The Banana Pi BPI-CM6 is a RISC-V compute module (SoM) built around the SpacemiT K1 octa-core processor. Its core advantage lies in its mechanical and electrical compatibility with most Raspberry Pi CM4 and CM5 carrier boards, while providing significantly richer I/O through three 100-pin board-to-board connectors.
The module integrates 8GB LPDDR4 RAM, 16GB eMMC, a Gigabit Ethernet PHY, and a Wi-Fi 5 + Bluetooth 4.1 wireless module. The high-density connectors expose interfaces such as HDMI 1.4, MIPI DSI, three MIPI CSI lanes, five PCIe 2.1 lanes, and USB 3.2/2.0, enabling high-bandwidth peripherals and advanced multimedia workloads.
Although only two connectors are required for CM4/CM5 carrier boards, Banana Pi provides a dedicated BPI-CM6 IO Baseboard to unlock the full interface set—especially beneficial for maximizing PCIe bandwidth and multi-device expansion.
Core Specifications (SoM)
| Category | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Processor (SoC) | SpacemiT K1 |
| CPU | 8× X60 RISC-V RV64GCVB cores @ 1.6 GHz (performance comparable to Arm Cortex-A55) |
| GPU | Imagination IMG BXE-2-32 @ 819 MHz; supports OpenGL ES 3.2, Vulkan 1.3, OpenCL 3.0; 20 GFLOPS |
| Video Processing (VPU) | Decode: H.265/H.264/VP8/VP9/MPEG4/MPEG2 up to 4K@60fps Encode: H.265/H.264/VP8/VP9 up to 4K@30fps Concurrent pipelines: 1080p60 encode + 1080p60 decode, or 1080p30 encode + 4K30 decode |
| AI Acceleration | 2.0 TOPS INT8; CPU-fusion architecture; RVV 1.0 and RVA22 compliant |
| System Memory | 8GB LPDDR4 (16GB optional) |
| eMMC Storage | 8GB / 16GB (default) / 32GB / 128GB |
| Networking | 1× Realtek RTL8211F Gigabit PHY Wi-Fi 5 + Bluetooth 4.1 (Realtek RTL8852BS, SDIO interface) RGMII interface |
| Display | HDMI 1.4, MIPI DSI |
| Cameras | 3× MIPI CSI interfaces |
| USB | 1× USB 3.0, 2× USB 2.0 |
| PCIe | 5× PCIe 2.1 lanes |
| Low-Speed I/O | 10× UART (additional interfaces not yet disclosed) |
| Power Management | P1 PMIC |
| Dimensions | 55 × 40 mm |
| Operating Temperature | -40°C to 85°C |
BPI-CM6 IO Baseboard Specifications
| Category | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Compatible Module | Banana Pi BPI-CM6 |
| Storage Expansion | MicroSD card slot 2× M.2 M-Key 2230 slots (NVMe SSD supported) |
| Video Output | HDMI port, 4-lane MIPI DSI connector |
| Camera Interfaces | 2× 4-lane MIPI CSI connectors |
| Networking | 2× Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 ports |
| USB | 1× USB 3.0 Type-A 1× USB 2.0 Type-A 1× USB Type-C OTG |
| Expansion | 2× M.2 M-Key slots (2-lane PCIe 2.1; supports NVMe SSDs, AI accelerators) 26-pin GPIO header |
| Buttons | Power, Reset, MaskROM |
| Additional Features | RGB LED, 2-pin RTC battery connector, boot-mode switch |
| Power Input | 12V DC (5.5/2.1 mm barrel jack) |
| Dimensions | 85 × 56 mm |
Software Support
The BPI-CM6 inherits its software ecosystem from the Banana Pi BPI-F3 SBC, as both are based on the SpacemiT K1 SoC. Official support includes:
- Armbian-based Ubuntu and Debian images (Linux 6.1 kernel)
- Titan Windows/Linux development toolkit
- Multiple open-source repositories, including an OpenWrt port (images not yet released)
This makes the platform suitable for developers familiar with mainstream Linux distributions and open-firmware workflows.
Thanks to its RISC-V architecture, multimedia processing capabilities, flexible PCIe layout, and industrial-grade temperature range, the BPI-CM6 fits a wide range of use cases:
- NAS and storage appliances
- Edge AI inference
- Industrial control systems
- Robotics and automation
- Lightweight laptops or handhelds
- High-performance embedded devices
Most CM4/CM5-compatible compute modules on the market rely on Arm cores. The BPI-CM6 is currently the only commercially available CM4/CM5-form-factor RISC-V module, with earlier projects such as Milk-V Mars CM and Antmicro AVRSOM no longer in production.
Comparable K1-based modules include:
- Jupiter NX (Jetson Nano NX-compatible)
- Lichee LM3A SO-DIMM module
BPI-CM6 module (default configuration): USD $67
BPI-CM6 + IO Baseboard bundle: USD $84
- IO Baseboard alone: USD $17
Units are available in the official Banana Pi store.
The product is also listed on AliExpress, though currently out of stock.
