The A10-OLinuXino preliminary schematic is ready and we are open for discussions, the CAD files are just uploaded on GitHub so you can download and review.
Our aim was not to design yet another cheap tablet or A10 TV dongle reference design, but the most sophisticated and hackable, completely open source hardware and software development platform for A10. Board which will allow you to explore and employ all A10 features. With over 100 GPIOs, many SPI, I2C, UART, USB etc you got actually all interfaces you could think of except PCIe 🙂
What we put on the board:
– A10 Cortex A8 processor running at 1Ghz
– 1GB of DDR3 memory (organized as 4 x 256MB x8 with 2Gbit chips)
– 4GB NAND Flash
– HDMI
– VGA
– RS232 UART
– 100Mbit Ethernet
– LCD
– 2 USB hosts
– 1 USB OTG
– SATA
– JTAG
– UEXT1 and UEXT2 for connecting addtional UEXT modules like Zigbee, Bluetooth, Relays, etc
– GPIO-1,2,3,4 with total 132 GPIOs available for the user
– Audio Output, Audio Input, Line Input
– 7 buttons for android navigation
– status LED
– micro-SDcard
– normal size SD/MMC card
– 6-16VDC input power supply, noise immune design
– LiPo battery power option
– RESET and Power-Down buttons
– console debug UART port
The CAD files, PDF of the schematic and image of the BRD is at GitHub https://github.com/OLIMEX/OLINUXINO/tree/master/HARDWARE/A10-OLinuXino
Looking forward to hear your feedback 🙂
Note that the schematic and board are not complete so if you ask what the price would be we still really do not know for sure, what we target is to release this board for about EUR 60 retail and EUR 48 OEM (50+ pcs order) but these figures are preliminary and may go up down during the development.
olimex 
Sep 04, 2012 @ 11:55:41
Looks good, thanks.
How many layers on board were needed for the A10 signal escape?
Sep 04, 2012 @ 11:59:15
we still didn’t start to route, just arrange the components on the locations and will do full schematic connections re-check, but I hope we will be able to route everything on 4 layers as we did with A13
Sep 04, 2012 @ 13:11:45
WiFi is missing, then it will have everything!
Sep 04, 2012 @ 13:15:56
you can always add WIFI USB dongle 😉
Sep 04, 2012 @ 13:13:18
That looks great! Do you ever certify your boards e.g. FCC & CE mark? Also what sort of distros will this ship with or is it just coming with android?
Sep 04, 2012 @ 13:23:29
being development boards and laboratory equipment we don’t have to, but we have built number of custom boards for customers like IAR Systems and others, which they have certified and CE EMC compliance tests passed from the very first attempt
the difference between these though is that here we have processor running at 1GHz and 400Mhz DDR3 bus, but millions of tablets use same configuration and have CE mark so I guess there would be no problems if one want to spend EUR 5000 and try 🙂
right now we do not want to add more cost in the board price for tests which are not obligatory to make
Sep 04, 2012 @ 14:19:55
Any chance to get more than one sata port?
Sep 04, 2012 @ 14:26:53
possible if you connect external SATA multiplexor 🙂 A10 have just one SATA port
Sep 04, 2012 @ 15:51:02
Why is there a full size SD card as well as a micro-SD? It seems functionally redundant and by the look of the layout would be the only connector on the underside of the PCB.
Also, any idea when is this likely to become available? It was only 2 months to go from a schematic to retail for the A13-OLinuXino. Is this likely to be as quick?
Sep 04, 2012 @ 15:59:08
note these are two independant SD-card controllers so you can have two cards at same time and not only this but some WIFI etc modules come in SD-MMC card package which you can have access to with the bigger connector on board
A10 have much more signals to route than A13, this is why we started with A13, so it’s very unlickely that we will finish A10 for the same time as A13
November-December is our prognosis to have these in production, maybe we could manage to start selling before Christmas 🙂
Sep 04, 2012 @ 16:12:21
Board dimensions?
Sep 04, 2012 @ 18:14:04
140x140mm
Sep 05, 2012 @ 11:38:33
good step forward! and looking forward to it. I understand why it is so big, because there many connectors on the board. I wish eventually a minimal small version will evolve, even without a display connector like Linux stamp or so.
Sep 05, 2012 @ 11:54:12
this is not interesting direction for us there are plenty of memory stick form factor devices with A10 and there is no sense to make yet another one of these
Sep 05, 2012 @ 12:19:00
Not another TV dongle!! I am for an open design(hackable), tiny, power full ‘display less’, network router/server with a serial console, uSD, USB host; a couple of GPIOs would be nice too. Of course with as many network interfaces as possible:) May be some one else will modify something like this.
Sep 04, 2012 @ 17:24:41
Is I2S being brought out to the GPIO connector as well>
Thanks
Sep 04, 2012 @ 18:14:17
yes
Sep 05, 2012 @ 07:02:00
May be all signals I2S (C11&C12 pin of A13) brought out to the GPIO-3 connector?
Sep 04, 2012 @ 18:43:32
It would be nice to have an second Ethernet Onboard (not via USB) ..
Sep 04, 2012 @ 18:44:32
why would you need two Ethernet interfaces?
Sep 04, 2012 @ 20:06:46
An possible application would be a small HW-firewall or an little embedded Server with 2 subnets or sth. ist was just a quick idea
Sep 04, 2012 @ 20:12:02
A10 have one Ethernet interface so there is not simple way to add two Ethernet ports on this board
and I doubt many would like to pay for two Ethernet ports when only few would find use for them
Sep 05, 2012 @ 09:37:13
Does it support VLAN?
Sep 05, 2012 @ 11:08:58
does Linux support VLAN 😉 ?
Sep 05, 2012 @ 12:31:07
in Addition to Antonys comment: Is there the possibility to add User-modules to the Processors external memory bus (Where can i find Datasheet?). But i have no idea if it is possible or reasonable with the DDR3 Memory.
Sep 04, 2012 @ 19:41:41
A10 has no on chip audio codec, does it? What codec will you use?
Sep 04, 2012 @ 19:52:07
sure it have
Sep 04, 2012 @ 20:29:16
With a 400 MHz DDR3 I would highly recommend putting some significant effort into routing to match the Manhattan lengths for all the DDR signals. It’s not looking very optimal at this point… 😉
Sep 05, 2012 @ 00:52:35
Hi
Nice project!
You should consider power over ethernet. You would need an optionnal dc-dc converter, and simply connect power pins on the ethernet.
Sep 05, 2012 @ 00:56:48
PoE is available as additional module if one need it 😉
https://www.olimex.com/dev/mod-poe-v2.html
Sep 05, 2012 @ 01:07:36
it’s only 5 euros more than the normal a13 maybe it’s more intelligent to release only the a13-micro (please made it if 512mb of ram) and this a10
Sep 05, 2012 @ 07:43:27
the eur 60 is preliminary prognosis price 🙂 so it’s not final! do not make wrong conclusions based of prognosis price
Sep 05, 2012 @ 01:38:25
It would be nice to have a mSata footprint on the SATA interface to be able to connect a mSata SSD fitted under the PCB. Does the A10 cpu have a EMIF interface ? If yes what is the width of the EMIF ?
Cheers Chris
Sep 05, 2012 @ 01:57:10
HDMI, SATA, 1 GB RAM for 60 EUR?
Now, that’s the board I want! Thanks for the great work!
Sep 05, 2012 @ 07:10:16
Hey, do you know this attempt to reverse-engineer and open-source the graphics driver for the A10?
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTE3NTM
If so, what do you think about it?
Sep 05, 2012 @ 11:05:13
First of all – congratulations to all the people of OLIMEX for their hard work and powerful boards!
I agree with JT – a second Ethernet will make a mighty router or firewall out of A10. But if adding a second Ethernet is difficult and, with no doubt, will push up the cost, then the two UEXT connectors could be used to add two additional Ethernet ports, is that correct? OLIMEX has several Ethernet UEXT modules, so probably this is a matter or proper drivers? What would be the possible speed of such UEXT connected Ethernet ports? Probably 10/100 Mbit/s? Another interesting option would be to add Ethernet ports and/or WiFi modules using some of the many GPIO ports, right? If OLIMEX can make prefabricated add-on modules with 2 or 4 Ethernet ports, that can fit directly in one of the GPIO slots, this would be smart, modular and inexpensive way to have the most compact and hackable router or switch!
SATA port on A10 is also essential for small server enthusiasts, but what about powering a hard drive – will the board have a SATA power connection of some kind?
With best wishes,
Dimitar Mitov
Sep 05, 2012 @ 11:08:36
we have both 10 and 100Mbit UEXT modules
SATA power is better to not mess on the board as there are plenty of SATA power cross cables
Sep 05, 2012 @ 11:14:50
So, an external (DC-DC ATX?) power supply will be needed to connect a SATA hard drive to A10, correct?
Sep 05, 2012 @ 12:49:24
Just seen this post after my uppper one!
Good work! i will have a look on the UEXT modules i think they are solving Christos and my Questions!
Sep 05, 2012 @ 12:06:03
The datasheet doesn’t even tell what current the I/O’s can drive.
This is pathetic.
You buy a pig in a poke. No thanks.
Sep 05, 2012 @ 13:27:53
so what about a A10-micro version, or am I too early ?
I really don’t need all those connectors/buttons, having 2 gpio headers and perhaps a mini hdmi, ethernet, usb, sata is sufficient.
Something like the upcoming cubieboard.
Sep 05, 2012 @ 14:32:26
So why not just buy the cubieboard? 🙂
This board is more general purpose, hence the truckload of connectors.
Sep 05, 2012 @ 14:50:28
exactly, it’s good that there are many different boards with A10 like TV dongles, tablets, mele, cubie etc etc., so everyone can pick what fits best for his application, but I do not see much sense to build something which already is on the market produced in china in mass volumes
Sep 06, 2012 @ 08:17:54
How much more expensive it would be to integrate 2GB/4GB of RAM?
Sep 06, 2012 @ 23:43:44
it’s useless this is only a 1ghz cortex a8, to use that quantity of ram you will need at least one dual core a9 like the rockchip 3066 or something like, just to use 2gb ram , 4gb of ram it’s totaly useless
Sep 07, 2012 @ 01:50:56
Regarding the rockchip 3066, What do you think about it? Will you choose it for more performance or will choose another A9 ? (or A15?)
Oct 16, 2012 @ 15:54:38
It`s not useless to have as much RAM as possible, because for example you don`t know that I`m going to run MariaDB database server with SATA HDD to support L.A.M.P. web site. And I`m planning to run IMDB database, which is pretty big nowadays.
Unfortunately A10 supports max 1GB and it`s already installed. Only a mad hacker can increase the RAM amount by patching Linux kernel`s memory manager to enable PAE-like mechanism via GPIO`s (to chip-select addidional memory chips)
Sep 06, 2012 @ 21:22:30
What is the max resolution for camera sensor interface (CSI)?
Sep 06, 2012 @ 22:46:36
the max camera resolution is 1600×1200 pixels
we work on camera module with this resolution @15fps which will connect to A10 and A13 OLinuXino
Mar 26, 2013 @ 13:07:42
Hello,
any news on the camera module?
Mar 26, 2013 @ 13:22:52
while waiting you can buy $4 usb web cam http://www.ebay.com/itm/Free-ship-USB-6-LED-Webcam-Camera-Web-Camera-With-Mic-for-Desktop-PC-Laptop-8099-/180943230264?pt=PCA_Video_Conferencing_Webcams&hash=item2a210e9538 and use the instructions here to connect it https://olimex.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/new-debian-images-with-uvc-camera-support-python-and-opencv-in-wiki/
Sep 08, 2012 @ 00:50:51
A power supply question – Will it be possible to power A10 from the 12V line of a DC-DC ATX power supply? I think about powering A10 and a SATA hard drive connected to A10 from a single source – would it be a working solution?
Sep 08, 2012 @ 00:57:07
absolutely, 12V is good gor powering A10-OLinuXino
Sep 09, 2012 @ 00:14:12
I would like to see composite output on the right side, to connect it to some old TVs and small reverse camera displays.
Sep 10, 2012 @ 01:08:59
Thanks to OLIMEX for his lightning-fast answer to my previous question!
What about the form factor of the A10 board? I suppose a standard form factor will be used, probably Micro-ATX? I remember that A13 is in Micro-ATX dimensions, right? I think, that many Mini-ATX/Micro-ATX PC cases could be employed if A10 is in one of these form factors.
Sep 10, 2012 @ 20:47:42
This is an amazing project, I’d love to grab a demo board but I’d rather see a dev get one first.. But the sheer fact that the board has both HDMI and VGA along with SATA and SD really opens this board up for almost endless applications!! Kudos
k.
Oct 16, 2012 @ 03:04:06
A10 is the chinese ‘heavy artillery’ solution – a PC in one chip.
But the competition doesn`t sleep. Here are the CPU specs :
AllWinner A10: 55nm process, ARM A8 arch,1..1.2GHz, 256k L2 cache, Mali 400GPU@300MHz, SDRAM upto 1G, single core (no smp).
Competing products:
1. Olimex A10 – Open Source Hardware, IMO best for hw hackers.
2. Hackberry A10 Developer Board – schematics not given, PCB not given; $65.00 USD
3. AK802 Android Mini PC – 72.90 USD with case – targeted at end users;
4. $49 Cubieboard
5. Smallart UHOST with case – targeted at end users, wi-fi;
6. Mele A100 set top
Competing chips:
1.AllWinner A13 – no SATA, no HDMI
2.Telechips TCC8925 Cortex-A5, 45nm CMOS, 1Ghz, Mali 400 GPU, in CX-01 Android stick
3. RK2918, etc…
4. Dual Core Renesas EMMA Mobile/EV2 Cortex-A9,1GHz, PowerVG SGX530 GPU, in Droid Stick KVD-13
Jan 15, 2013 @ 18:43:56
thank you for the listing of the A10 boards, Angel G!
I can add http://rhombus-tech.net/
but none of those is really suitable/available to be used with a base board where we can arrange connectors and a I2S CODEC…
Oct 18, 2012 @ 21:17:45
Hello,
This is an interresting board. I have seen on the schematic that the I2S_DO1 (C12) is used for the USB0-DRV. Isn’t it possible to route this USB0-DRV on another pin as this is taking one of the I2S output?
Also, is it possible to swap the ethernet and USB connectors with the audio connectors so that the ethernet and USB ports are on the same side as the HDMI, VGA and RS232 connectors?
Is there available a good datasheet for the A10?
Best regards
Oct 31, 2012 @ 22:14:28
I would like to have a CAN Transceiver on the board (the Allwinner A10 already supporting it).
Nov 01, 2012 @ 09:19:30
indeed A10 have CAN inside but there is no info about it nor Linux Drivers so what exactly you will do with it 🙂
Nov 01, 2012 @ 13:37:23
Might you can get more info about it from Allwinner?
Nov 01, 2012 @ 13:42:58
Allwinner is selling between 5 and 15 millions of A10 to tablet manufacturers per month, and they provide them with complete reference desing which the manufacturers simply copy, this is why they even do not have proper datasheet as all development is done inside and nobody wants it.
how do you think will they add linux support for peripherial which is interesting to some smallish western company which buy 0.0000000001% of their products 🙂
they didn’t help even with the minor VGA output problem and we had to fix it ourself, so I guess there is no way they will do anything for the CAN which is inside A10 but they even didn’t announced in the datasheets they publish
this is why I was surprised when you read your message that “the Allwinner A10 already supporting it” where did you got this information?
Nov 01, 2012 @ 13:58:28
Just here: http://www.allwinner.com/A10_SOC.php
Currently I doing my projects on BeagleBone uses two different own CAN capes. So far it is a very amazing platform, well supported but a little bit expensive.
Have also done a own CAN SPI MCP2515 shield for RPi, but BeagleBone is much better on that point (uses On-Chip Bosch CAN).
There is also no other alternative projects, so will stay on BeagleBone. Or might you have better option?
Nov 01, 2012 @ 14:00:32
if you do not need Linux there are plenty of alternatives like DuinoMite-Mega for instance with PIC32 or MAPLE with STM32
Nov 01, 2012 @ 14:08:20
Need Linux and powerful processor due to real-time analysis.
Nov 03, 2012 @ 01:41:19
‘Think it`looks excellent and all the bells and whistles in the chip – implemented.
I wowed when saw that a10 even has an analog audio in/outputs (no ext. dac).
The 4GB onboard NAND is nice – can save one from using SDcards. Though it should not be used for /tmp or swap – we can`t replace it if gets worn.
Probably olimex provided the nand disable option for similar cases.
Nov 21, 2012 @ 00:06:24
I am planning to use the A10-OLinuXino as the base for a custom HTPC. I will connect this to my DAC using I2S and to the projector using the HDMI. I would like to use the LCD connector to connect another screen using an HDMI transmitter.
Is it possible to send 2 independent video streams on the HDMI connector and on the LCD connector (like on the pandaboard)?
Nov 21, 2012 @ 00:22:12
Oh, I forgot… is it possible to have different resolutions at the same time on the HDMI and LCD ports?
Nov 29, 2012 @ 06:50:32
Is there any update on the progress? The design on github hasn’t changed in 3 months. Is this still targeted for release in December?
Dec 06, 2012 @ 21:18:06
+1
Is this project still alive?
What is the release date?
Dec 16, 2012 @ 10:47:46
Love to know when A10-OLinuXino is for sale!
Jan 21, 2013 @ 02:28:26
I think its an really interesting board, how the the testing is going on? when is stimated it will be ready for sale?
Mar 30, 2013 @ 10:33:38
Sir,
I am confused with how to make connection from LVDS connector to A31/A13. Can you help me. I could only find 20 pins on A31/A13 for that but the lvds i found have 40 pinsI( display manufactured by Hann star)
Can you please help me.
Jan 15, 2014 @ 03:59:55
To whom it may concern,
If I purchase this board, Is it possible for me to have the Artwork Data or CAD file of this?
Or can I just download the data, Artwork data, CAD file from somewhere? I`d like to have the data to make based on this A10’s data.
Please leave a message, or email me.
Thank you & looking forward to hearing from you! 🙂
Jan 15, 2014 @ 04:33:11
Additional Question:
Can we get the CAD file, whose format is “.pcb” please?
The files in the link are not available for me to open 😥
Thank you! 🙂
Jan 15, 2014 @ 20:53:27
Since people have found a mechanical problem with the preliminary design (screw hole in the middle of the board too close to an IC so that it cannot actually be used with a screw), you might want to wait for a non-preliminary version. The CAD files can supposedly be opened with Eagle (commercial CAD software with free-of-cost versions available). Olimex has announced a planned switch to KiCAD for future designs.
Jan 15, 2014 @ 20:56:13
Disregard my last comment. It was about another product. Sorry for the confusion.