Seco “SBC-C43” Module Features Cortex-A72 enabled i.MX8.

Seco is developing a 3.5-inch “SBC-C43”, which runs Linux or Android on an up to hexa-core i.MX8, offering up to 8GB soldered DDR4 and 32GB eMMC plus WiFi/BT, 2x GbE, 3x USB, HDMI 2.0 in and out, 2x M.2, and -40 to 85°C support. Seco’s 3.5-inch SBC enables soldered memory and optional industrial temperature support. It’s built to support medical devices, digital signage, edge computing, industrial automation, IoT, smart vision, and vending.

There has been a host of compute modules based on the Cortex-A72 enabled i.MX8, like the Variscite’s VAR-SOM-MX8 and SPEAR-MX8, but Seco’s 3.5-inch SBC-C43, is the first SBC we have come a-cross to feature the Cortex-A72 enabled i.MX8. The Seco SBC-C43 enables NXP’s default Yocto Project Linux stack and also Wind River Linux and Android.

The SBC supports all three variants of i.MX8, inclusive of the QuadMax with 2x Cortex-A72 cores and 4x Cortex-A53 cores, the QuadPlus which features a single Cortex-A72 and 4x -A53, and the Quad with no -A72 cores and 4x -A53. The clock rates were not listed but judging from Toradex’s Apalis iMX8 module that clocks the -A72 cores at 1.6GHz and the -A53 cores at 1.26GHz, we can say the SBC-C43 will clocked within that range. The three models also feature 2x Cortex-M4F real-time cores as well as 2x Vivante GPU/VPU cores.

The QuadMax incorporates the GC7000XSVX GPU, but the other two models have the Lite version. The video support is the same, but with 4K30 decoding and the capacity to drive up to 4x displays simultaneously. However, the 4K resolution is being shared between the different outputs. The SBC-C43 enables up to 8GB DDR4 and up to 32GB eMMC, which are soldered to the board for a greater durability.

Available also are, a boot flash, a microSD slot, and SATA support through its M.2 Key B slot, which otherwise can load a modem card or other M.2 PCIe add-ons. Media I/O options offers HDMI 2.0a output and input ports, an optional eDP connector, and dual-channel LVDS. The SBC-C43 is further equipped with 4-lane MIPI-CSI, and an audio I/O connector. It offers a USB 3.0 and 2.0 host port and also a micro-USB 2.0 OTG port. Internal I/O features includes 2x USB, 3x serial, 3x CAN, and 6x GPIO. A non-storage ready M.2 Key E slot, and a SIM card slot are available on the module. The SBC offers 2x GbE ports, a WiFi 5 (ac) with Bluetooth module plus internal antennas.

Specifications listed for the SBC-C43 include:

• Processor — NXP i.MX8 with VPU with H.265 (4K30) and H.264 (1080p60) decoding and H.264 (1080p30) encoding:
• i.MX 8QuadMax — 2x Cortex-A72, 4x Cortex-A53, 2x Cortex-M4F, 2x Vivante GC7000 / XVSX GPU/VPU
• i.MX 8QuadPlus — 1x Cortex-A72, 4x Cortex-A53, 2x Cortex-M4F, 2x GC7000Lite / XVSX GPU/VPU
• i.MX 8Quad — 4x Cortex-A53, 2x Cortex-M4F, 2x GC7000Lite / XVSX GPU/VPU
• Memory/storage: 2GB, 4GB, 6GB, or 8GB soldered, 1600MHz DDR4, 4MB Quad SPI NAND flash (boot only)
• Up to 32GB soldered eMMC 5.1, MicroSD slot, SATA via M.2 Key B (see expansion below)
• Networking/wireless: 2x GbE ports, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac + BT LE 4.2 module with ceramic SMT antennas, M.2 slots (see expansion below)
• Media I/O: HDMI 2.0a output port up to 4K, HDMI 2.0a input port, Optional eDP to 4K, Dual-channel 18/24-bit LVDS up to 1080p, Quadruple display support, 2x 4-lane MIPI-CSI, I2S audio codec, Mic-in, line-out via single combo TRRS connector
• Other I/O: USB 3.0 host port, USB 2.0 host port, Micro-USB 2.0 OTG port, USB 2.0 header plus up to 2x more via M.2 slots, 3x UARTs (RS-485/RS-422, RS-232, TTL), 3x CAN, 6x GPIO, 4x analog inputs, SPI, I2C
• Expansion: M.2 Key E for PCIe/USB wireless, etc., M.2 Key B for SATA, PCI-e x1, etc. (see memory/storage above), SIM slot
• Other features — RTC
• Power — 12VDC input
• Operating temperature — 0 to or 60°C or -40 to 85°C
• Dimensions — 146 x 102mm (3.5-inch)
• Operating system — Yocto, Wind River Linux, Android

More information can be found on Seco’s SBC-C43 product page.

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