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Well, we're paying a premium for Beagleboards because they're lower volume and that's pretty much it. Volume is king for prices in the computer world. But... y
by dragontamer 3y ago
Well, we're paying a premium for Beagleboards because they're lower volume and that's pretty much it. Volume is king for prices in the computer world.
But... you get better IO yes, but also more importantly IMO, more open hardware designs. Ex: I'm pretty confident in being able to get an AM355x TI chip and (with enough effort on a PCB CAD tool) creating my own Beaglebone Black/Green. (Note that OSHPark offers 6-layer boards which should be good enough to route-out impedance controlled DDR to a BGA chip like the AM355x series... though it'd be tight).
BeagleBone AI and BeaglePlay have upped the complexity so I'm not sure if they'd fit on 6-layers, but they're open-enough designs that if I were to create a custom 8-layer or 10-layer run, it probably is doable.
- geokon 3y agoif you want to make your own boards I'd suggest looking at the Breadbee https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36470660 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36470660 https://www.cnx-software.com/2020/04/14/breadbee-tiny-embedded-linux-sbc-mstar-msc313e-camera-soc/ https://www.cnx-software.com/2020/04/14/breadbee-tiny-embedd... It's outside my area of expertise.. But I don't think making your own Beagleboard would be easy as you say.. At least I've not seen it done. Have you done that?
- dragontamer 3y agoNo, but I'm getting close to the point where I'll attempt it. OSD335x is the SiP version with integrated DDR RAM, removing the most difficult part of PCB design (ie: impedance matched / delay matched DDR). It's more expensive than a raw AM3558 from TI, but it'd be my first step. Then when I want to try the more difficult DDR routing, it's available and Beaglebone Black/green serves as reference designs for me to study.