabit ethernet SPF28
- 850 Watt 80+ Gold Certified Power Supply
- Powered by Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
For more information, visit the product page on System76’s website.
