SavageBoard Open Source Hardware Board Powered by NXP i.MX 6 Processor Offers Multiple Display Options

While it’s hard to keep track of all NXP i.MX6 boards and modules on the market, few can claim to be open source hardware, with the exception of OpenRex, and now SavageBoard, which I just found in Linux 4.11 release log. The board comes in three variants with Solo, Dual, and Quad versions, is equipped with 4 to 8GB flash, 512MB to 1GB RAM, HDMI, TFT LCD, MIPI DSI, and LVDS ports, Ethernet, SATA (Quad only), lots of I/O headers, and more.

SavageBoard Solo/Dual/Quad specifications:

• SoC
  • Solo – NXP i.MX 6Solo Cortex A9 processor @ 1.0 GHz with Vivante GC880 3D GPU
  • Dual – NXP i.MX 6Dual dual core Cortex A9 processor @ 1.0 GHz with Vivante GC880 3D GPU
  • Quad – NXP i.MX 6Quad quad core Cortex A9 processor @ 1.0 GHz with Vivante GC2000 3D GPU
• System Memory
  • Solo – 512 MB 32-bit DDR3 @ 400 MHz
  • Dual & Quad – 1GB 64-bit DDR3 @ 800 MHz
• Storage
  • Solo – 4GB eMMC flash + micro SD slot
  • Dual – 8GB eMMC flash + micro SD slot
  • Quad – 8GB eMMC flash + micro SD slot + SATA
• Video Output / Display I/F – 1x HDMI port, dual channel LVDS, MIPI DSI, TFT RGB LCD interface
• Audio – HDMI output, 3.5mm stereo headphone jack, Wolfson audio codec
• Camera – 1x MIPI CSI connector
• Connectivity – 1x 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
• USB – 2x USB 2.0 host port, 1x micro USB OTG port, 1x USB 2.0 port via PCIe connector
• Debugging – 1x RS232 DB9 connector, 1x PIN header
• Expansion
  • 1x mini PCIe slot
  • Headers for I2C, SPI, UART, GPIOs, SDIO…
• Misc – Boot configuration header
• Power Supply – 12V/1A DC via power barrel
• Dimensions – 125 x 95 mm (ETX form factor)

The company provides source code (SDK) and binary images for Android 6.0, the Yocto Project, and Arch Linux (ARM). You’ll also find the EAGLE and PDF schematics and PCB layout, as well as the gerber files, and mechanical files on SavageBoard website.

The Solo, Dual and Quad versions of the board are said to be for sale for $59, $79, and $99 respectively, and the company also sells a Tianma 9.7” LCD Display with LED backlight, 1024×768 resolution ($70),  a WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n MIMO + BT 4.0 module ($35), a 12V/1A power adapter ($15), and a 5MP camera module ($25). However, I could not find a way to purchase easily online, so you may have to contact Postlab Technology (Taiwan) which seems to be the board’s designer and manufacturer.

Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)

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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