We’ve first found out about Beagleboard-X15 open source hardware board about a year ago, and development has taken a bit longer than expected, but Beagleboard.org has now formally launched BeagleBoard-X15, which remains based on Texas Instruments Sitara AM5728 dual Cortex A15 processor, and is expected to ship before Christmas for $239.
The key part of the specifications are still the same as last year, but we’ve got a few more details now:
- SoC – Texas Instruments Sitara AM5728 with:
- Two ARM Cortex A15 cores @ 1.5 GHz
- PowerVR SGX544-MP2 3D GPU, Vivante GC320 2D GPU
- Two Cortex M4 cores @ 212 MHz
- Dual core C66x DSP @ 700 MHz
- IVA (Image and Video Accelerator) for 1080p video decode (H.264, VC-1, MPEG 1/2/4, AVS, etc..)
- Four 32-bit PRUs (Programmable Real-time Units)
- System Memory – 2GB DDR3L @ 533MHz
- Storage – 4GB 8-bit eMMC flash, micro SD slot, and eSATA interface (500 mA)
- Video I/O – HDMI out up to 1080p60, LCD port, and Video IN
- Audio I/O – HDMI out, analog audio In/Out (via AIC3104)
- Connectivity – 2x Gigabit Ethernet ports
- USB – 3x USB 3.0 ports (2x @ 900mA, 1x @ 1800 mA) , 1x micro USB 2.0 client, 4x internal USB 2.0 interfaces
- Debugging -20-pin JTAG header, serial debug header
- Expansion Headers – 4x 60-pin high-speed surface-mount headers with access to up to 157 GPIOs, 7x UARTs, SPI, I2C, CAN, 2x PCIe, LCD, mSATA, camera, and up to 185 PRU pins
- Misc – Power LEDs, Ethernet LEDs, 4-user LEDs, reset and power buttons, RTC with optional battery backup
- Power Supply – 12V DC @ TBD via power barrel. PMIC: PS659037
- Dimensions – 10.67 x 10.16 cm
The board will run Debian, Android, Ubuntu, Cloud9 IDE on Node.js and more operating systems and tools. Beagleboard-X15 is supported in U-boot mainline (since v2015.01-rc3), but they still recommend to use Texas Instruments’ fork, and Linux mainlining is in progress with USB 2.0, dual Ethenet, and some GPIO code already supported. The Wiki also mentions a potential about open source user space driver for the PowerVR GPU by FSF. The wiki is where you’ll get most information for now, as the first version of the System Reference Manual is planned for the end of October, and the rest of the design materials soon after. Full technical documentation for Sitara AM572x processors can already be accessed on AM5728 rocessor page.
The first production run is scheduled to have 2,000 boards, and boards should be shipped to distributors around November 15th. So while you can;’t quite buy the board right now, you can still register your interest on BeagleBoard-X15 product page to be informed once the board is up for sale. BeagleBoard-X15 has an estimated lifespan of over 10 years.
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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Take a look at this page https://boards.openpandora.org/pyramain/pyraspecs.html
The Pyra device is powered by the TI’s OMAP5 SoC which looks like the Sitara AM5728.
And the device will be probably released at the end of the year.
It looks like a nice board for more complicated realtime projects. BeagleBone Black has shown that they can provide really good software support so I believe it will continue to this board. The price is a bit high but it has many interesting features as well as proven support.
IMHO: Too expensive for hobbyists and embedding, but that may be exactly what Ti wants.
Love the two gig-e’s and DSP.
Definitely not too expensive for embedding, and if you’re serious about using it in a product, the 10-year life is a big deal.
Sure, if you want the cheapest possible Linux box, the X15 is not the way to go. But ___Pi boards aren’t in its class if you need a high performance controller – the closest comparable SBC’s would be models like MinnowBoard, some i.MX6 boards, and Zynq boards which also have features such as PCIe, SATA, and real time I/O (M4/PRU on X15, FPGA fabric on Zynq).
If you don’t like it, don’t buy it, but I’m glad BB.org created it, instead of creating just another ___Pi board (and I plan on getting one sometime next year).