PINE A64-LTS

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The PINE A64-LTS

The PINE64-LTS is the long term supply version of the PINE A64 (+), PINE64's first single board computer, powered by Allwinner’s A64 quad-core ARM Cortex A53 64-Bit SoC. There are many operating systems available for the PINE A64-LTS created by the open source community and various partner projects. The PINE A64-LTS is guaranteed to be supplied until the year 2025 at the very least.

Software releases

The SOPINE operating system images are compatible with PINE A64-LTS. Under SOPINE Software Releases you will find a complete list of currently supported operating system images, which work with the PINE A64-LTS, as well as other related software.

Accessories and Step-by-Step Guides

Please see Accessories Step by Step Guides for a list of guides for Pine A64 accessories; there you can find instructions and guides about the following:

  • Enclosures
  • Bluetooth and WiFi module
  • Real Time Clock (RTC) battery
  • Real Time Clock (RTC) battery holder
  • First and third party cases
  • Featured 3D printed cases (and more)

SoC and Memory Specification

Allwinner A64.jpg
Allwinner R18.png

The PINE A64-LTS is based on the Allwinner A64/R18. The R18 and A64 are identical SoCs but the is R18 committed for a 10 years supply by the vendor.

CPU Architecture

  • Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 Processor@1152Mhz
  • A power-efficient ARM v8 architecture
  • 64 and 32bit execution states for scalable high performance
  • Support NEON Advanced SIMD (Single Instruction Multiple Data) instruction for acceleration of media and signal processing function
  • Support Large Physical Address Extensions(LPAE)
  • VFPv4 Floating Point Unit
  • 32KB L1 Instruction cache and 32KB L1 Data cache
  • 512KB L2 cache

GPU Architecture

System Memory

  • RAM Memory Variants: 2GB LPDDR3.
  • Storage Memory: 128Mb SPI Flash and optional eMMC module from 16GB up to 128GB

PINE A64-LTS Board Features

Front view of a Pine A64-LTS board
Rear view of a Pine A64-LTS board

Video

  • Digital Video (Type A - full)

Audio

  • 3.5mm stereo earphone/microphone plug

Network

  • 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet(PINE A64+ version), 10/100Mbps Ethernet(PINE A64 version)
  • WiFi 802.11 b/g/n with Bluetooth 4.0 (optional)

Storage

  • microSD - bootable, support SDHC and SDXC, storage up to 256GB
  • USB - 2 USB2.0 Host port

Expansion ports

  • DSI - Display Serial Interface, four-lane MiPi, up to 1080p
  • CSI - CMOS Camera Interface up to 5 megapixel
  • TP - Touch Panel Port, SPI with interrupt
  • RTC - Real Time Clock Battery Connector
  • VBAT - Lithium Battery Connector with temperature sensor input
  • Wifi/BT Module Header - SDIO 3.0 and UART
  • 2x20 pins "Pi2" GPIO Header
  • 2x17 pins "Euler" GPIO Header
  • 2x5 pins "EXP" Console Header

Serial console UART

An excerpt from the A64-LTS schematic, showing the "EXP" header pinout

The "EXP" header, listed above, includes the TX, RX and GND pins for the serial console UART, also known as the debug UART, as visible in the picture in this section. The pin numbers are silkscreened on the top side of the A64-LTS PCB, making navigation easy.

This can be used to access the serial console of the boot loader, for example, which is often invaluable for debugging boot issues. To actually access the serial console, you can use these pins to connect, for example, a USB UART adapter that supports 3.3 V on the RX and TX lines, such as the "Woodpecker" USB UART adapter offered by the Pine Store.

Warning: Older PCB revision of the "Woodpecker" USB UART adapter has a fixable hardware issue that is described in detail in a product change note, which includes the way to check is your adapter affected. In a nutshell, the 3.3 V mode of the older "Woodpecker" adapters sold by the Pine Store is unreliable, but the hardware fix is available. Newer "Woodpecker" adapters sold by the Pine Store are not affected by this issue.

Taking the "Woodpecker" USB UART adapter as an example, its pins should be connected to the pins of the "EXP" header as described in the table below, with the "5V" and "3V3" pins of the "Woodpecker" left unconnected. The voltage selection jumper found on the "Woodpecker" must be placed in the "3V3" position, as silkscreened on the top side of the "Woodpecker" PCB.

"Woodpecker" pin "EXP" header pin name "EXP" header pin number
TxD PB9_RX 8
RxD PB8_TX 7
GND GND (or GND1) 9 (or 6)

Board Data and Schematic

Model "A" Baseboard dimensions: 133 mm x 80 mm x 19 mm

Power inputs:

  • DC barrel jack, 3.5 mm OD / 1.35 mm ID, 2 A at 5 V
  • 3.7 V lithium-ion battery connector
  • Euler connector

Schematics:

Pine A64-LTS schematic:

Pine A64-LTS V2 schematic:

Datasheets for Components and Peripherals

Allwinner A64/R18 SoC information:

X-Powers AXP803 PMU (Power Management Unit) information:

LPDDR3 information:

eMMC information:

SPI NOR Flash information:

Related to the PINE A64-LTS:

Pine A64 POT

Other Resources