On Sat, Aug 6, 2011 at 1:35 PM, David Given <dg@cowlark.com> wrote:
Are there any decent-looking Cortex A9 boards out or upcoming which
support ethernet and SATA? So far I've found:
PandaBoard --- $180, ethernet, no SATA.
Samsung Origen --- $250, no ethernet, no SATA.
Igloo Snowball --- $209, ethernet, no SATA (but other than that a
very
nice looking device).
Trimslice --- $199, ethernet, may have SATA (they mention it a lot
but
it's unclear whether there's an actual socket or not). Comes in a
box!
Anything else worth investigating?
ok... yes, i can ask.
question (for everyone): if there existed a board which used a
single-core 800mhz Cortex A9, maximum hard limit of 512mb RAM, but
also had SATA-II and 10/100 Ethernet, would it be of interest, and
how
much would you pay for it? similar spec / design / size / interfaces
as the pandaboard, origen etc. just with a single-core Cortex A9
rather than dual-core.
the CPU i have in mind is the AML-8726-M (which is fantastic but is
hardware-limited to 512mb RAM) and i am in contact with an ODM/OEM
whom i believe i could persuade to create such a board if there is
sufficient interest in purchasing it. i've already explained to them
that there are benefits to them i.e. Free Software Developers
en-masse
writing software based around the board etc. etc.
btw when responding please don't take the piss on a price you'd be
happy to pay! apart from anything it has to be enough to encourage
them to go ahead with the board. the beagleboard price (A8, 720mhz,
512mb) is a fair guide. unlike x86 systems the CPU isn't the major
component cost with these embedded boards.