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Freeplay CM3 --> CM4S - Printable Version

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Freeplay CM3 --> CM4S - Lanium - 09-09-2024

This thread will record my adventure swapping out a raspberry pi CM3 with a CM4S that i found on my Freeplay CM3 device.

The benefits of moving from a 3 to a 4 seem to be pretty good:

https://www.reddit.com/r/RetroPie/comments/fmdx0t/pi_3_vs_pi_4_worth_it/

https://www.reddit.com/r/raspberry_pi/comments/14gtjx1/pi_3_vs_pi_4_emulation_performance/

I bought a CM4S that i found on ebay.

A straight swap from CM3 to CM4S didn't work. I got a small error about unable to load something. is it running?.  Avoiding the troubleshooting for now, i am imaging a new SD card and will start from a fresh image.


RE: Freeplay CM3 --> CM4S - Lanium - 09-09-2024

I would like to go with the most up to date version of Raspbian: Operating system images (https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/operating-systems/)

Raspberry Pi OS Lite
  • Release date: July 4th 2024
  • System: 64-bit
  • Kernel version: 6.6
  • Debian version: 12 (bookworm)


and manually install RetroPie using this: Manually Install RetroPie on Raspbian/Raspberry Pi OS (https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Manual-Installation/)

Then plan to customize using this: Manual Instructions - How To Add Freeplay Functionality To Raspbian


RE: Freeplay CM3 --> CM4S - Lanium - 09-09-2024

I used the Raspberry Pi Imager and edited the configuration to apply a custom hostname, setup a user / password, configure WiFi, and enable SSH with keys to my raspbian image.

looked over the config.txt and updated with the setttings published here:

https://forum.freeplaytech.com/showthread.php?tid=5392&pid=10384#pid10384

along with:

core_freq=400


RE: Freeplay CM3 --> CM4S - Lanium - 09-09-2024

Upon the first boot, i get a white screen and after a few minutes it shutdown. I believe that this is normal.

I was not able to start it up a second time. I inserted the SD card and looked at the config.txt file and the last few lines were missing:

Code:
# Disable the ACT LED on the Pi Zero.
dtparam=act_led_trigger=none
dtparam=act_led_activelow=on
audio_pwm_mode=2
dtparam=watchdog=on # Enabling watchdog.

Appended them back on and saved the file and after reinserting the SD card, it was able to start back up and the green LED lit up.


RE: Freeplay CM3 --> CM4S - Lanium - 09-09-2024

ok, so that didn't work - trying to use the bookworm raspbian image.

I flashed the most up to date freeplay image for the CM3 and it has booted successfully to a prompt. I think that there was an issue with the scripts since i changed the default user from pi.


RE: Freeplay CM3 --> CM4S - Lanium - 11-13-2024

looks like the filter to use in the config.txt is [board-type=0x15] per https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopic.php?t=338978

i noticed that the usb port wasn’t working with the cm4s plugged in. it might require a connection to a pin or a specific overlay.

“pulldown the pin USB_OTGID.”
https://raspberrypi.stackexchange.com/questions/147300/usb-not-working-for-cm4s#147379

“add
dtoverlay=dwc2,dr_mode=host
to the config.txt
Then reboot the Pi. Now you should be able to use the built-in USB 2.0 ports!”
https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2020/usb-20-ports-not-working-on-compute-module-4-check-your-overlays

i also found a review of the cm4s compared to other cm versions:
https://www.tomshardware.com/raspberry-pi/raspberry-pi-compute-module-4s-review


RE: Freeplay CM3 --> CM4S - Lanium - 11-13-2024

i found this type of installation nice:
https://www.cytron.io/tutorial/installing-retropie-on-cm4-emmc-with-retroflag-gpi-case-2-swift-performance-actionclear-all-cache_wpnoncef3e213e2f7

instead of requiring a custom image, it just uses a retropie image and provides a patch to install in the boot partition for the custom changes. i am not sure if this would be possible to convert. i will investigate.