Quartz64
The Quartz64 is the most recent Single Board Computer offering from PINE64, initially released in June of 2021. It is powered by a Rockchip RK3566 Quad-Core ARM Cortex A55 64-Bit Processor with a MALI G-52 GPU.
Key features include a PCIe x4 open ended slot (model A) or m.2 (model B) using one Gen2 lane electrically, and the use of LPDDR4 RAM.
The Quartz64 has three LPDDR4 system memory options: 2GB, 4GB or 8GB. For booting, there is an eMMC module socket (supporting up to 128GB) and microSD slot, as well as a footprint to solder on an SPI flash chip. The board is equipped with HDMI, 1x USB 3.0 type A Host, 3x USB 2.0 Host, Gigabit Ethernet, SATA (model A), GPIO Bus, MiPi DSI interface, e-ink interface (model A), eDP interface (model A), touch Panel interface (model A), MiPi CSI interface, as well as many other device interfaces such as UART, SPI, I2C, for makers to integrate with sensors and other peripherals. Many different Operating Systems (OS) are freely available from the open source community, such as Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, Arch), BSD, and Android.
Software releases
Manjaro ARM
Manjaro ARM is a user friendly rolling release distribution, based on Arch Linux ARM.
Manjaro ARM with no desktop
SoC and Memory Specifications
- Based on Rockchip RK3566
CPU Architecture
- Quad-core ARM Cortex-A55@1.8GHz
- AArch32 for full backwards compatibility with ARMv7
- ARM Neon Advanced SIMD (single instruction, multiple data) support for accelerated media and signal processing computation
- Includes VFP hardware to support single and double-precision operations
- ARMv8 Cryptography Extensions
- Integrated 32KB L1 instruction cache and 32KB L1 data cache per core
- 512KB unified system L3 cache
- TrustZone technology support
- 22nm process, believed to be FD-SOI
GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) Capabilities
- Mali-G52 2EE Bifrost GPU@800MHz
- 4x Multi-Sampling Anti-Aliasing (MSAA) with minimal performance drop
- 128KB L2 Cache configurations
- Supports OpenGL ES 1.1, 2.0, and 3.2
- Supports Vulkan 1.0 and 1.1
- Supports OpenCL 2.0 Full Profile
- Supports 1600 Mpix/s fill rate when at 800MHz clock frequency
- Supports 38.4 GLOP/s when at 800MHz clock frequency
NPU (Neural Processing Unit) Capabilities
- Neural network acceleration engine with processing performance of up to 0.8 TOPS
- Supports integer 8 and integer 16 convolution operations
- Supports the following deep learning frameworks: TensorFlow, TF-lite, Pytorch, Caffe, ONNX, MXNet, Keras, Darknet
System Memory
- RAM Memory Variants: 4GB, 8GB LPDDR4.
Network
- 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet
- WiFi 802.11 b/g/n/ac with Bluetooth 5.0 (optional on model A, built in on model B)
Storage
- microSD - bootable, supports SDHC and SDXC, storage up to 2TB
- USB
- Model A: 2 USB 2.0 host ports, 1 USB 2.0 OTG port, 1 USB 3.0 host port
- Model B: 1 USB 2.0 host port, 1 USB 2.0 OTG port, 1 USB 3.0 host port
- one native SATA 3.0 6Gb/s Port (only on model A, shared with USB 3.0 host port)
- optional eMMC module from 16GB up to 128GB
Expansion Ports
- HDMI
- eDP - 4 lanes of 2.7Gbps, up to 2560x1600@60Hz (only on model A)
- DSI - Display Serial Interface, 4 lanes MiPi, up to 1440P on model A, 2 lanes MiPi, up to 1080p on model B
- CSI - CMOS Camera Interface, 4 lanes MiPi up to 8 mega pixel on model A, 2 lanes MiPi up to 5 mega pixel on model B
- TP - Touch Panel Port, SPI with interrupt on model A
- RTC - Real Time Clock Battery Connector
- VBAT - Lithium Battery Connector with temperature sensor input on model A
- Wifi/BT Module Header - SDIO 3.0 and UART on model A, build in Wifi/BT Module on model B
- 2x20 pins "Pi2" GPIO Header on model B, 2x10 pins GPO header on model A
- PCIe x4 open ended slot on model A, m.2 slot on model B, one Gen2 lane due to SoC constraints
The PCIe implementation on the RK3566 is much more compatible with a wide range of devices compared to the one on the RK3399 used on the ROCKPro64. This means a lot more devices should work (excluding dGPUs due to a lack of cache snooping ability). As an example, PCIe-to-PCI bridges work, whereas they didn't on the ROCKPro64.
Combo PHYs
Several of the I/O options on the RK3566 used in the Quartz64 are multiplexed, meaning that they cannot be used at the same time. The above diagram illustrates how they are connected.
In particular, USB 3.0 and the SATA connector on the board are mutually exclusive, and the PCI-e 2.0 lane can be reconfigured into a second SATA port, though an adapter cable needs to be fashioned for this to be useful.
GPIO Pins (Quartz64 Model A)
Attention! GPIOs are 3.3V!
Assigned To | Pin Nr. | Pin Nr. | Assigned To |
---|---|---|---|
3.3 V | 1 | 2 | 5 V |
I2C3_SDA_M0 a,b | 3 | 4 | 5 V |
I2C3_SCL_M0 a,b | 5 | 6 | GND |
CPU_REFCLK_OUT | 7 | 8 | UART2_TX_M0_DEBUG |
GND | 9 | 10 | UART2_RX_M0_DEBUG |
SPI1_MOSI_M1 | 11 | 12 | UART0_TX a |
SPI1_MISO_M1 | 13 | 14 | UART0_RX a |
SPI1_CLK_M1 | 15 | 16 | GND |
SPI1_CS0_M1 | 17 | 18 | SPDIF_OUT c |
GND | 19 | 20 | 3.3V |
Notes
- can be a PWM pin
- pulled high to 3.3V through 2.2kOhm resistor
- low-pass filtered with cutoff of 220 MHz
Source: Page 28 of the board schematics.
Quartz64 Board Information, Schematics, and Certifications
- Model "A" Baseboard Dimensions: 133mm x 80mm x 19mm
- Input Power: DC 12V @ 3A 5.5mmOD/2.1mmID center-positive Barrel DC Jack connector
- Quartz64 Model "A" SBC Schematic and PCB Board Resource:
- Model "B" Baseboard Dimensions: 85mm x 56mm x 18.8mm
- Input Power: DC 5V @ 3A 3.5mmOD/1.35mmID Barrel DC Jack connector
- Quartz64 Model "B" SBC Schematic and PCB Board Resource:
- Quartz64 Model "B" SBC Schematic not yet available
- Quartz64 Model "B" SBC PCB Connector placement PDF file
- Certifications:
- Disclaimer: Please note that PINE64 SBC is not a "final" product and in general certification is not necessary. However, PINE64 still submit the SBC for FCC and CE certification and obtain the certificates to proof that SBC board is capable on passing the testing. Please note a final commercial product needs to performs its owns testing and obtains its owns certificates.
- Quartz64 model-A FCC Certificate
- Quartz64 model-A CE Certificate
Datasheets for Components and Peripherals
- Rockchip RK3566 SoC information:
- Rockchip PMU (Power Management Unit) Information:
- LPDDR4 (200 Balls) SDRAM:
- eMMC information:
- SPI NOR Flash information:
- E-ink Panel information:
- LCD Touch Screen Panel information:
- Ethernet PHY information:
- WiFi/BT module info:
- Enclosure information:
- Connector information:
Development efforts
Main Article: Quartz64 Development
Information and resources of the ongoing development effort for the Quartz64 can be found on the Quartz64 Development page, where the current status of various board functions can be found, and whether they have landed in upstream.
BSP Linux SDK
BSP Linux SDK ver 4.19 for Quart64 model A SBC
- Direct Download from pine64.org
- MD5 (TAR-GZip file): 24554419aec29700add97167a3a4c9ed
- File Size: 32.67.00GB
Android SDK
Android 11 SDK for Quart64 model A SBC
- Direct Download from pine64.org
- MD5 (TAR-GZip file): 77c2ff57ea3372fb04da7fb49e17d12b
- File Size: 79.00GB
- Just the boot blobs (<1MB): File:Rk35-blobs.tar.gz
Android 11 Production Test Build for Quart64 model A SBC
Android 11 Stock Image [eMMC Boot] using DD method [20210604]
- DD image to eMMC module using USB adapter for eMMC module and boot. Highly recommend using Etcher
- This is test build that used during product testing
- Please allow 3-5 minutes boot up time on first time for initialization
- DD image for 8GB eMMC module
- Direct download from pine64.org
- MD5 (GZip file): e4365753e584d9fce1b8f10f095eede6
- File Size: 819MB
- Direct download from pine64.org
- DD image for 16GB eMMC module
- Direct download from pine64.org
- MD5 (GZip file): 491c5f7744b0ca0b74ae76e607051836
- File Size: 1.10GB
- Direct download from pine64.org
- DD image for 32GB eMMC module
- Direct download from pine64.org
- MD5 (GZip file): 47a6f0cdac8bad06cb920743849a8894
- File Size: 846MB
- Direct download from pine64.org
- DD image for 64GB eMMC module
- Direct download from pine64.org
- MD5 (GZip file): 4e2fed6f5db0d55afdc8a142fc0c4fe1
- File Size: 884MB
- Direct download from pine64.org
Android 11 Production Test Build for Quart64 model A SBC [eMMC Boot] using ROCKChip tools method [20210604]
- Please unzip first and then using Rockchip Android tool ver 2.84 to flash in
- For Windows OS environment, please install the DriverAssistant v5.11 driver first
- This is test build that used during product testing
- The OTG port located at top USB 2.0 port on top of USB 3.0 port, needs USB type A to type A cable.
- Please allow 3-5 minutes boot up time on first time for initialization
- Direct download from pine64.org
- MD5 (GZip file): 800f867fdd0d1b2bd7822c156b6067e3
- File Size: 812MB
- Direct download from pine64.org
Android 11 eink SDK for Quart64 model A SBC
- The is the Android SDK build for 10.3" eink panel on Quartz64 model A SBC.
- Direct Download from pine64.org
- MD5 (TAR-GZip file): 293a550584298de4fb95ceae18103672
- File Size: 72.88GB
- Just the boot blobs (<1MB): File:Rk35-blobs.tar.gz
Enclosures
All enclosures that fit the ROCKPro64 should fit the Quartz64, as the I/O has been laid out the same on purpose.
(Please expand this section with more cases known to work.)
Troubleshooting
Stability/Boot Issues With Missing Battery Shunt
If there is no battery plugged into the board, the jumper labelled "ON/OFF_BATT" must be in place. If this is set wrong, stability issues such as failures to boot will occur.
No Ethernet Connectivity
Make sure the kernel is built with CONFIG_MOTORCOMM_PHY
set to y
. Building it as a module (m
) and then relying on module auto-loading is unlikely to work as the PHY chip lacks its manufacturer ID.
"Model A" Acrylic Case Doesn't Fit
The Quartz64 does not really fit onto the bottom plate of the "Model A" Acrylic Open Enclosure. This is because the "Mic" connector at the bottom of the board interferes with one of the posts. A workaround is to find out which post that is (you have a 50% chance of guessing it right, accounting for rotating the board) and then filing away the corner of the post pointing inwards by a few millimetres.
An alternate solution may be to place plastic spacers with a smaller outer diameter in between the acrylic bottom plate posts and the SBC board.