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Banana Pi BPI-M3 User Guide

Introduction

Banana Pi M3 is a super charged single board computer with an Octa-core processor and 2GB of RAM. Along side the elite processing unit, it features Gigabit Ethernet, 2 USB, SATA, WiFi, Bluetooth, and HDMI connection. It can run on a variety of operating systems including Android, Lubuntu, Ubuntu, Debian, and Raspbian.

Being a brother of the power hungry M2, the M3 does not want to rest while his brother goes to acquire two more cores. The M3 secretly mastered the powerful art of Octa-core to best even the M2. Unlike his careless brother, the M3 did not lose his SATA port.

Banana Pi is an open platform device, it is for anyone who wants to play and build with developer technology instead of simply using consumer technology. Backed by our community, starting a project and building servers is fun and rewarding. We welcome all companies, DIYers, and tech loving people within our community! Together, we can make a difference, we can discover our passions, inspire others, and build a practical project.

Key Features

  • Allwinner A83T Octa-core 1.8GHz Powerful CPU.
  • 2 GB LPDDR3 memory.
  • 8 GB eMMC storage.
  • HDMI out
  • IR control
  • WiFi & Bluetooth onboard.
  • MIPI DSI ingerface
  • CSI camera interface

Getting Start

Hardware

Hardware interface


Hardware spec

Banana Pi BPI-M3
CPUAllwinner A83T ARM Cortex-A7 Octa-Core 1.8 GHz, 512KB L1 cache and 1MB L2 cache
GPUPowerVR SGX544MP1 Comply with OpenGL ES 2.0 OpenCL 1x, DX9_3
Memory2 GB LPDDR3 (shared with GPU)
StorageOn Board 8GB eMMC Flash, Micro SD-Card slot, SATA 2.0 Port (USB-to-SATA bridge)
Network10/100/1000 Mbit/s Ethernet (Realtek RTL8211E/D) + Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (AP6212) + Bluetooth BT4.0
Video Input(s)A CSI input connector allows for the connection of a designed camera module
Video Output(s)HDMI 1.4 (Type A Full), MIPI Display Serial Interface (DSI) for raw LCD Panel
Audio Input(s)On board microphone
Audio Output(s)3.5mm jack and HDMI
USB portsUSB 2.0 PORT (x2), USB OTG (x1)
RemoteIR Receiver (x1)
GPIO40 Pin Header : GPIO (x28) and Power (+5V, +3.3V and GND). Some of I/O Pin can be used for specific functions as UART, I2C, SPI or PWM
SwitchesReset, Power and U-boot
LEDPower Status and 8P8C
Power Source5 volt @2A via DC Power and/or Micro USB (OTG)
Size & Weight92x60mm, 48g
OSAndroid and Linux

GPIO PIN define

Banana Pi BPI-M3 has a 40-pin GPIO header that matches that of the Model Raspberry Pi 3. Following is the Banana Pi GPIO Pinout:

40 PIN GPIO define of Banana pi BPI-M3
GPIO Pin NameDefault FunctionFunction2：GPIOFunction3
CON1-P01VCC-3V3
CON1-P02DCIN
CON1-P03TWI2-SDAPH5-EINT5
CON1-P04DCIN　
CON1-P05TWI2-SCKPH4-EINT4
CON1-P06GND
CON1-P07S-PWMPL10-S-EINT10
CON1-P08UART2-TXPB0-EINT0
CON1-P09GND
CON1-P10UART2-RXPB1-EINT1
CON1-P11PC4 PC4
CON1-P12UART2-CTSPB3-EINT3
CON1-P13PC7PC7
CON1-P14GND
CON1-P15PC17PC17
CON1-P16UART2-RTSPB2-EINT2
CON1-P17VCC-3V3
CON1-P18PL8-ENT8PL8-S-ENT8
CON1-P19SPI0_MOSIPC0
CON1-P20GND
CON1-P21SPI0_MISOPC1
CON1-P22PL9-EINT9PL9-S-EINT9
CON1-P23SPI0_CLKPC2
CON1-P24SPI0_CSPC3
CON1-P25GND
CON1-P26PH10-ENT10PH10-ENT10
CON1-P27TWI1-SDAPH3-EINT3
CON1-P28TWI1-SCKPH2-EINT2
CON1-P29PC18PC18
CON1-P30GND
CON1-P31I2S1-BCLKPG10-EINT10UART3-TX
CON1-P32I2S1-DINPG13-EINT13UART3-CTS
CON1-P33I2S1-LRCKPG11-EINT11UART3-RX
CON1-P34GND
CON1-P35I2S1-DOUTPG12-EINT12UART3-RTS
CON1-P36PE5PE5
CON1-P37PE4PE4
CON1-P38OWA-DOUTPE18
CON1-P39GND
CON1-P40PE19PE19

CSI Camera Connector specification:


The CSI Camera Connector is a 40-pin FPC connector which can connect external camera module with proper signal pin mappings. The pin definitions of the CSI interface are shown as below. This is marked on the Banana Pi board as “CSI”.

CSI camera GPIO of Banana pi BPI-M3
CSI Pin NameDefault FunctionFunction2：GPIO
CN7-P01IPSOUT
CN7-P02AFVCC
CN7-P03IPSOUT
CN7-P04IOVDD
CN7-P05GND
CN7-P06GND
CN7-P07CSI2-D3N
CN7-P08AVDD-CSI
CN7-P09CSI2-D3P
CN7-P10DVDD-CSI-R
CN7-P11GND
CN7-P12NC
CN7-P13CSI2-D2N
CN7-P14CSI-RST-RPE16
CN7-P15CSI2-D2P
CN7-P16CSI-STBY-RPE17
CN7-P17GND
CN7-P18CSI-PCLKPE0
CN7-P19CSI2-CKN
CN7-P20CSI-MCLKPE1
CN7-P21CSI2-CKP
CN7-P22CSI-HSYNCPE2
CN7-P23GND
CN7-P24CSI-VSYNCPE3
CN7-P25CSI2-D1N
CN7-P26CSI-D9PE13
CN7-P27CSI2-D1P
CN7-P28CSI-D8PE12
CN7-P29GND
CN7-P30CSI-D7PE11
CN7-P31CSI2-D0N
CN7-P32CSI-D6PE10
CN7-P33CSI2-D0P
CN7-P34CSI-D5PE9
CN7-P35GND
CN7-P36CSI-D4PE8
CN7-P37CSI-SCKPE14
CN7-P38CSI-D3PE7
CN7-P39CSI-SDAPE15
CN7-P40CSI-D2PE6

Display specification

MIPI DSI (Display Serial Interface)：

The display Connector is a 40-pin FPC connector which can connect external LCD panel (MIPI DSI) and touch screen (I2C) module as well. The pin definitions of this connector are shown as below. This is marked on the Banana Pi board as “DSI”.

MIPI DSI PIN define of Banana pi BPI-M3
DSI Pin NameDefault FunctionFunction2：GPIO
CN6-P01VCC-MIPI
CN6-P02IPSOUT
CN6-P03VCC-MIPI
CN6-P04IPSOUT
CN6-P05GND
CN6-P06IPSOUT
CN6-P07GND
CN6-P08IPSOUT
CN6-P09NC
CN6-P10GND
CN6-P11NC
CN6-P12DSI-D0N
CN6-P13NC
CN6-P14DSI-D0P
CN6-P15NC
CN6-P16GND
CN6-P17TWI0-SDAPH1-EINT1
CN6-P18DSI-D1N
CN6-P19TWI0-SCKPH0-EINT0
CN6-P20DSI-D1P
CN6-P21TP-INTPL7-S-EINT7
CN6-P22GND
CN6-P23TP-RSTPL6-S-EINT6
CN6-P24DSI-CKN
CN6-P25GND
CN6-P26DSI-CKP
CN6-P27LCD-BL-ENPD29
CN6-P28GND
CN6-P29LCD-RSTPD26
CN6-P30DSI-D2N
CN6-P31LCD-PWR-ENPD27
CN6-P32DSI-D2P
CN6-P33GND
CN6-P34GND
CN6-P35LCD-PWMPD28
CN6-P36DSI-D3N
CN6-P37GND
CN6-P38DSI-D3P
CN6-P39AP-RESET#
CN6-P40GND

UART specification:

The header CON4 is the UART interface.For developers of Banana Pi, this is an easy way to get the UART console output to check the system status and log message.

Uart debug pin of Banana pi BPI-M3
CON2 Pin NameDefault FunctionGPIO
CON2 P03UART0-TXDPB9
CON2 P02UART0-RXDPB10
CON2 P01GND

Software

Android

Linux

Opnewrt

TinaLinux

Development

Basic Development

Resources

Source code

Documents

BPI-M3 WIFI Lab test report : https://bananapi.gitbook.io/bpi-m3/en/bpi-m3wifilabtest.html
BPI-M3 Validation test report : https://bananapi.gitbook.io/bpi-m3/en/bpi-m3validationtest.html

Image Release

Android 5.1.1 V5

  • 2018-06-05 update
  • HDMI-Version
Google Drive : https://drive.google.com/open?id=1mLXOAH_LPT-uqtwWvgvJXw4Vo95tFr_z
  • LCD-Version
Google Drive : https://drive.google.com/open?id=1DAxQIws0eAVPAm0riH5HXc8M36SH_-sC
  • 2017-05-11 update
  • HDMI-Version
Google Drive : https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_YnvHgh2rwjcXkxczlmOWxWV00
  • LCD-Version
Google Drive : https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_YnvHgh2rwjSkM5NHFWYVdlakk

Ubuntu

  • 2022-09-07 Armbian_22.11.0-trunk_Bananapim3_jammy_edge_5.19.6_xfce_desktop.img
Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iq0gCOAIHjE7bgxeccNPtFp9iK0AtzRM/view?usp=sharing
  • 2021-08-03 release, Ubuntu Mate Desktop 16.04 with kernel 3.4.39
Download: https://download.banana-pi.dev/d/ca025d76afd448aabc63/files/?p=%2FImages%2FBPI-M3%2FUbuntu16.04%2F2021-08-03-ubuntu-16.04-mate-desktop-bpi-m3-sd-emmc.img.zip
  • 2021-08-03 release, Ubuntu Server 16.04 with kernel 3.4.39
Download: https://download.banana-pi.dev/d/ca025d76afd448aabc63/files/?p=%2FImages%2FBPI-M3%2FUbuntu16.04%2F2021-08-03-ubuntu-16.04-server-bpi-m3-sd-emmc.img.zip
MD5: ea5abe3fd6988931df85a2376808501a
  • 2018-07-18 BPI-M3 Ubuntu 16.04 Mate Desktop (new eMMC)
Features Map ：https://wiki.banana-pi.org/M3_Image_Map#Ubuntu_16.04
Google Drive : https://drive.google.com/open?id=1DlOrt08yUY9hAETiUXBiyoyPFHrOxtvq
forum pthread: https://forum.banana-pi.org/t/topic/6294
  • 2018-07-18 M3 Ubuntu Server (new eMMC)
Features Map : https://www.spotpear.com/index/study/detail/id/983.html
Google Drive : https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Yyd2BepHjyhgXhSmnFh_0Az6YoXPEI3J
forum pthread: http://forum.banana-pi.org/t/bananapi-bpi-m3-new-image-new-emmc-ubuntu16-04-debian9-release-2018-07-18/6294
  • 2018-05-31 update ubuntu 16.04 mate desktop

Debian

  • 2022-09-07 Armbian_22.11.0-trunk_Bananapim3_bullseye_edge_5.19.6_xfce_desktop.img
Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vrM4WLq74O4FEOAmBjUwJGbzZptq3hYi/view?usp=sharing
  • 2018-07-18 BPI-M3 Debian Jessie 9 (new eMMC)
Features Map : https://www.spotpear.com/index/study/detail/id/983.html
Google Drive : https://drive.google.com/open?id=1M997Uf-RVqdFKJkXMjgY0w3fHyiOq4iG
Forum pthread : http://forum.banana-pi.org/t/bananapi-bpi-m3-new-image-new-emmc-ubuntu16-04-debian9-release-2018-07-18/6294

Armbian

  • Armbian_23.02.0-trunk_Bananapim3_focal_current_5.15.82_xfce_desktop.img
  • Armbian_23.02.0-trunk_Bananapim3_jammy_edge_6.1.11_xfce_desktop.img
  • Armbian_23.02.0-trunk_Bananapim3_bullseye_edge_6.1.0_xfce_desktop.img
Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1VpvVkYMqgmSnmfKXQSrEY2B6wRa-cggL?usp=share_link
Discuss on forum: https://forum.banana-pi.org/t/banana-pi-bpi-m3-new-armbian-image/15138


  • 2022-12-06 Armbian_22.11.0-trunk_Bananapim3_bullseye_edge_6.0.9.img.xz
Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Cr0KY0oVqSly-DOipgd_x_a4gQ0oPxm7/view?usp=share_link
Discuss on forum: https://forum.banana-pi.org/t/bananapi-bpi-m3-new-image-release-armbian-bullseye/14450
  • Armbian with 4.17.y for M3
Test build: http://ix.io/1fUK
Broken: wired, wireless network, Bluetooth, ...
Works: serial console, 8 cores, DVFS, USB, SATA, HDMI, DRM video driver, ...
image: https://forum.armbian.com/topic/474-banana-pi-m3/?do=findComment&comment=57400
Forum pthread: http://forum.banana-pi.org/t/armbian-with-4-17-y-for-m3/6174

Rasbian

  • 2021-08-03 release, Raspbian Stretch with kernel 3.4.39
Download: https://download.banana-pi.dev/d/ca025d76afd448aabc63/files/?p=%2FImages%2FBPI-M3%2FRaspbian%2F2021-08-03-raspbian-stretch-bpi-m3-sd-emmc.img.zip
MD5: a9890cedbd779a29ff551a7fc5e1eae6
  • 2018-5-28 update : Raspbian 8.0 V1.1
Image Link:
Google Drive:  https://drive.google.com/open?id=1DSZru8UQRikI6pImLZIt1DmySVozy0FA
Forum thread: http://forum.banana-pi.org/t/banana-pi-bpi-m3-new-image-release-raspbian-jessie-8-0-2018-5-28-v1-1/5847

Arch Linux

  • 2018-08-19 ArchLinux-4.18.1-1-ARCH : Kernel: 4.18.1-1-ARCH U-Boot: 2018.09-rc1
U-Boot: 2018.09-rc1,Kernel: 4.18.1-1-ARCH,Ethernet works,Wifi works,HDMI works,LCD needs to be checked(I would appreciate if someone can check it),GPIO works(WiringPi),BPI tools included,I2C enabled(In TDB file)
source code on github : https://github.com/apankevych/BananaPi-M3-Linux-4.18.1-1-ARCH
download Image link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ia3JSmHH8ksia4e8doalUGSBHnytOgx4/view?usp=sharing
Forum pthread :  http://forum.banana-pi.org/t/bananapi-bpi-m3-new-image-archlinux-4-18-1-1-arch-2018-08-19/6544
  • 2018-07-19 Arch Linux sunxi kernel-4.18-rc3 and uboot- 2018.01 thank Andriy_Pankevych do this great work.
Google drive :  https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Ve91MG_7d1haawqqmiBo4qCugvF1iLyn
Source code:  https://github.com/apankevych/BananaPi-M3-Linux-4.18.0-rc3
Forum pthread :  http://forum.banana-pi.org/t/banana-pi-bpi-m3-new-image-arch-linux-sunxi-kernel-4-18-rc3-and-uboot-2018-01-2018-07-19/6312

FreeBSD

FreeBSD on Allwinner (sunxi) systems for banana pi

Banana pi as the official partner of Allwinner , must banana pi product use Allwinner chip design . such as A20/A31S/H3/H2+/A64/A83T , and FreeBSD have support many Allwinner . so easy to use on banana pi board.

  • Allwinner A20 (sun7i), a dual-core Cortex-A7 BPI-M1/BPI-M1+/BPI-R1
  • Allwinner A31 and A31s (sun6i), a quad-core Cortex-A7 BPI-M2
  • Allwinner A64 (sun50i), a quad-core Cortex-A53 BPI-M64
  • Allwinner A83T (sun8i), an octa-core Cortex-A7 BPI-M3
  • Allwinner H3 (sun8i), a quad-core Cortex-A7 BPI-M2+/BPI-M2+ EDU/

https://wiki.freebsd.org/FreeBSD/arm/Allwinner

Simplenas

Lakka TV

http://mirror.lakka.tv/nightly/

Price：
$63.9
Model：
Banana-Pi-BPI-M3
Brand：
Banana Pi
SKU：
0801013

Banana Pi BPI M3 Development board Allwinner A83T Octa core processor 1.8GHz

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