$60 MarsBoard Rockchip PX2 Development Board Runs Ubuntu, Debian, openSUSE, or Android 4.4

Haoyu Electronics has made a new board similar to their MarsBoard RK3066, but instead of using a CPU module with Rockchip RK3066, they’ve used the industrial version of the chip called Rockchip PX2 dual core Cortex A9 processor.

The board is also comprised of a baseboard and CPU module (CM-PX2), and based on the name of the pictures it’s using the exact same PCB: CM-RK3066 SoM, and SOM-RK3066 baseboard, but they simply replaced RK3066 by PX2, and increased the NAND flash capacity to 8GB.

• CM-PX2 Computer-on-Module:
  • SoC – Rockchip PX2 dual core ARM Cortex A9 @ 1.4 GHz + Mali-400MP4 GPU
  • System Memory – 1GB DDR3
  • Storage – 8 GB NAND
  • Power Management Unit – TPS659102
  • Misc – TX indicator LED use for debug, Power Indicator LED
  • 10/100M Ethernet PHY – LAN8720A
  • Connectors – 2x 100- pin for baseboard connection, 40-pin connector (unsoldered)
  • Dimensions – 70 x 58 mm
• SOM-RK3066 Baseboard:
  • Storage – micro SD card socket up to 128 GB
  • Video Output – HDMI A Type socket, LCD + capacitive touch interface
  • Audio – Headphone and speaker output, microphone (not soldered), Audio Codec IC ALC5631Q
  • Connectivity – RJ45 10/100M Ethernet
  • USB – 4 x USB 2.0 Host port, Micro USB DEBUG port (via CP2102), Micro USB OTG port
  • Misc – IR Receiver (not soldered), CR1220 battery holder for RTC, VOL+ (Recovery Key), VOL-, ESC, and Power Keys
  • Expansion Port – 2x 20 pin headers
  • Power Supply – 5V/2A
  • Dimensions – 105 x 78 mm

The schematics in PDF are available for both the CoM and baseboard, but the latter is also claimed to be open source hardware, and you’ll find a license file, and a DSN file in the company’s server, but no PCB layout, BoM, and other required document. Images (Ubuntu 14.04, Debian 7.7, openSUSE, Android 4.4.2), source code (Linux kernel, and Android SDK), as well as tools and documentation can be found on the download page. There you’ll notice a single image is provided for both PX2 and RK3066, so both processor are not only pin-to-pin compatible, but also software compatible.

MarsBoard PX2 is sold with a USB Wi-Fi dongle based on RTL8188EU for $60 + shipping on hotmcu.com. MarsBoard PX2 is not the only Rockchip PX2 available, and Rayeager PX2 board is another option for $99 that includes a Wi-Fi + BT module on-board, and a SATA port (via a USB to SATA chip) among other things.

Thanks to Freire for the tip.

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