After the tablet based Gooseberry and Hackberry boards, as well as Cubieboard and the upcoming A10-Olinuxino development boards, here’s another development board based on AllWinner A10 called the MarsBoard that looks very similar to the Cubieboard.
Here are the key features of the board:
- SoC – AllWinner A10 Cortex A8 @ 1 GHz + Mali-400 GPU
- System Memory – 1GB DRAM
- Storage – 4GB Flash + 1x microSD card (up to 32GB)
- Video Output – HDMI
- Audio Output – 3.5mm stereo jack
- USB – 2x USB host port + 1x microUSB
- Connectivity – 10/100 M Ethernet
- SATA Connector
- Headers – 2x 2.0mm GPIO headers. (140 pins in total)
- Power Supply Requirements – 5V/2A
- Dimensions – 80mm x 55mm
There’s also a 3.5mm jack but I’m not sure if it’s just for audio in or out, or for composite output. The website is still in construction (basically a modified copy of Miniand Hackberry) and the specifications do not match exactly the board shown in the picture as they just copied and pasted AK-212 mini PC specifications. [The website has just been updated]. There’s also a page on hotmcu.com where you should eventually be able to buy it (out of stock now) for $49.99 including shipping.
It’s so similar to the Cubieboard, except a few details (e.g. no audio in), that it should be software compatible, and you could just use Cubieboard Quick Start Guide to install your Linux OS of choice.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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I wish the VPU would work with XBMC on Linux. Originally I bought Mele A1000, because it seemed faster and available sooner than RPi, but now I have RPi and it’s great.
As far as I know, allwinner is not releasing VPU source so no linux hardware acceleration is possible for Allwinner devices. On Android instead, some closed source players can sign NDA so they have hardware accelerated playback.
i.e. Cubieboard will not ever be a rasppi alternative.
pls, correct me if I’m wrong.
@Passante
Although VPU decoding “works”, there won’t be XBMC Linux on AllWinner A10 devices, because there are artifacts during decoding in Linux, and AllWinner has no incentive to fix their binary libs.
Now there are many other things apart from XBMC you can do with a Raspberry Pi and Cubieboard, and in some cases the Cubieboard is a better alternative feature- and price-wise.
Hmm already sold out ! This could make a perfect WIFI drive, or Home media server coupled with 1 tb sata.
@Rohith M
My guess is that it has never been up for sale until now. So they just write “sold out”, until they have stock.
i can add to cart, but stock is 0.
@Rohith M
From Live-support:
“The MarsBoard is manufacturing. Expected 10 to 15 days, or even longer can be completed. We can not determine the specific time, but we can be sure that the end of this month certainly can be available and shipping. If you are interested in MarsBoard and can be purchased directly. When the MarsBoard available, we will be shipped as soon as possible.Thank you for your understanding and support.”
Schematics: http://linux-sunxi.org/images/2/24/MarsBoard_Schematic_V1.3.pdf
@d1dd1
Thanks for letting me know that. 🙂 .
I am able to checkout ! Not sure if i have to continue with payment or not ? what you think guys ? Website says this message ” Products marked with *** are out of stock.
Items not in stock will be placed on backorder. “
Just a note to CNX; Tom Cubie reported that they are producing a new batch of 3000 Cubieboards. Manufacturing started on the 5th March and they will be made available by mid March. Source: Tom on cubieboard discussion list (Google Groups).
@Simon
Thanks. Nice to know! Many people seem to have problem getting hold of the board.
Cubie boards are currently in stock at miniand.com I just bought one set, adding to the arsenal of board collection.
@Passante
You are misinformed on two counts;
http://libv.livejournal.com/23886.html Mali-400 open source drivers from the Lima project running Quake 3.
Secondly, the GPU specs for the RasPi are even less available, and the RasPi does not run with 3D acceleration. The thing is that some of the key developers work for Broadcomm, and so would be less likely to reverse engineer the RasPi GPU. That said, some OpenGL ES is available from RasPi core team.
Are you sure ? Shows out of stock to me.
Can anyone suggest a source for cases for the Marsboard? Either a single board enclosure or a rack for 5-10 boards.
@Tom
Try to ask on their forums – http://www.marsboard.com/forums/
Maybe they have plans to make a casing, or could give ideas for a rack mount.
I saw two type of marshboard chipset with cortex A8 and Built in Freescale newest i.MX6 Cortex-A9 Dual Core ( view here :http://www.embest-tech.com/shop/star/marsboard.html ) , that is true?
@zoel
Yes, there’s the MarsBoard (no space), and the Mars Board (with a space): http://www.cnx-software.com/2013/04/02/99-mars-board-features-freescale-i-mx6-dual-4gb-emmc/
There’s also MarsBoard A20 – http://www.hotmcu.com/new-marsboard-a20-dev-board-p-67.html?cPath=34_33
Debian and Lubuntu with HDMI,VGA,LCD output can be downloaded @ http://www.marsboard.com/new_marsboard_a20_download.html
Or FTP -> http://www.haoyuelectronics.com/service/A10-A20