Flash-eXXGs16M and iMX8MP-SOM-EVB-IND: "SPI flash should be desoldered"

[ilario]

Dear Olimex team,
I was checking into the iMX8MP-SOM-4GB-IND + iMX8MP-SOM-EVB-IND combo and specifically into its accessory Flash-e32Gs16M.

In the description page of the accessory, there is this eerie text:

Fits iMX8MP-SOM-EVB-IND, but only eMMC would work out-of-the-box, there is voltage mismatch on the SPI flash lines (SPI flash should be desoldered).

What does it mean?
Should I desolder the 16 MB SPI memory in order to be able to use the 32 GB eMMC one?
Or can I just plug it in and use the eMMC one, with the SPI just not showing up?

[LubOlimex]

Yes, the first one - if you wish to use the eMMC from the module with iMX8MP design you should desolder the SPI always.

The SPI memory of Flash-e32Gs16M won't work with iMX8MP-SOM-EVB-IND. The reason for the miss is that the module works fine with RK3328 and STMP designs but they are working at 3.3V (unlike the iMX8MP that works at 1.8V).

It is not very good practice to have a 3.3V memory to the 1.8V port of the iMX8, this might damage the main CPU. Or level shifting would be required.

The eMMC memory would work at 1.8V tho. If you wish to use that extension module for the eMMC, my advice would be to desolder the SPI memory.

Will see how things get done in next revisions.

[LubOlimex]

By the way if you wish to purchase it, we might desolder the SPI for you - add it as note during the checkout (it is usually in step 3 of 5 at the bottom of "shipping options") and drop us an e-mail at support@olimex.com. It is important for us to see the note.

[ilario]

By the way if you wish to purchase it, we might desolder the SPI for you

This is so nice of you, thanks!
My de-soldering skills are very bad (e.g. see my desoldering strategy here), so I would certainly destroy the board if I did it myself.