Raspberry Pi released the Compute Module 3 and Compute Module 3 Lite to "provide the ‘team in a garage’ with easy access to the same technology as the big guys." The products are based on the consumer-focused Raspberry Pi 3 released in February 2016 with modifications for business customers.
The Compute Module 3 offers a BCM2837 processor at up to 1.2GHz, 1GB RAM (DDR2 SODIMM), and 4GB of on-module eMMC flash memory. The Compute Module 3 Lite comes with the same processor and RAM but forgoes the eMMC flash in favor of an SD card interface.
Raspberry Pi also released the Compute Module IO Board V3. It allows you to program the Module's flash memory, supplies the Module with power, offers an easier interface to the CPU, and provides the HDMI and USB connectors needed to build an entire system with your operating system of choice.
Hardware lead James Adams explained in a blog post how Compute Module 3 designs will differ from their predecessors:
The CM3 is largely backwards-compatible with CM1 designs which have followed our design guidelines. The caveats are that the Module is 1mm taller than the original Module, and the processor core supply (VBAT) can draw significantly more current. Consequently, the processor itself will run much hotter under heavy CPU load, so designers need to consider thermals based on expected use cases.
Updates from Raspberry Pi are always welcome. Its products offer an inexpensive way for people to learn software development, flirt with the idea of tinkering with hardware, and build cheap systems. That's why the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B made its way onto the Tom's Hardware 2016 Gift Guide.
The Compute Module 3 costs $30, and the Compute Module 3 Lite and the older Compute Module 1 cost $25. All three can be purchased from element14, Farnell, and RS Components now. RS Components is also selling the Compute Module IO Board V3 for roughly $118, whereas the other stores are selling $200 developer kits with both modules, the board, a camera display adapter, and other components.
