TQ Group Announces NXP i.MX 8X ARM Cortex-A35 Modules as the Processor Finally Becomes Available

TQ Group, headquartered in Germany, has launched two NXP i.MX 8X Cortex-A35 modules with TQMa8Xx and TQMa8XxS SoMs, with the latter being SMARC 2.1 compliant, and both targeting various applications ranging from medical devices, HMIs, industrial controllers and industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to gateways, building automation, transport, and robotics.

The press release explains NXP will officially launch i.MX 8X CPUs on May 14, 2020. We first heard about i.MX 8X in 2016, before an official announcement in 2017, and we wrote about Toradex i.MX 8X SoM in 2018, plus 96Boards AI-ML SBC in 2019, so I naively believed the processor had been around for a couple of years, but the Toradex SoM product ~~is still shown as an “early product announcement”~~ [Update: the page has just been updated since it is now shipping as well], and AI-ML board has just launched with 26 units available on Arrow website. Some samples have been around for companies part of “NXP Early Access Partner “, but as I understand mass production will just be getting started

TQMa8Xx i.MX 8X Module

Key features and specifications:

SoC – NXP i.MX 8DualX, 8DualXPlus or 8QuadXPlus 2x-4x core Cortex-A35 processor @ 1.0 GHz (typ.) / 1.2 GHz (max.) with Cortex-M4F real-time core, GC7000Lite 3D GPU with support for OpenGL 3.0, 2.1, OpenGL ES 3.1, 3.0, 2.0, and 1.1, OpenCL 1.2, OpenVG 1.1; and Vulkan, 2D Blit engine, 4Kp30 H.265 (XPlus) / 1080p H.264 (i.MX 8DualX)video decoder, 1080p30 video encoder, Tensilica HiFi 4 DSP
System Memory – Up to 2GB DDR3L with optional ECC protection
Storage – Up to 64 GB eMMC flash, up to 256 MB Quad SPI NOR flash optional
280-pin board-to-board connector with
- Display – Dual LVDS Interface, 2x MIPI DSI
- Camera I/F – 1x MIPI CSI
- Networking – Up to 2x Gigabit Ethernet
- Serial Ports – Up to 4x UART, up to 2x SPDIF, up to 4x ESAI
- Up to 3x CAN FD
- USB – up to 1x USB 3.0 OTG interface, up to 2x USB 2.0 high-speed OTG
- Up to 4x SPI, up to 32x GPIO, up to 8x I²C
- SD Card I/F – 1x SDIO/MMC
- Up to 1x PCIe
Misc – RTC, temperature sensor,
Power Supply – 3.3V
Dimensions – 55 x 44 mm
Temperature range – Standard: -25°C…+85°C; extended: -40°C…+85°C

The company provides Linux support (Yocto Project BSP) by default, while QNX and/or Android operating systems are available on request.

TQ Group also offers STKa8Xx-AA evaluation kit with 1GB DDR3L, 8GB flash, 1x RS232, 2x CAN FD separated, 1x USB 3.0 OTG, 4x USB 2.0 HOST, 2x GbE, 1x HDMI/DP, 2x LVDS/DSI, 1x PCIe, RTC, Temperature sensor, Reset-Button, SD interface, Power Supply, 4 GB SD card, and cables, as well as a starter kit (STK8Xx set) that can be augmented with TQ display kit for graphics application development.

More information and documentation can be found on the support website (WiP) and product page.

TQMa8XxS i.MX 8M SMARC 2.0/2.1 Module

The second i.MX8X module will have many of the same features but with a different – and standard – SMARC 2.0/2.1 form factor:

SoC – NXP i.MX 8QuadXPlus, i.MX 8DualXPlus, or i.MX 8DualX processor
System Memory – Up to 2GB DDR3L with optional ECC protection
Storage – Up to 64GB eMMC flash, up to 256 MB QSPI NOR flash, optional 64 kbit EEPROM
314-pin MXM SMARC 2.0/2.1 edge connector with
- Display – 2x LVDS Interface, 1x eDP
- Camera – 1x MIPI CSI
- Audio – Up to 1x I2S
- Networking – Up to 2x Gigabit Ethernet
- USB – Up to 1x USB 3.0, up to 5x USB 2.0
- Serial Ports – Up to 2x UART RS232
- Up to 2x CAN FD
- SD Card – 1x SDIO/MMC
- Up to 2x I2C, up to 1x SPI, 1x GPIO?
- Up to 1x PCIe
Misc – RTC, temperature sensor
Power supply – 3.3 V (optional 3.0 V … 5.25 V)
Dimensions – 82 mm x 50 mm (SMARC 2.0/2.1 compliant)
Temperature Range – Standard: -25°C…+85°C; extended: -40°C…+85°C

Just like for TQMa8Xx module, a Yocto based Linux BSP is available for the module, QNX and Android can be ported to the module on request, and both an evaluation kit and started kit are offered for initial development.

Further information and documentation on TQMa8XxS module can be found on the support website and product page.

Via EE News

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.