Firefly-RK3288 was one the first boards powered by Rockchip RK3288 quad core Cortex A17 processor, and now Firefly team, part of T-Chip technology, has provided a new version called Firefly-RK3288 Reload with the same processor, but more features, and thanks to design comprised of a carrier board and system-on-module (SoM) – connected via an MXM connector – suitable to people or companies wanting to create their own board without handing the complexity of the processor, memory, and storage part.
The table below shows Firefly-RK3288 and Firefly RK3288 Reload specifications side-by side.
| Parameter | Firefly-RK3288 (Plus) | Firefly-RK3288 Reload |
| SoC | Rockchip RK3288 ARM Cortex-A17 quad core processor up to 1.8GHz with ARM Mali-T760 MP4 GPU |
|
| RAM | 2GB Dual-Channel DDR3 (Plus version is 4GB) | 2GB Dual-Channel DDR3 |
| Storage | 16GB eMMC (Plus version is 32GB) MicroSD (TF) Card Slot |
16GB eMMC MicroSD (TF) Card Slot SATA 2.0 (Suggest 2.5 inch SSD or HDD) |
| PMU | ACT8846 PMU Chip | |
| Ethernet | 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet (Realtek RTL8211E) | |
| Wireless | Integrated WiFi Combo Module ( AP6335 ) : WiFi 2.4GHz/5GHz Dual-Band Support 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.0 (Support BLE) |
|
| Display |
|
|
| Audio |
|
|
| Camera | 1x MIPI-CSI interface 13MP max. | 1x MIPI-CSI interface 13MP max. 1x DVP Interface 5MP max. |
| USB | 2x USB 2.0 host ports1 x USB 2.0 OTG port 4x USB 2.0 via headers |
3x USB 2.0 host ports1x USB 2.0 OTG port |
| IR | 1x IR receiver module | |
| LED | 1x Power Status LED (Blue) 1x User Defined LED (Green) |
|
| Button | 1x Reset button1x Power button1x Recover button | |
| Debugging | 1x serial Console for debugging | |
| Reserved Interface | 84-pin expansion header with MIPI DSI, MIPI-CSI, dual LVDS, eDP, PWM, SPI, UART, ADC, GPIO, I2C, and I2S | 184-pin expansion header with MIPI CSI, MIPI DSI, dual LVDS, eDP, PWM, SPI, UART, ADC, GPIO, I2C, I2S, etc… |
| Power | DC5V – 2.5A ( via DC 4.0×1.7mm Jack ) | DC12V – 1.5A ( via DC 5.5×2.1mm Jack ) |
| OS | Android 4.4 or 5.1 Ubuntu 14.04 | Android 5.1 / Ubuntu 14.04 |
| Dimensions | 118mm × 85mm | MainBoard -178mm x 117mm Core-Board – 82mm x 60mm |
| Weight | 77g | 176g |
Since RK3288 did not suddenly grow SATA or USB 3.0 support, the SATA implementation is based on JMicron JM20329 a USB 2.0 to SATA bridge which should limit data transfer to around 35 to 40 MB/s at best. The system-on-module includes the processor, memory, storage, and PMIC, with signals routed to an 314-pin MXM connector, and most other features are placed in the baseboard. Software supports is basically the same between the two boards, except the Reload version does not support the older Android 4.4 Kitkat firmware. You can find documentation in Firefly-RK3288 Wiki, and download firmware, source code (SDK), and hardware design files (PDF schematics and CAD files) in the Download section of the website.
Firefly-RK3288 Reload can be purchased for $189 including shipping via DHL on Aliexpress. I can’t find Rockchip RK3288 SoM anymore, so you’d have to contact the company to get pricing for the module.
Thanks to Nanik for the tip.
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 wonder how standardized the MXM3 connector is: Would it be possible to use this Firefly RK3288 module on the Landingship baseboard and the GeekBox RK3368 module on this Reload baseboard? Neither seem to publicly document the exact connector layout.
Background: http://lists.infradead.org/pipermail/linux-rockchip/2016-February/007194.html
@Andreas
The connector is “standard” but as MXM was designed for graphics cards, it’s not as if there’s going to be a standard solution for other types of uses, such as these modules.
@Andreas
MXM3 connector has a mechanical standard, but the signals going through the connector are not defined, and that’s why you have SoM standards to define the signals such as Q7, EDM, SMARC…
The SO-DIMM connector is also used for that purpose, but again most companies have their own way of routing the signals, so you can just replace SO-DIMM CPU module from one company with the one from another company.
Firefly-RK3288 Reload looks the full featured board of Firefly RK3288. Core board and backplane combination, more powerful. I want to use it to develop the advertising machine.