Cubieboard 2 A20

Cubieboard 2 — Full Technical Description

The Cubieboard 2 is a compact single‑board computer based on the Allwinner A20, designed for embedded systems, DIY projects, servers, and multimedia applications. It offers a rich set of peripherals, SATA support, and a GPIO header for hardware expansion.

🔥 1. Processor (CPU)

Allwinner A20 SoC

• Dual‑core ARM Cortex‑A7
• Clock speed: 1.0 GHz
• Architecture: ARMv7‑A (32‑bit)
• NEON SIMD support
• VFPv4 floating‑point unit
• Low power consumption

🎨 2. Graphics (GPU)

Mali‑400 MP2

• Dual‑core GPU
• OpenGL ES 2.0 support
• Capable of 1080p UI acceleration and light 3D graphics

🎥 3. Video Engine

CedarX VPU

• Hardware decoding: 1080p H.264, MPEG‑4, VP8
• Hardware encoding: 720p H.264
• HDMI output up to 1080p

🧠 4. Memory

• 1 GB DDR3 RAM (standard model)
• Some rare versions shipped with 512 MB

💾 5. Storage Options

• microSD slot (bootable)
• NAND flash (varies by batch; some units have 4 GB)
• SATA 2.0 port

• Up to 3 Gbps
• Supports 2.5" HDD/SSD
• Includes SATA power cable in the kit

🔌 6. Connectivity & Ports

USB

• 2 × USB 2.0 Host ports
• 1 × USB OTG (micro‑USB)

Ethernet

• 10/100 Mbps Fast Ethernet

HDMI

• HDMI 1.4
• Up to 1080p output

Audio

• 3.5 mm audio out
• 3.5 mm microphone in
• SPDIF digital audio output

IR Receiver

• Built‑in infrared receiver for remote control

🧩 7. Expansion Header (GPIO)

The Cubieboard 2 exposes a 96‑pin expansion header, including:

• GPIO
• UART
• I²C
• SPI
• PWM
• LRADC
• TV‑out
• CSI camera interface
• LCD RGB interface
• I²S audio

This makes it extremely flexible for embedded projects.

📡 8. Networking

• Fast Ethernet 100 Mbps
• No onboard Wi‑Fi (USB Wi‑Fi dongles supported)

🔋 9. Power

• 5V DC input (via barrel jack or USB OTG)
• Typical consumption: 2–4 W

🧱 10. Physical Characteristics

• Dimensions: 110 × 80 mm
• PCB color: black (in your kit)
• Mounting holes: 4

The Cubieboard 2 is a versatile SBC with:

• Dual‑core A20 CPU
• SATA support
• HDMI 1080p
• Rich GPIO
• USB host + OTG
• Audio in/out
• IR receiver
• microSD + NAND storage

It’s still useful today for:

• NAS
• Retro gaming
• Lightweight servers
• GPIO projects
• Linux learning
• Home automation