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MODM7AE70

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 1:41 am
by Claudio
any news?

Re: MODM7AE70

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 1:41 pm
by TomNB
Hello Claudio,

Thank you for asking. We have hardware inhouse and are working through software and tools integration in preparation for a beta test release. It is very difficult to put an exact date on such things, but I would say not less than 2 months with the information we have right now.

Re: MODM7AE70

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2018 8:18 am
by krastatter
Is it possible to get information on the pinout that will be used? The December, 2017 "Sneak Peak" blog post mentions that "Pinout functionality based off existing product line for ease of hardware migration". Even a hint such as which present product line's pinout would most closely resemble the MODM7AE70 would be appreciated.

Re: MODM7AE70

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2018 10:44 am
by TomNB
Hello,

While we have tested the hardware signals for basic functionality, we are currently working on the peripheral drivers. Until we finish that testing there is a very remote possibility pins could change. We want to get through that part so we do not create a problem in which people have to change their layout. We are working through this as quickly as we can.

Re: MODM7AE70

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2018 10:47 am
by Claudio
Now finally the MODM7AE70 has arrived and at least for me some questions should be clarified.
About the speed I'm sure that is perfect, about the memory I've some doubts.
Actually we work with MOD54417 modules. To me, because of the memory, it seems impossible to substitute with them.

Now, I suppose you all probably considered these questions already, just in order to understand:

Why this module is equipped with a so small ram/flash area?
The HSMCI will help us to resolve this lack of memory?
Which are the performances of this port?
Will be possible to work with the SD card like a sort of fast access memory?
Will be possible to store html pages (or files) on the SD?

Thank you in advance,
Claudio

Re: MODM7AE70

Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2018 9:29 am
by TomNB
Hello Claudio,

Thank you for considering the new module. The goal of the product is a fast low cost module, lower cost than the MOD5441x family. The ARM processor has 2MB of onchip flash, which stores a compressed image, so you get a bit more than that. Based on customer feedback it is very rare to have an app larger than 2MB. On the 5441x the extra flash is typically used for a file system. Do you have an idea of how large your applications are right now? The size is displayed each time you do a build.

The 5441x has a DDR2 controller and the best price point for DDR2 memory is 64MB. The ARM part has a SDRAM controller, and the best price point for memory is 8MB.

The external flash card interface is only for storage, it is not designed for the speeds you would get with onboard flash or ram. You can store html files, images, etc there, in fact you can do that right now with your 5441x system.

Since the 5441x seems to meet your needs, what feature of the ARM do you need?

Re: MODM7AE70

Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2018 10:46 am
by Claudio
CAN FD

Re: MODM7AE70

Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2018 1:17 pm
by sulliwk06
Just to provide a little customer feedback from someone with a somewhat larger app, on the MOD5441X we use:

1.1 MB App size
24 MB onboard flash for critical file storage (external card used for non-critical/long term storage)
~60% of the available 64 MB RAM

So I do think there is a lot of good value in those higher specs, even if it would increase the price. That being said I'm happy enough with the MOD5441X

Re: MODM7AE70

Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2018 2:12 pm
by TomNB
Hello sulliwk06,

Thank you very much for the feedback, it is greatly appreciated. We do plan to offer ARM platforms with more flash and ram in the future. This first M7 core is targeted as an upgrade path for customers using a platform like the MOD5270. Flash is increased from 512k to 2MB, faster performance, more features, etc. If anyone else has comments on desired features for a larger ARM platform we would be very interested to hear them.

Re: MODM7AE70

Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2018 10:15 am
by krastatter
Thank you for posting the pinout for the MODM7AE70! It will help when designing a socket that accepts both the MOD5234 and MODM7AE70.

We would also like to see an ARM product with more 64MB of RAM as on the MOD5441X.

For a future release of an ARM product, is it possible to make all of the address lines from SAM E70 available, perhaps on another header? The MODM7AE70 doesn't make A17 (PA0), A21 (PC16) or A22 (PC17) available. (I understand why NetBurner may not wish to do bring these signals out to P1 or P2 seeing as those ports don't have any other peripherals connected to them.)