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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : New SOM for a CMM3.....(only joking)

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Grogster

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Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9308
Posted: 02:21am 18 Apr 2023
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The thread title is in jest, but this is quite an interesting module:

SOM

Features:

- SAMA5D2 ARM processor @ 500MHz with a 166MHz bus speed
- 1Gb(128MB) DDR2 SDRAM (good for graphics memory!)
- 1Kb(128 byte) serial EEPROM
- 64Mb(8MB) QSPI EEPROM
- 10/100 Network PHY
- 103 I/O lines
- 1x USB device
- 1x USB host
- 24-bit LCD interface
- UART
- ADC inputs
- CAN
- I2S
- I2C
- SPI
- eMMC
- SDIO
- SD card
- Camera support
- Class D stereo
- 0.8mm castellated pins
- 40mm x 38mm module size


Costs $48 per module, which is about what it cost for the ARM in the CMM2 just before supplies ran out.

Quite a good collection of hardware there for less then fifty bucks.
They don't mention if the ARM processor is more then one core or not - would need to look at the actual ARM datasheet to find out.
They also do a W version of this module, that also has a wireless network module fitted, but that one is more expensive at about $75.

Interesting module.

As I mentioned at the start, I'm not really expecting MMBASIC to be ported to this module for a few reasons, one of which was Peter saying he does not want to do/is not going to do any more ports(and fair enough!), but this is quite an impressive amount of stuff on the one module that basically costs about the same as what the single ARM chip used in the CMM2 did before supplies ran out completely.  And this already has juicy SRAM on board, so no need to add any external RAM chips.

Despite the shortages of chips in many areas, people like Microchip still seem to be ploughing ahead with new concepts and designs.
Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops!
 
Turbo46

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Joined: 24/12/2017
Location: Australia
Posts: 1611
Posted: 03:44am 18 Apr 2023
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  matherp said  Because it AMUSES me to say thing are impossible and then do them

You never know...

Bill
Keep safe. Live long and prosper.
 
IanRogers

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Joined: 09/12/2022
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 151
Posted: 07:14am 18 Apr 2023
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Also
  matherp said  
Nope, never going to happen.

Ooh! Hello webmite.
Edited 2023-04-18 17:15 by IanRogers
I'd give my left arm to be ambidextrous
 
al18
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Joined: 06/07/2019
Location: United States
Posts: 205
Posted: 09:17pm 18 Apr 2023
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The CMM2 chip has been out of stock for 2 years. Distributors are predicting it will be in stock May 2024. Why would anyone design a new board based on a CPU from Microchip, based on their past track record?
 
Mixtel90

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Joined: 05/10/2019
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Posts: 6812
Posted: 09:42pm 18 Apr 2023
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It's not necessarily Microchip's fault. They have a huge product range and they'll concentrate on getting the high demand chips in production first. Also, the silicon shortage was partly because of any bulk users rapidly buying up all available stocks so that they could complete existing production runs. It's left the manufacturers in a bit of a sticky situation. It had got that bad that even voltage regulators were in short supply, and they are bread & butter.

Of course, you can also blame the JIT systems that distributors run so that they don't need to carry much stock.
Mick

Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini
Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs
 
JohnS
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Joined: 18/11/2011
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 3815
Posted: 09:55pm 18 Apr 2023
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I'm surprised the (Arduino) Portenta H7 chip (STM32H747XIH6) seems to be available as it's kinda similar to the CMM2's STM32H753 (/743).

Sadly, not identical.

John
 
toml_12953
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Joined: 13/02/2015
Location: United States
Posts: 339
Posted: 01:21am 19 Apr 2023
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  Grogster said  
As I mentioned at the start, I'm not really expecting MMBASIC to be ported to this module for a few reasons, one of which was Peter saying he does not want to do/is not going to do any more ports(and fair enough!), but this is quite an impressive amount of stuff on the one module that basically costs about the same as what the single ARM chip used in the CMM2 did before supplies ran out completely.  And this already has juicy SRAM on board, so no need to add any external RAM chips.


I don't know if it's still available but we used to be able to request the source for CMM2 BASIC and port it ourselves. Maybe if you were willing to commit to provide support for it, Peter or whoever would offer your port to users.
 
zeitfest
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Posts: 483
Posted: 01:27am 19 Apr 2023
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One to watch maybe.. (in stock at least)

adafruit M7
Edited 2023-04-19 11:28 by zeitfest
 
Grogster

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Posts: 9308
Posted: 02:00am 19 Apr 2023
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  al18 said  The CMM2 chip has been out of stock for 2 years. Distributors are predicting it will be in stock May 2024. Why would anyone design a new board based on a CPU from Microchip, based on their past track record?


The ARM chip at the heart of the CMM2 is not a Microchip part.
It is manufactured by ST, so you're blaming the wrong supplier and brand there.

Still, I know EXACTLY what you mean, and have already ported several of my mission-critical things over to use the PicoMite, cos I have been having a real hard time obtaining the various PIC32 chips from Microchip Direct, but I can easily get fistfulls of PicoMite or PM clone boards from the likes of WaveShare etc.

I guess it was probably just luck.  I expect that Raspberry Pi had just received a production run of the RP2040 chip just before the virus took over - and shut down - the world for a year or two.  So, they had plenty of chips they could sell, while all the other supply lines dried up!

In fact, if not for the virus, I don't know that we would even have the PicoMite.  
Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops!
 
Mixtel90

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Posted: 07:28am 19 Apr 2023
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The RP2040 is fairly "old tech" (around 15 years) in chip process terms (only 2 sq mm of 40nm silicon). There has been a big demand for 22nm and 28nm process sizes. 40nm is really a stop-gap size between 32nm and 45nm but it's becoming much more popular as the price falls. :)  It's quite possible that the fab(s) had spare capacity at 40mn when the RP2040 was being made. 2 sq mm gives  lot of chips to a wafer too!
Mick

Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini
Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs
 
JohnS
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Joined: 18/11/2011
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Posts: 3815
Posted: 08:23am 19 Apr 2023
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  zeitfest said  One to watch maybe.. (in stock at least)

adafruit M7

It's attractive except it probably would need a huge (i.e. complete) rewrite of the I/O, video, etc code.

A look-alike for the STM32 chip INCLUDING video, I/O etc would make it more plausible.

John
 
al18
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Joined: 06/07/2019
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Posts: 205
Posted: 07:44pm 19 Apr 2023
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You are right, the CMM2 uses a ST chip. Sorry for busting on Microchip.
 
JohnS
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Posted: 08:30pm 19 Apr 2023
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  al18 said  You are right, the CMM2 uses a ST chip. Sorry for busting on Microchip.

Though Microchip have also had difficulty supplying CPUs.

Many other makers, too.

John
 
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