Raspberry Pi CM5 launched with Broadcom BCM2712 SoC, up to 16GB LPDDR4 ECC memory

The Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5, or Raspberry Pi CM5 for shorts, is now available with up to 16GB LPPDR4 ECC memory, up to 64GB eMMC flash, and an optional WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 LE wireless module. It has the same form factor as the Raspberry Pi CM4 and CM4 Lite launched in 2020 but delivers a significant performance boost.

The Raspberry Pi CM5 is basically a tiny version of the Raspberry Pi 5 SBC designed for embedded applications with a Broadcom BCM2712 quad-core Cortex-A76 SoC, and offered with 2GB to 16GB RAM, optional 16GB to 64GB eMMC flash, and optional WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 module. As usual, there are also Raspberry Pi CM5 Lite versions without any eMMC flash meant to be booted from a microSD card or an SSD on the carrier board.

Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5

Raspberry Pi CM5 specifications:

• SoC – Broadcom BCM2712
  • CPU – Quad-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A76 processor @ 2.4GHz
  • GPU – VideoCore VII GPU with support for OpenGL ES 3.1 graphics, Vulkan 1.2
  • VPU – 4Kp60 HEVC decoder
• System Memory – 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB LPDDR4-4267 SDRAM with ECC
• Storage – Options for 0GB (CM5 Lite), 16GB, 32GB or 64GB eMMC flash
• Networking
  • Gigabit Ethernet PHY supporting IEEE 1588
  • Options for certified radio module supporting dual-band WiFi 5  and Bluetooth 5.0 BLE with on-board electronic switch to select between PCB trace or external antenna
• 2x high-speed board-to-board connectors
  • Storage – SDIO 2.0 (CM5 Lite only)
  • Video Output/Input
    • 2x HDMI 2.0 ports up to 4Kp60
    • 2x 4-lane MIPI ports supporting both DSI (display port) and CSI-2 (camera port)
  • USB
    • 1x USB 2.0 port (high-speed)
    • 2x USB 3.0 ports, supporting simultaneous 5Gbps operation
  • PCIe x1 root complex, Gen 2 (5Gbps)
  • Up to 30 × GPIO supporting either 1.8V or 3.3V signalling and peripheral options:
    • Up to 5x UART
    • Up to 5x I2C
    • Up to 5x SPI
    • SDIO interface
    • DPI (parallel RGB display)
    • 1x I2S
    • Up to 4x PWM channels
    • Up to 3x GPCLK outputs
• Misc – Optional 56 x 41 x 12.7 mm Raspberry Pi CM5 cooler (heatsink)
• Power Supply – Single +5V PSU input supports USB PD for up to 5A @ 5V
• Dimensions – 55 x 40 x 4.7 mm; 4x M2.5 mounting holes
• Temperature Range – -20°C to +85°C
• MTBF Ground Benign: 143 000 hours (168 000 hours CM5 Lite)
• Production lifetime – Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 will remain in production until at least January 2036
• Compliance – It’s complicated… There’s a long list that I won’t reproduce here

The software for the Raspberry Pi CM5 and CM5 Lite modules is basically the same as for the Raspberry Pi 5 with the official Raspberry Pi OS recommended, but third-party operating systems are also available.

The new module has many components that could potentially generate a lot of heat, but Raspberry Pi only provides a “cooler” (aka heatsink) as shown above. EDATEC has already made a CM5 active cooler that will be available on Digikey and Mouser.

Raspberry Pi CM5 IO board and development kit

As with previous generations of Compute Modules, a Raspberry Pi CM5 IO board is available to evaluate the module and early software development before the custom carrier board is ready. The board was designed with KiCAD and will be open-source hardware.

Raspberry Pi CM5 IO board specifications:

• Compatible with Raspberry Pi CM5 and CM5 Lite modules
• Storage
  • MicroSD card socket for Compute Module 5 Lite modules
  • M.2 M-key PCI socket for 2230, 2242, 2260, or 2280 NVMe SSD
• Video Output – 2x full-size HDMI 2.1 ports up to 4Kp60
• Networking – Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 with PoE+ HAT+ support
• USB – 2x USB 3.0 ports
• IO Expansion – 40-pin GPIO header and mounting holes for Raspberry Pi HAT+ connector
• Misc
  • Power button to wake and shut down the Compute Module 5
  • 4-pin PWM fan header
  • RTC battery socket
• Power Supply – +5V/5A via USB-C PSU
• Dimensions – 160 x 90 mm
• MTBF Ground Benign – 131,000 hours
• Production lifetime: – Until at least January 2028

It’s basically a large Raspberry Pi 5 with full-size HDMI ports and more built-in features, but no USB 2.0 ports. The company also provides a complete development kit with all accessories needed to get started (more on that later today since I have a kit up-and-running here in CNX Software’s “office”) including the “IO Case” as shown below.

Raspberry Pi CM5 price

There are even more choices than before for the module due to the extra 16GB RAM option with prices ranging from $45 to $135.

The Raspberry Pi CM5 IO board sells for $20, the IO case for $15, and the cooler for $5 all available on your usual distributors. Some information about the CM5 was leaked beforehand so we know several companies have planned the release of CM5 hardware including SECO, EDATEC with HMI and embedded PCs, and KSH planned to launch the WPC-632-PI CM5 5G IoT gateway in Q1 2024 as an update to its earlier WPC-632-Pi CM4 based on the Compute Module 4.

More details about the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 may be found on the product page.

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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