Compute Module 5 - kit de développement - WiFi - 4Go RAM - 32 Go eMMC

Compute Module 5 development kit- WiFi - 4Go RAM - 32 Go eMMC disk

A pro, semi-pro project in mind? The desire to move up a gear with Raspberry-Pi?
Here is the development kit containing all the necessary equipment to start designing your project around the Compute Module.
This development kit is ideal for discovering the world of Compute Module 5 (equivalent of Raspberry-Pi 5) and the possibilities it provides. There are many PRO and Maker projects based on compute module (see this list made by Jeff Geerling for the CM4).

The idea behind the compute module (called CM) is to have a card grouping the essential components of a computer (SoC, RAM, WiFi, Disk) and all the peripherals lines available on two standardized connectors. Your are free to create your own input/output card designed to meet your project need -OR- to use one of the many IO cards available on the market.
Of course, this kit contains an IO Board designed for testing purpose... all the peripherals.

Compute modules are great for building embedded systems and are designed to offer a 10-year lifespan. The compute module comes in many variants of RAM, eMMC storage, WiFi or not. The CM5 version included have 4GB of RAM and 32GB of Internal Storage will meet the majority of needs.

Note that there is also a so-called Lite version without eMMC storage on the CM, the operating system must therefore be booted from an SD card (present on the IO board).

The compute module finds applications in many areas such as Audio, Retro-gaming, POS (point of sale), industrial automation & sensors, Thin Client, IP Video, etc.

What about the CM5?

• The CM5 CPU is more powerful compared to CM4 (CM4 = Pi 4)
• The CM5 have an RTC clock (CM4 doesn't)
• The CM5 is PCIe Gen 3 (the CM4 is Gen 2 only)
• The CM5 features the SecureBoot + CoSigning
• The CM5 dissipate more heat (as the Pi 5 does)
• Still have 4 MiPi channels (2 cameras or 2 displays or 1 of each)

Compatibility CM4 vs CM5

The CM4 and CM5 use the same form factor and the same connectivity.
CM5 is generally backwards compatible with CM4 with minor exceptions:

• 2 MIPI channels are removed (camera/display) --> channels assigned for USB 3 support.
• TV_OUT has been removed
• RUN_PG (Power Good = RUN SoC) removed

So no major incompatibility between CM4 and CM5 but some points of attention for very specific features (more rarely used).
The CM5 can be used on a CM4 IO Board, keep in mind that one of the MiPi connectors will not be usable and that USB 3 will be downgraded to USB 2.

Which operating system?

Raspberry-Pi OS and tools

Raspberry-Pi OS is the Linux operating system of choice for the Raspberry-Pi range. It supports many features as well as a wide range of solutions and softwares supported by the Open-Source community.

With CM5 and Raspberry-Pi OS, you don't need to invest time in building the operating system or doing upstream updates... it's already done for you! Raspberry-Pi OS is compact, fast, well documented, have a large community and is supported by the Foundation. Raspberry-Pi OS is certainly the shortest path to integrating Linux patches into the operating system and best of all, it includes Pi-Connect allowing remote maintenance operations.

Raspberry-Pi OS has tools that facilitate the deployment of solutions around Raspberry-Pi OS:

• pi-gen: used to customize the operating system by using the same tools than Raspberry's engineers used to build the OS.
• rpi-image-gen: graphical user interface allowing to create Raspberry-Pi OS images.
• pi-gen-micro: create a micro-OS for specific tasks.
• rpi-sb-provisionnner: Secure boot provisionning tool.

Ubuntu

An intense activity at Cannonical during Sept. 2024 let us thinking that Ubuntu 24.10 is under work to make it compatible with the CM5 (see this article).

Items included in the kit

Here is some additional information regarding the different products of the Kit.

Compute Module CM5104032

Here's how to decode the ID: it's a Compute Module 5 (CM5) with WiFi (1), 4GB RAM (04) and 32GB eMMC storage (032).
This is an ideal combination for storing the OS, data files and still enough free space for logging.

The WiFi of the Compute Module has an internal antenna and a µFl connector. It is possible to activate one antenna or the other depending on the needs.

It is of course possible to use one of the many CM5 modules available. RAM ranges from 2GB to 16GB, storage from 0GB (Lite) to 64GB.
However, the kit will only be sold with the CM5104032.

Passive cooler

The CM5 heats up more than the CM4, which is normal if we take into account the processing power that it can develop.
The passive cooler is not essential but will be useful for heavier processing tasks.

The passive cooler uses a thermally conductive adhesive to extract heat from the components to the heat sink.

CM5 IO Board

The IO board for the compute module 5 offers a breakout of all interfaces on one interface card. This development board can be used as a reference to speed up developments and then reduce the design time of a project.

The IO board features:

• 1x GPIO standard connector (identical to Raspberry-Pi's GPIO)
• 2x HDMI 2.0 full-size connectors
• 2x MiPi DSI/CSI connector. FPC 22 broches connector (0.5mm spacing)
• 2x USB 3.0 connector
• 1x Ethernet Gigabit connector (PoE Hat support, PoE hat not included).
• 1x M.2 PCIe (M-key) connector for 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 modules.
• 1x Micro-SD connectors (used with Lite Compute Module to boot the operating system)
• Cell coin battery holder
• Fan connector (4 pins)
• External power supply via USB-C

Case for CM5 IO Board

The kit includes a custom case for the CM5 and its IO Board, enough to protect all the electronic components.
This case is great to place a CM5 project in the evaluation/test phase.
It is made of aluminum so as to offer optimal protection.

Other components

The kit comes with other useful items to operate this platform.

• External antenna for WiFi
• Official Power Supply
• HDMI cables for connecting to two monitors
• USB-C to USB-A cable