We’ve already seen how to assemble NanoPi M4V2 metal case kit which offers an Arm mini PC solution with support for NVMe SSD. The new NanoPi M4V2 Rockchip RK3399 SBC is an evolution of the M4 board that brings faster LPDDR4 memory and adds power & recovery buttons. Since we’ve already tested several RK3399 SBC‘s and TV boxes, I planned to focus the review on thermal design evaluation (i.e. see how well the board cools), and see how memory bandwidth evolved from LPDDR3 to LPDDR4. I wanted to do so both with Linux and Android, since I could compare NanoPC-T4 (LPDDR3) benchmarks in Android. But this requires an eMMC flash module, and I don’t own any. So instead I planned to run Armbian because of support for armbian-monitor for nice temperature chart but it’s not working just yet, so instead I’ve done all tests with FriendlyCore Desktop (rk3399-sd-friendlydesktop-bionic-4.4-arm64-20190926.img) based on […]
Qt for MCUs – Qt Announces support for Microcontrollers
[Update August 24, 2019: Added information about expected release date and license] About Qt for MCUs Qt- The well known opensource toolkit for creating graphical interface announced their new release: Qt for MCUs, targeting MCU’s. The new graphical toolkit will be capable of running on devices without operating system. This may be a game changer in the entire MCU world, since Qt for MCUs allows developers to create fluid user interfaces on cost-effective micro controllers. This means we will be able to see smartphone like GUI’s which are running on low-end MCU’s with limited resources. With reference to their press release, assuring that Qt-GUI will consume less power to save the battery life. Qt for MCUs Software Stack While developing any applications for MCU, developers still can use their powerful declarative UI language QML and rich set of ready-made Qt Quick controls. And the C++ APIs, helps the user interface […]
Qihua CQH6 SoM – A Better Alternative to Raspberry Pi Compute Model 3+?
The Raspberry Pi Foundation just launched the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3+ for $25 and up with Broadcom BCM2837B0 processor offering better thermals than BCM2837 processor. As is often the case, this post generated some insightful comments from the smart readers of CNX Software, and they pointed out some of the shortcomings of the module such as the lack of Ethernet support that would be required for cluster use cases for example. You can also add a USB to Ethernet chip to the carrier board, but that’s not ideal, and instead someone linked to Qihua CQH6 system-on-module powered by Allwinner H6 processor and sold for 158 RMB ($23.5 USD) or 199 RMB ($29.65) for respectively 512MB RAM/4GB flash and 1GB RAM/8GB flash configurations. Qihua CQH6 module specifications: SoC – Allwinner H6 quad-core Cortex A53 processor @ 1.8 GHz with Arm Mali-T720MP GPU System Memory – 512MB, 1GB or 2GB DDR3L […]
Forlinx OK5718-C Development Board is Powered by TI AM5718 Cortex-A15/M4 processor
Forlinx Embedded Technology (Forlinx) has just launched a new development board for indsutrial applications with audio and video processing requirements. OK5718-C development board features Texas Instruments AM5718 Sitara SoC with a single Arm Cortex-A15 core, two real-time Cortex-M4 cores, a dual PRU, and a TI C66x DSP core. OK5718-C development board consists of a carrier board and FET5718-C SoM with the following specifications: FET5718-C System-on-Module SoC – TI AM5718 Sitara Arm Cortex-A15 processor @ up to 1.5GHz, C66x DSP @ 750MHz, dual-core Arm Cortex-M4 @ 213MHz, dual core PRU @ 200MHz, PowerVR SGX544 3D GPU, Vivante GC320 2D GPU, IVA-HD video accelerator subsystem (H.264, MPEG4, MPEG2, VC1) System Memory – 1GB DDR3L Storage – 8GB eMMC flash Board-to-board connectors for interface with baseboard – 320–pin exposing USB 3.0, PCIe 3.0, HDMI 1.4a, LCD RGB, 10x UART, 1x QSPI, 2x CAN, 2x Gigabit Ethernet, etc… PMU – TI TPS659162RGZR Supply Voltage – […]
Firefly Core-PX3-SEJ SoM Features Rockchip PX3-SE Industrial-Grade Processor
Allwinner is not the only Chinese fabless silicon vendor to offer industrial grade processors, as Rockchip PX3 SE quad core Cortex A7 processor can also operate in the industrial temperature range (-20°C to 80°C). I had covered Rockchip PX3 previously, but it’s the first time I read about Rockchip PX3-SE processor, and Firefly is the first company to integrate the processor into a product, namely Core-PX3-SEJ system-on-module. Core-PX3-SEJ module specifications: SoC – Rockchip PX3-SE quad core Cortex A7 processor @ 1.3 GHz with Arm Mali-400MP2 GPU – See datasheet for details System Memory – 512MB, 1GB or 2GB dual-channel DDR3 Storage – 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB eMMC flash Edge Connector – 204-pin DDR3 SO-DIMM connector with Storage – Micro SD card interface Connectivity SDIO interface for WiFi & Bluetooth module Gigabit Ethernet Display – HDMI up to 1080p, CVBS, MIPI DSI or LVDS for LCD display Audio – Via […]
SudoProc is a Tiny LGA System-on-Module Based on Rockchip RK3288 SoC
Most systems-on-module are designed to be inserted into a baseboard thanks to an edge connectors or one or more board-to-board connectors, although I’ve also seen some with castellated pins allowing them to be soldered to the carrier board. The guys at Sudo Systems LLC have taken a different approach as they went with a custom designed 210-pin LGA (Land grid array) module instead, which is based on Rockchip RK3288 processor, and extremely compact at 65 x 40 x 4.3 mm. SudoProc module specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3288 quad core Cortex-A17 processor @ up to 1.8 GHz with Arm Mali-T764 GPU System Memory – 4GB LPDDR3 (Samsung) @ 1066MHz; 2 x 32 bit, dual channel Video Decoding – H.264 decoder @ 2160p@24fps, H.265 decoder @2160p@30fps, and H.264/MVC/VP8 encoder 1080p@30fps Storage – 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB or 512GB eMMC 4.5 flash LGA package with 210 pins exposing: Storage I/F – 8-bit NAND […]
Emcraft Introduces NXP i.MX 8M SoM and $299 Starter Kit
I first discovered Emcraft Systems in 2011 through their work porting uCLinux to Arm Cortex M3/M4 microcontrollers, and since then the company has kept on working microcontroller software and hardware, but also moved to Arm Cortex A class solutions. Like most embedded systems companies, Emcraft engineers have also designed their own NXP i.MX 8M system-on-module, but while many have still not announced pricing, and/or show “in development” or “early product announcement” in their product page, Emcraft has started taking pre-order for their i.MX 8M SoM Starter Kit for $299, with shipping scheduled for May 21, 2018 or before. Let’s check out SOM-IMX8M specifications first: SoC – NXP i.MX8M Quad processor with 4x Cortex A53 cores, 1x Cortex-M4F core, and a Vivante GC7000Lite GPU System Memory – 512MB to 4GB DDR3L/LPDDR4 SDRAM Storage – 4 to 64GB eMMC flash Connectivity – Wireless module supporting 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2×2 MIMO WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2, […]
OpenEmbed Launches $99 em3399 Rockchip RK3399 SoM, and a Compact Evaluation Kit
Looking for a system-on-module based on Rockchip RK3399 processor? So far, you had at least four options with either edge connectors or castellated holes: Theobroma RK3399-Q7 (Qseven) SoM, 9Tripod X3399 core, Boardcon PICO3399 CPU module, or Firefly-RK3399 CoreBoard. OpenEmbed now offers another RK3399 system-on-module with their em3399 SoM using board-to-board connectors interfacing with the carrier board. OpenEmbed em3399 system-on-module specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3399 hexa-core processor with 2x Cortex-A72 cores, 4x Cortex-A53 cores, and a Arm Mali-T860MP4 GPU System Memory – 2GB or 4GB DDR3L RAM Storage – 16GB to 128GB eMMC 5.1 flash Connectivity – Gigabit Ethernet transceiver (Atheros AR8033) Power Management – Rockchip RK808D PMIC 2x 120-pin board-to-board connectors (0.8mm pitch) with: Display: HDMI 2.0 port with audio for up to 4K @ 60Hz DisplayPort 1.2 with audio for up to 4K @ 60Hz MIPI-DSI (dual-channel) at up to 2560×1600 @ 60 Hz eDP 1.3 (4-lane) Camera – […]