MOP500 development board

Mali™-400 GPU and Dual Cortex-A9

Maximise your application throughput with the powerful multi-threaded ARMv7 architecture and Mali-400 GPU. Run complex algorithms and take advantage of OpenGLES shading capabilities for your game, user interface, browser or even 3D mapping software.

An open platform for fast development

Order your board and get developing with the confidence that you are working with all the benefits of an open source eco system combined with easy access to drivers and Open GL ES resources in the Mali Developer Center.

Write your end user application even before production devices are available

Capitalize on your code development from the very first day by developing on early hardware. Write, debug and fine tune your game, application or user interface even before devices go into production.

MOP500 board top view

U8500 chipset key specifications:

• SMP dual core ARM cortex-A9
• 32-bit LP-DDR2

• 1080p H264

• Dual XGA displays and touch screen support

• Dual camera support, 18 Mpixel and 5 Mpixel with integrated ISP, MIPI CSI-2 interface

• 3D-graphics with Mali-400 GPU (single core): Open VG 1.1, Open GL ES2.0

• Linux
• Google Android
• Symbian Foundation

 More about the U8500 here (link to ST-Ericsson web site)

MOP500 board specifications:

Board size

• 160 x 100 mm2

Application processor

• Supported devices : U8500 (mounted on the board)

Power supplies

• External jack or battery connectors.
• Battery charging over USB or through a charger

Memories

• Flash and DDR memories
• On board 8GBytes eMMC

User Interface Board support

• Touch screen support
• 4 connectors available to plug user interface boards

USB

• High Speed USB transceiver
• On-board micro USB connector (micro AB type)

External memory interface

• 1 SD/MMC card slot

Audio

• Digital & Analog microphones, Headset jack (A/V), vibrators, line in

Display output

• HDMI and TV Out connectors

Debug

• JTAG, ETM/PTM , STM/SBAG, UARTs

UIB500 user-interface board specifications

Board size

• 140 x 90 mm2

Display

• can support 2x WVGA 3 inch LCD, comes with one
• OLED & QVGA displays supported (exclusive)
• OLED populated by default
• 2 side connectors for other display/touch screen configurations (MIPI DSI)

Other features

• Ambient light and proximity sensors
• 2 Cameras with flash and LED
• Audio: earpiece, loudspeaker and microphone
• Vibrator
• 3D accelerometer and magnetometer
• Keypad

To find out about availability of the MOP500 development board and to register your interest, please send an email to Silica at mop500@silica.com with as much of the following information as you can fill in:

• Name
• Job Title/Position
• Company name
• Contact details
  • Postal address
  • Email address            
• Line of business
  • e.g. 3rd party developer, UI Contractor for OEMx etc.
• Purpose for buying boards
  • Target application
  • Target OS
  • Target event / demonstration / date
  • Evaluation for particular use case x
• Opportunity
  • OEM business or emerging applications etc.
• Relationship to ARM or ARM partners if any
  • Connected community member, Khronos member etc.
• Previous experience with OpenGL ES 2.0 (hardware)
  • e.g. iPhone developer, Beagle contributor etc.
• Number of units looking to purchase

Q1: What technical documentation is available for the board/U8500 chipset?

A1: The MOP500 User Guide/Datasheet will be provided as part of the software package. In addition, on the Mali Developer Center developers can find example source codes, Tools and white papers to help port content to Mali GPU based hardware.

Also refer to the ST-Ericsson U8500 webpage: http://www.stericsson.com/platforms/U8500.jsp

Q2: How many boards can be ordered?

A2: There is, in theory, no limit except for stock availability. However this hardware is not in mass production and there is a lead time of 12 weeks minimum to consider whenever a new order takes us out of existing stock.

Q3: When will the MOP500 board be widely available?

A3: First shipments can be expected by June 2010. Orders will be processed as of now and quotations provided.

Q4: What is/will be the retail price of the MOP500 board?

A4: The MOP500 motherboard and the User Interface Board can be sold separately or together, following standard pricing i.e. no special discount if you order one or both. Prices will be provided in the individual quotation from Silica.

The MOP500 mother board will cost €630 and the UIB500 will cost €580 (excluding VAT or similarly applicable local taxes and will be subject to exchange rates for non-Euro based purchases)

Q5: Is the price affected for larger orders?

A5: No. it is the same price per unit for every order.

Q6: Are there extra costs for different locations?

A6: Postage and packing charges will apply according to which region the shipment is to. Import charges also will be applied.

Please note that quotations will be in Euro currency (€) and therefore the pricing relative to your local currency will vary according to the prevailing exchange rates.

Q7: What is the expected delivery time from when order is processed?

A7: For units we have in stock, order needs to be processed and payments cleared before orders are fulfilled. Quotations for buyers outside of the UK will also be subject to credit checks.

On top of that add the postage time. Exact schedules will be communicated by the distributor, Silica.

Q8: What is the level of support, if any, developers can expect for this board?

A8: Support will be via the community i.e. the Mali Development Platforms forums (http://forums.arm.com/index.php?showforum=12). ARM will be monitoring queries and take the necessary actions to fix urgent issues through this channel. We encourage knowledge sharing within the community.

Q9:  What does the kit include? Are schematics / layout files provided?

A9: Only the development board will be provided. The User Interface Board (UIB) is an additional board to provide local LCD, keypads, accelerometer, magnetometer amongst other features.

Schematics, netlists, layout DB files and other hardware design specific data are not provided and currently there are no plans to do so via this channel.

Q10: What software is provided as a part of the Android SDK option? Are there any application demos included?

A10:  Currently only a Linux Board Support Package will be provided. Any plans regarding Android will be communicated as and when we have more information. Thanks for your patience.

Q11: Are there WiFi and Bluetooth modules available?  If so, what is their cost?  Do they come with Android drivers? How can they be procured?

A11:  These modules are not currently available.

Q12: Which audio and video codecs are provided (in image form) that take advantage of the U8500's hardware acceleration? Do we need additional Licenses from ST-Ericsson?

A12: The BSP is expected to have support for H.264 audio/video. License terms subject to the click-through EULA that accompanies the BSP.

Q13: Will an NDA with ST-Ericsson be needed?

A13: Unlike with Telechips, a Non-Disclosure Agreement will not be needed to grant developers access to the MOP500 Board Support Package. However by downloading and using the BSP, users are agreeing to the terms of the accompanying click-through EULA.

Q14: Where do we get the necessary peripherals?

A14: Micro SD cards can be purchased from most electronic stores and online.  More information will be posted here about peripherals in the near future.