Lennox - Standard Raspberry Pi Vs Compute Modules

STANDARD RASPBERRY PI VS
COMPUTE MODULES
CM3 AND CM4
CM3
Standard Raspberry pi 3 board
Standard Raspberry pi
● The Raspberry Pi is a credit card-sized low-cost computer that connects to a computer monitor
or TV and uses a standard keyboard and mouse. It's a little but powerful device that enables
people of all ages to learn about computers and programming languages such as Scratch and
Python. It can browse the internet and stream high-definition video, as well as spreadsheets,
word processing, and gaming, much like a desktop computer.
● The Raspberry Pi can also interact with the outside world and has been used in a range of digital
maker projects, including music machines, parent detectors, weather stations, and tweeting
birdhouses with infrared cameras.
Raspberry Pi Compute module
● The Compute Module is a Raspberry Pi with a more flexible form factor that's designed for
industrial use. The Compute Module has the BCM2837 CPU and 512MB RAM of a Raspberry
Pi, as well as a 4GB eMMC Flash device (which is the equivalent of the SD card in the Pi). All
of this is housed in a compact 67.6x30mm PCB that plugs into a normal DDR2 SODIMM
socket (the same type of connector is used for laptop memory). The board's Flash memory is
directly attached to the CPU, but the remaining processor interfaces are accessible through the
connection pins.
● You get the full versatility of the BCM2837 SoC (System on chip , which means you get a lot
more GPIOs and ports than the Raspberry Pi). Afterward, building the Module into a bespoke
system should be rather simple because we've put all the tough pieces on the Module itself. The
Compute Module can be purchased individually or in bulk quantities of hundreds or thousands.
SODDIM
The term "SODIMM connector" typically refers to the socket or slot on a motherboard where a
SODIMM (Small Outline Dual In-line Memory Module) is inserted. SODIMM connectors are
predominantly used in laptops, small form factor PCs, and some embedded systems due to their
compact size compared to standard DIMM slots used in desktop computers.
Processors used - Broadcom processors
● Broadcom processors are a type of system on a chip (SoC) that are designed by Broadcom Inc.
These processors are commonly used in networking devices, smartphones, and other electronic
devices.
● Broadcom processors are known for their high performance, low power consumption, and
integration of various components such as CPU, GPU, modem, and connectivity options.
● Broadcom processors are used in computer modules
Broadcom Processors examples
BCM2835
The Broadcom chip used in the BCM2837 : Raspberry Pi 3 Model B, later models
of the Raspberry Pi 2 Model B, and the Raspberry Pi
Raspberry Pi 1 Models A, A+, B,
Compute Module 3. The underlying architecture of
B+, the Raspberry Pi Zero, the the BCM2837 is identical to the BCM2836. The
only significant difference is the replacement of the
Raspberry Pi Zero W, and the
ARMv7 quad core cluster with a quad-core ARM
Raspberry Pi Compute Module 1. Cortex A53 (ARMv8) cluster.
BCM2836: Raspberry Pi 2 Model B

Motivation - Why use compute modules instead of the boards
● The original Compute module was released in 2014 and was designed to bring the power and
versatility of the Pi to a smaller form factor which was better suited to industrial and
commercial applications. By stripping away all of the hardware ports and leaving the raw
BCM2837 with all the required supporting circuitry, it allowed developers and designers to
pick and choose what features they wanted to implement, along with breaking out the full
potential of the BCM2837 chip. It had the same specs as the Pi boards did then which was only
512MB of RAM and approximately 10x less processing power than the Pi 3.
● The hardware ports limit the user such that one can only use the hardware ports.
● They provide the increased flexibility that designers and industrial users are looking for, whilst
making the benefits still accessible to makers. The Development Kit, whilst more expensive than
the modules, comes with everything you need to get started and rounds out the options for what’s
already an incredibly user-friendly and stable platform
Micro Form Factor
This indicates how compact a module is, we can have a standard form factor, compact
form factor, ultra-compact form factor. E.t.c Mostly determined by the type of a connector
in a compute module.
The form factor for:
1. Compute module 3 - 67.5mm x 31mm

2. Compute module 4 - 55mm x 40mm
CM3 verses CM4
Why CM4 is better than CM3 and other CMs
CM4 is not intended as a stand-alone product. Instead, it is a System on Module (SoM) containing
processor, memory, eMMC Flash and supporting power circuitry. It is designed to be embedded
into custom systems and as such it's a perfect fit for bespoke designs BitScope creates for its
customers. Compute Module is available in two version one with (CM4) and one without (CM4Lite)
eMMC. While previous generations of the Compute Module have all shared the same DDR2-
SODIMM-mechanically-compatible form factor, the new CM4 and CM4Lite are different.
The new modules have extra IO interfaces over and above what is available on the Raspberry Pi
boards, opening up more options for the designer.
Why CM4 is better than CM3 and other CMs
The connectors for these new interfaces located on the underside of the module via two 100-pin high
density connectors. The new physical form factor has a smaller footprint overall when the
connectors are taken into account. This change has enabled the addition of the second HDMI a single
lane PCIe and Ethernet, all on the module. The addition of these new interfaces, especially PCIe,
would not have been possible while preserving the previous form factor.
To make designing with CM4 easier Raspberry Pi have created Compute Module 4 IO Board
(CM4IO) It contains many of the interfaces that the Raspberry Pi 4B has and for general usage you
should refer to Raspberry Pi 4B documentation.
CM4
Compute module 4
Conclusion
In conclusion, the choice between using compute modules or standard Raspberry Pi boards depends
on the specific requirements and constraints of your project. Compute modules offer a compact,
integrated solution that provides the core functionalities of a computer with the flexibility to
customize peripheral connections and form factors. This makes them ideal for embedded
applications and industrial use where space is at a premium and specific interfaces or configurations
are needed.
References
1. https://core-electronics.com.au/guides/compute-module-generations
2. https://www.bitscope.com/blog/JK/?p=JK42A
3. https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/raspberry-pi-compute-module-4
4. https://www.xda-developers.com/raspberry-pi-compute-module-4-launch
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STANDARD RASPBERRY PI VS

BCM2836: Raspberry Pi 2 Model B

The form factor for:

1. Compute module 3 - 67.5mm x 31mm

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