Mixtile Blade 3 User manual

Blade 3 | Single Board Computer
User Manual
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Changes
Version
Date
Changes
Name
1.0
2022-06-15
First version
VT

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Index of Contents
CHANGES ............................................................................................................................................................................................ - 2 -
1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................................................... - 4 -
1.1 PRODUCT DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................................................................................................ - 4 -
1.2 PACKAGE LIST ............................................................................................................................................................................................. - 4 -
1.3 MAIN FEATURES ......................................................................................................................................................................................... - 4 -
1.4 BLOCK DIAGRAM & PRODUCT OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................................................ - 5 -
1.4.1 Block Diagram ............................................................................................................................................................................. - 5 -
1.4.2 Product Overview ...................................................................................................................................................................... - 6 -
1.4.3 Physical Dimensions .................................................................................................................................................................. - 7 -
1.5 KEY COMPONENT SPECIFICATIONS .......................................................................................................................................................... - 8 -
1.5.1 MIXTILE Core 3588 .................................................................................................................................................................... - 8 -
1.5.2 MicroSD Socket .......................................................................................................................................................................... - 8 -
1.5.3 Mini-PCIe Socket ....................................................................................................................................................................... - 8 -
1.5.4 Gigabit Ethernet ......................................................................................................................................................................... - 8 -
1.5.5 Power Input ................................................................................................................................................................................. - 9 -
1.5.6 USB 2.0/3.0 Host Ports ............................................................................................................................................................. - 9 -
1.5.7 Display Support .......................................................................................................................................................................... - 9 -
1.5.8 U.2 Connector ............................................................................................................................................................................. - 9 -
1.5.9 LEDs and Dip Switch .............................................................................................................................................................. - 10 -
2 CONNECTORS & PIN ASSIGNMENTS .............................................................................................................................. - 11 -
2.1 30-PIN CONNECTOR .............................................................................................................................................................................. - 11 -
2.2 FAN CONNECTOR .................................................................................................................................................................................... - 12 -
2.3 MINI-PCIE ............................................................................................................................................................................................... - 12 -
2.4 MIPI-CSI ................................................................................................................................................................................................. - 13 -
2.5 U.2 ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... - 14 -
2.6 DEBUG ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... - 16 -
3 SPECIFICATIONS .................................................................................................................................................................... - 16 -
3.1 ENVIRONMENTAL ..................................................................................................................................................................................... - 16 -
3.2 MECHANICAL ........................................................................................................................................................................................... - 16 -
4 SUPPORT ................................................................................................................................................................................. - 17 -
4.1 TECHNICAL SUPPORT .............................................................................................................................................................................. - 17 -

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1 Introduction
1.1 Product Description
The Mixtile Blade 3 is a low-cost, low-power SBC based on the next-generation Rockchip RK3588
CPU. It allows you to cluster numerous Mixtile Blade 3 SBCs to expand your deployment, making it
ideal for quick development, AI application prototyping, and edge computing.
Out-of-the-box, Mixtile Blade 3 is a stacking computer with an inbuilt PCIe Gen3 edge connector
that enables the integration of many high-performance hardware platforms into a tiny form factor.
That hardware, when combined, provides a network speed of up to 20 Gb/s and a memory
bandwidth of up to 136 GB/s. A Mixtile Blade 3 cluster in a 19-inch 2U chassis can support up to
600 CPU cores and 1320 GHz of processing power while requiring less than 1500 W of power.
1.2 Package list
l 1x Mixtile Blade 3 (heatsink installed)
1.3 Main Features
l CPU: Rockchip Octa-core Cortex-A76/A55 SoC processor RK3588
l NPU: Up to 6 TOPS
l Memory: Up to 32 GB LPDDR4 memory and up to 256 GB eMMC storage
l HDMI interface:
n HDMI 2.1 output (8K @ 60 FPS or 4K @ 120 FPS)
n HDMI 2.0 input (4K @ 60 FPS)
l Video encoder: H.264/H.265 video encoder up to 8K @ 30 FPS
l Video decoder: H.265/H.264/VP9 video decoder up to 8K @ 60 FPS
l Display: 4-lane MIPI-CSI
l Storage expansion:
n 4-lane PCIe Gen 3 in U.2 port
n SATA 3.0 in U.2 port
n Micro-SD 3.0 flash socket
l PCIe expansion: Mini-PCIe socket with PCIe Gen 2.1 and USB 2.0 support
l Ethernet expansion: Dual 2.5 gigabit Ethernet ports
l USB: Dual USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C ports with DisplayPort 1.4 A
l GPIOs: 30-pin GPIO socket that can be used as Digital I/O, I²C, USB 2.0, TTL UART, SPI, I²S
l Software support: Preload customized Debian 11, also support other Linux distributions and
Android 12
l Power: USB Type-C Port-1 Support USB PD 2.0 protocol
(Optional: 12 V DC standard SATA power in via U.2 port)
l Dimensions: 2.5-inch Pico-ITX form factor, 100 x 72 mm
l Operating temperature: 0 to +80° C

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1.4 Block diagram & Product overview
1.4.1 Block Diagram
The Block diagram for the Blade 3 single-board computer is shown below with descriptions for
each function.

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1.4.2 Product Overview

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1.4.3 Physical Dimensions

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1.5 Key Component Specifications
The key component specifications are described below with relevant hardware information and
developing notices. For more information, pin assignments and signal descriptions are listed in
Chapter 2, Connectors & Pin Assignments.
1.5.1 Rockchip 3588
The Rockchip RK3588 ARM64 CPU contains many peripherals to support multi-purpose.
l Octa Cortex-A76/A55 SoC processing cores
l Core operating frequencies up to 2.4GHz
l Neural Process Unit with processing performance up to 6 TOPS
l Support 8k@60 FPS H.265/H.264/VP9 decoder; 8K@30 FPS H.264/H.265 encoder
l Supports up to 32 GB LPDDR4 memory and up to 256 GB eMMC storage
The SDRAM is 32bits data width, 4 ranks LPDDR4 memory capacities from 4GBytes to 32GBytes.
The system flash memory supports eMMC 5.1 memory capacities from 32GBytes to 256GBytes.
The default memory setting is 4/16GBytes LPDDR4 and 32/128GBytes eMMC for Blade 3.
1.5.2 MicroSD Socket
The MicroSD socket accepts standard 11mm x 15mm Micro-SD cards with capacities up to
256GBytes. The 4bits data interface supports the SDMMC3.0 protocol. While the default boot
setting is the eMMC Flash which can change to the MicroSD card.
1.5.3 Mini-PCIe Socket
The mini-PCIe is a PCI card interface with a small form factor that uses a standard 52-pin mini-
PCIe socket. It also contains a USB 2.0 interface. The mini-PCIe socket supports the module sizes
of 3052.
The module supporting configuration, including power, reset, and interrupt signals, is under
software control by Core 3588. Since each module needs specific configuration definitions, check
the configuration setting before connecting the module.
USB Support
The mini-PCIe socket supports a standard USB 2.0 interface.
1.5.4 Gigabit Ethernet
The IEEE802.3 compliant Ethernet supports auto-negotiation of 10/100/1000/2500Mb half-duplex
and full-duplex. The RGMII interface from the processor connects the 2.5GbE to an external PHY,
RTL8125BG-CG. The RJ45 connector has some status and speed lights. The green light indicates

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that you are connected, and the flashing light indicates that data is being sent. The yellow light
indicates 2500Mbps and is turned off for 10/100/1000Mbps.
1.5.5 Power Input
Power Delivery (PD)
The power port is a USB-C port that supports USB Power Delivery 2.0. A Power Delivery
controller on-board allows for a maximum power input of 20V @ 3A.
12V DC
DC power inputs from a DC SATA power via U.2 port require 12V @ 3A.
1.5.6 USB 2.0/3.0 Host Ports
The Blade 3 features two USB Type-C ports. Both ports can support the USB-OTG capability as
well as DisplayPort via USB Type-C. DisplayPort over USB Type-C enables the USB Type-C
connector and cable to offer audio/video (AV) transfer via the DisplayPort interface. It supports
DisplayPort 1.4 and has a maximum resolution of 7680x4320@30Hz.
USB Type-C Port-1 supports USB PD2.0 but not USB 2.0 for ADB.
Although USB Type-C Port-0 does not support USB PD2.0, it does support USB 2.0 for ADB
debugging and firmware updates.
1.5.7 Display Support
The video output processor supports the resolution from 1920x1080@60Hz to 7680x4320@60Hz.
The default main display is HDMI.
HDMI-OUT
HDMI display compliant HDMI 1.4 and HDMI 2.1 with HDCP 2.3. It supports up to
1920x1080@120Hz and 7680x4320@60Hz/3840x2160@120Hz resolution.
HDMI-IN
HDMI input compliant HDMI 1.4 and HDMI 2.0 with HDCP 2.3. It supports input source up to
1920x1080@120Hz and 3840x2160@60Hz resolution.
1.5.8 U.2 Connector
The U.2 interface employs a 68-pin U.2 connector with a standard SATA 3.0 signal, a PCIe 3.0 X4
signal (four lanes PCIe 3.0), and 12V power input.

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1.5.9 LEDs and Dip Switch
The power LED indicate the status of the power supply. There is one SPST four-position dip switch
that can be used to determine the system booting mode of the Blade 3 board. Only one position
can be turned to ON at a time; please keep in mind that you cannot switch two positions to ON at
the same time.
When position 1 is set to ON, the Blade 3 will boot from eMMC.
When position 2 is set to ON, the Blade 3 will boot from the MicroSD card.
When position 3 is turned ON, the Blade 3 will boot from SPI Flash.
When position 4 is activated, Blade 3 enters MaskROM mode for firmware development.