3A5000-DB
ATX form factor development board with 3A5000 processor, DDR4 support, PCIe slots, and comprehensive I/O for desktop...
Product Overview
Description
The 3A5000 Development Board provides a complete evaluation platform for the Loongson 3A5000 quad-core desktop processor in standard ATX form factor.
Featuring DDR4 memory slots, multiple PCIe expansion slots, SATA ports, USB 3.0, and Gigabit Ethernet, the board enables comprehensive processor evaluation.
The development board includes UEFI firmware, Linux preinstallation, and full documentation for rapid application development and benchmarking.
Product Series
Development Boards and Modules
Primary Application
Desktop processor evaluation and benchmarking
Key Features
- Standard ATX form factor for compatibility with PC cases
- Dual DDR4-3200 DIMM slots supporting up to 64GB memory
- PCIe 3.0 x16 slot for graphics card or accelerator installation
- Multiple PCIe expansion slots for I/O expansion
- M.2 NVMe slot for high-speed SSD storage
- Comprehensive I/O including USB 3.0, SATA, and Ethernet
- UEFI firmware with standard PC boot process
Specifications
| Processor | 3A5000 (Quad-core, 2.3-2.5 GHz) |
|---|---|
| Memory | 2x DDR4-3200 DIMM slots, up to 64GB |
| Storage | 4x SATA 3.0, M.2 NVMe slot |
| Interfaces | PCIe x16, PCIe x4, PCIe x1, USB 3.0, GbE |
| Form Factor | ATX (305x244mm) |
| Temperature | Commercial 0°C to 70°C |
Applications
Desktop processor evaluation and benchmarking
Electronic system design
Software development and porting
Electronic system design
Education and research platforms
Electronic system design
Reference design for custom motherboards
Electronic system design
FAE Expert Insights
"The 3A5000 Development Board is an excellent platform for evaluating Loongson desktop processors and developing software. The standard ATX form factor makes it easy to work with using standard PC components and cases. I've used this board extensively for customer evaluations and software porting projects. The PCIe x16 slot allows testing with various graphics cards and accelerators. Memory compatibility has been good with major DDR4 module brands. The UEFI implementation is mature and supports standard boot methods. For customers transitioning from x86 platforms, this board provides a familiar development environment. I recommend this board as the starting point for any 3A5000-based development project."
Standard ATX form factor with comprehensive expansion options for flexible evaluation.
— James Zhang, BeiLuo
Frequently Asked Questions
What graphics cards are compatible with the 3A5000 Development Board?
The 3A5000 Development Board's PCIe x16 slot supports AMD Radeon graphics cards with Loongson-compatible drivers. AMD RX 500 series and select RX 6000 series cards have been tested and validated. NVIDIA cards are not supported due to lack of LoongArch drivers. Integrated graphics solutions may be available depending on chipset configuration. For basic display output, many AMD cards work without additional configuration using standard Linux drivers. For GPU computing or advanced graphics, check specific card compatibility with Loongson support. Reference documentation lists tested and validated graphics cards. We recommend using validated cards for reliable operation.
Select AMD Radeon graphics cards from the validated list. Contact us for current graphics card compatibility information.
Can the development board boot from NVMe SSD?
Yes, the 3A5000 Development Board supports booting from NVMe SSDs connected to the M.2 slot. The UEFI firmware includes NVMe driver support for boot device recognition. NVMe boot provides significantly faster boot times and improved storage performance compared to SATA SSDs. Most mainstream NVMe SSDs are compatible, though validation with specific models is recommended. The M.2 slot supports PCIe 3.0 x4 for full NVMe performance. Both M.2 SATA and NVMe SSDs are supported, with NVMe preferred for performance. Boot priority can be configured in UEFI settings to select NVMe as the primary boot device.
Use NVMe SSD for best storage performance and fast boot. We can recommend validated NVMe SSD models for reliable operation.
What power supply is required for the development board?
The 3A5000 Development Board uses standard ATX power supply connectors for broad compatibility. A 300W or higher 80 Plus certified power supply is recommended for typical configurations. The board uses 24-pin main power and 8-pin CPU power connectors standard on modern power supplies. Power consumption typically ranges from 50-100W depending on configuration and workload. Higher wattage power supplies (500W+) are recommended if using high-power graphics cards or multiple expansion cards. Standard ATX power supplies from major brands are compatible. The board includes power regulation and protection circuits for reliable operation.
Use quality 300W+ ATX power supply for basic configurations. Select higher wattage for graphics card or expansion card installations.
Is the development board schematic available?
Yes, schematic and design files are available for the 3A5000 Development Board to support customer reference designs and custom motherboard development. Documentation includes detailed schematics in PDF format, PCB layout files, and bill of materials. Design files demonstrate proper implementation of power delivery, memory interface, and I/O connectivity. Application notes provide guidance on design considerations and best practices. The documentation package is available to registered developers and customers under NDA. Reference designs can significantly accelerate custom motherboard development by providing proven implementation examples. Technical support is available for questions regarding reference design usage.
Access reference design files for custom motherboard development. Contact us for documentation access and design support.
Can multiple development boards be networked for cluster testing?
Multiple 3A5000 Development Boards can be networked together using the integrated Gigabit Ethernet for cluster and distributed computing testing. Standard Ethernet switches and cabling are used for interconnection. MPI (Message Passing Interface) and other clustering software is available for LoongArch platforms. The boards can run common cluster management tools including SLURM and Kubernetes. For high-performance interconnect testing, InfiniBand or high-speed Ethernet cards can be installed in PCIe slots. Cluster configurations are useful for testing parallel applications and evaluating scaling characteristics. Reference cluster configurations and setup guides are available for common use cases.
Set up multiple boards for cluster testing using standard Ethernet networking. We can provide cluster configuration guidance and software support.