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Embedded Computers By androidpimpAugust 17, 202433 Mins Read

Banana Pi BPI-R3: Everything you need to know

By androidpimpAugust 17, 202421 Comments33 Mins Read
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Table of contents
  1. Banana Pi BPI-R3 board
  2. Banana Pi BPI-R3
  3. Specifications
  4. Key Features
  5. Real-World Applications
  6. Improved Cooling
  7. A Quick Product Demo
  8. Banana Pi BPI-R3 Board Layout
  9. Hardware
    1. Storage Interfaces
    2. Connectivity
  10. Wi-Fi 6 Ready
    1. Misc & Other Interfaces
    2. Part 1: Package Contents, Unboxing, and Hardware
    3. Package Contents:
  11. Unboxing All Items
    1. The Banana Pi R3 Board
    2. Unboxing the Banana Pi R3 Case – 1 of 2
    3. Unboxing the Banana Pi R3 Case – 2 of 2
    4. Power Supply
    5. Antennas
  12. Part 2: Case Design
    1. Great Design but not flawless
  13. Part 3: Operation
    1. Downloading OpenWrt image file
  14. Flashing and Booting From eMMC
  15. Bootstrap switch
  16. Flashing OS files via USB Serial Module
    1. How to Install an M.2 NVMe SSD
    2. Installing an SSD Card With a Heatsink
    3. NVMe Performance Testing
    4. (Read/Write) SSD Performance Test
  17. Part 4: Installing a Fan-Cooled Heat Sink
    1. FAN Wiring Configurations (Options)
    2. Configuration Option No. 1 (Passive Cooling)
    3. Cooled FAN Heatsink
    4. Preparing Conductive Silicone Thermal Pad
    5. Configuration Option No. 2
    6. Connecting 4 Pins Cooled Heatsink wires w/ the XH2.54 4 PIN wires
    7. Final Step (Powering/Operating the FAN)
    8. How to Automatically load the script
    9. Configuration Option No. 3
    10. Connecting 4 Pins Cooled Heatsink wires w/ the VH3.96-2PIN wires
    11. Configuration Option No. 3 (With Support for PWM)
  18. Configuration Option No. 4 (Without PWM Support)
    1. Adjusting these trip points
    2. Controlling the fan rotation speeds:
  19. Part 5: Checking Temperatures
    1. Testing another Cooling Configuration.
  20. Part 6: WiFi Antennas Installation (Best Practices)
    1. Antennas Arrangement & Installation
    2. Installation tips!
  21. Installing a Wi-Fi 6E Expansion Network Card
  22. Part 7: Adding a 2.5G Network Card (Optional Configuration)
  23. Part 8: Setting up a NAS Server (Optional Configuration)
    1. How to set up a NAS device (Optional Configuration, DIY Style)
  24. Part 9: Connectivity
    1. Network Throughput Testing using iPerf
    2. What WIFI throughput speeds should you expect?
    3. iPerf Test: 2.5 SFP RJ45 LAN Speed Test
  25. Banana Pi R3 (Back view)
    1. iPerf Test: Wireless (WiFi) Speed Test
  26. Tweaking Network Performance
  27. Final Thoughts
  28. Should You Buy it?
  29. Price and Availability

Part 5: Checking Temperatures

Checking the CPU Temperature:
cat /sys/class/thermal/thermal_zone0/temp
45848
Checking other sensors information:

cat /sys/devices/platform/sfp1/hwmon/hwmon1/temp1_input
40094

cat /sys/devices/platform/soc/18000000.wmac/ieee80211/phy0/hwmon2/temp1_input

47000

cat /sys/devices/platform/soc/18000000.wmac/ieee80211/phy1/hwmon3/temp1_input
53000
Device IDInterface nameTemperature
CPUthermal_zone045°C
SFP1–40°C
2.4G (MT7975N Chip)phy047°C
5G (MT7975P Chip)phy153°C

The following temperature measurements were taken while the FAN was switched on in a closed enclosure.


Testing another Cooling Configuration.

Not satisfied with previous temperature results. We used three copper-made sheet plates. We placed one on top of the MT7986A Chip, a second on the 8 GB eMMC Chip, and a third on the MT75531 AE Chip. Because of their tiny size, we didn’t find compatible plates for the 2 GB DDR4 RAM and the Wifi Chips. A partial solution is still better than no solution. That said, our CPU work temperature was improved and dropped from 45°C to ~39°C.

Banana Pi R3 Heatsinks 3
Banana Pi R3 Heatsinks 4
Banana Pi R3 Heatsinks 5
Banana Pi R3 Heatsinks 6
Banana Pi R3 Heatsinks 1
Banana Pi R3 Heatsinks 2
Checking the CPU Temperature:
cat /sys/class/thermal/thermal_zone0/temp
39506
Checking other sensors information:

cat /sys/devices/platform/sfp1/hwmon/hwmon1/temp1_input
39031

cat /sys/devices/platform/soc/18000000.wmac/ieee80211/phy0/hwmon2/temp1_input

45000

cat /sys/devices/platform/soc/18000000.wmac/ieee80211/phy1/hwmon3/temp1_input
53000
Device IDInterface nameTemperature
CPUthermal_zone039 – 40°C
SFP1–39°C
2.4G (MT7975N Chip)phy044°C
5G (MT7975P Chip)phy153°C

The following temperature measurements were taken while the FAN was switched on in a closed enclosure.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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Melroy van den Berg
2 years ago

When you do recommend installing a passive (or active) heat sink to this setup? Passive cooling is I think a no brainer, it’s cheap and silent. Strange they don’t add passive heat sink to their package product, as part of the package.

0
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androidpimp
2 years ago
Reply to  Melroy van den Berg

“Strange they don’t add passive heat sink to their package product, as part of the package”.
They had some supply problems because of COVID.

If you have a large heatsink that will fit and cover all chips, it might be worth trying the passive cooling option. Just use a lower in height so you have the option to add a fan.

0
Reply
Melroy van den Berg
2 years ago
Reply to  androidpimp

I just noticed that the “complete kit” also comes with heat sinks. Seperate heatsinks for each chip. If you buy a large heatsink, that will work as well, BUT keep in mind that the chips have different heights, meaning you should use different heat pads (1.5 mm and 0.5 mm) to have a good coverage of the heat sink on the different chips. I did read about performance issues on forum.banana-pi.org forum, when you don’t cool the chips enough. Especially with passive cooling, it might still be a good idea to add additional vent holes manually in the casing. Since… Read more »

0
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androidpimp
2 years ago
Reply to  Melroy van den Berg

So use 1.5-2 mm thermal pads. Nothing will happen. They are elastic, so it does not matter if you are using the highest type for all chips. It’s not rocket science. I agree about the vent holes. You can drill a few holes.. or you can also glue a small fan to the bottom of the case. And maybe use the GPIO header pins as a power source. Just to get the hot air out of the case.

0
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Melroy van den Berg
2 years ago
Reply to  androidpimp

Actually there is a fan header connnector on the R3 board. Which can do PWM.

0
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androidpimp
2 years ago
Reply to  Melroy van den Berg

Kindly Try it, and let me know if it works well.
you can email me with the info. Thanks

0
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Melroy van den Berg
2 years ago

Ps. also add a link to the package deal of the Banana Pi BPI-R3? https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004886608696.html.

Since you mentioned the single board computer only on your last page.

0
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androidpimp
2 years ago
Reply to  Melroy van den Berg

Thanks. I added the link for the complete kit.

0
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Ivan
2 years ago

Which version of PCIe does the board support?

0
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androidpimp
2 years ago
Reply to  Ivan

According to MediaTek website >> M.2 M-Key PCIe interface (2-lane PCIe 2.0)

0
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Hattan
1 year ago

Is there any nas software or docker image that will handle those multiple hdds ? Exampme if i want to raid, zfs or btrfs

0
Reply
androidpimp
1 year ago
Reply to  Hattan

1) OpenWrt has NAS support.
2) You can also try CasaOS.
3) OpenMediaVault should run on Debian.

0
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Pablo
1 year ago

I don’t get what is about the ONTi SFP. It is suposed to be a GPON ONT? In aliexpress I see that it comes in pairs (Tx 1310 and Rx 1550 the first one and other with Tx 1550 and 1310), like a pair which is meant to be connected together.

https://es.aliexpress.com/item/4000265957277.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.17.5893oPf4oPf4kf&algo_pvid=54d3e4cb-00c6-4269-8acb-3ae1e2c40f54&algo_exp_id=54d3e4cb-00c6-4269-8acb-3ae1e2c40f54-8&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21ARS%217735.49%213867.74%21%21%2122.10%21%21%402132a26216964772264216569ed485%2110000001076765699%21sea%21AR%214647643211%21AB&curPageLogUid=VmCG7Kwqm2TR

0
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androidpimp
1 year ago
Reply to  Pablo

This module is not compatible with GPON technology.
If the module information / specifications do not indicate it’s a GPON compliance, then it is safe to say that it is not GPON compliant.

0
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Miles
1 year ago

Did you use anything to glue the copper-made sheet plates on chips?

Last edited 1 year ago by Miles
0
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androidpimp
1 year ago
Reply to  Miles

I used a thermal silicone adhesive plaster.

0
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Jacky
1 month ago

This website doesn’t work. Whenever you click on a topic or try to love to Next page it refreshes the page and stays on page 1

0
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Author
androidpimp
1 month ago
Reply to  Jacky

Thank u. The problem was fixed.

0
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domel
1 month ago

Hello, I can’t read other 9 pages from 10 in the Banana Pi BPI-R3: Everything you need to know article. Now content is unavaible. Please to fix, it’s great portion of knowledge. Best regards

0
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Author
androidpimp
1 month ago
Reply to  domel

Hi, please check now.
Thanks

0
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domel
1 month ago
Reply to  androidpimp

It’s working now, great, thank You:)

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