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Raspberry Pi gets a SODIMM Form Factor and Printout

posted by janrinok on Wednesday April 09 2014, @11:39PM   
from the what-will-they-think-of-next? dept.

c0lo writes:

Ras Pi foundation announces a new product: the compute module.

The compute module contains the guts of a Raspberry Pi (the BCM2835 processor and 512Mbyte of RAM) as well as a 4Gbyte eMMC Flash device (which is the equivalent of the SD card in the Pi). This is all integrated on to a small 67.6x30mm board which fits into a standard DDR2 SODIMM connector (the same type of connector as used for laptop memory). The Flash memory is connected directly to the processor on the board, but the remaining processor interfaces are available to the user via the connector pins.

While not yet what I imagined by only the name i.e a unit to build a shoebox-sized Beowolf cluster of 1K-RasPi-cores the new form factor and pin-out should make this endeavour easier (ahem... for someone skilled in PCB design, EE practician, and a soldering-fu master that has achieved enlightenment... not quite my profile).

• Re:Uncertain Usefulness Re:Uncertain Usefulness (Score: 2) by c0lo on Thursday April 10 2014, @02:30AM

  by c0lo (156) on Thursday April 10 2014, @02:30AM (#29215) Journal

  So, basically, I'm confused by this. It's a neat idea, simple to implement, but who's going to use it?

  From the comments of TFA (a blog post really): ---

  Looks like this could be implemented into a boiler system!

  Actually I am in the middle of building a boiler monitor with a Raspberry Pi. This would be perfect to minimize the extraneous components on the system.

  ---

  A small(er) form factor pi with integrated memory? Why I am imagining somebody kickstating an interface to turn these into server blades for an AWESOME home server setup. You could have one as a DND server, one as your mail server, one to host a website etc.

  ---

  Generation game in Reverse,
  On the conveyor belt we have... Smart Tv Box, Home heating contol ,Smart Alarm system, Internet of things Brain, Cuddly Toy aka Babbage, 3D Printer Brain, Home robotics, Disablity Aids, Environmental Sensor, Home Cloud-VoiP-VPN Controller,

  ---

  Would it be possible to connect a SATA controller to the compute module and get reasonable I/O performance?

  Yes, it would. As James says, you'll need to design your own PCB, though.

  --
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford

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• Re:Uncertain Usefulness (Score: 1) by tftp on Thursday April 10 2014, @02:53AM

  by tftp (806) on Thursday April 10 2014, @02:53AM (#29220) Homepage

  Yes, it would. As James says, you'll need to design your own PCB, though.

  I used those connectors before, and their footprint is in the CAD. It would cost me about 1 hour to produce Gerbers. A few more if you want additional breakout connectors. The catch is in cost, though. Even if the design is free, the manufacturing of the PCB won't be. As a bare minimum you are looking at $66/each (in small quantity) or about $25 each in quantity 25-50. Cheaper boards can be had only in even higher volume, in China. It remains to be seen if the same PCB can satisfy enough people. They may be better off with the original R-Pi that already has all the connectors, even if from all sides of the board.

  However if someone is interested in a design that would be of use for many (such as an outdoor, zero-lux HD camera that can be assembled under $100) then it's very much possible. It's a trivial breakout board for anyone who ever made a PCB.

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