Power Consuption Approximation of Broadcom SOC

[Spi]

Hey,
i use my RaspberryPi for the runtime analysis of a Kalman Filter on different hardware plattforms in my student research project.
For the compare of the used hardware plattforms i need a approximative value of the power consumption of the build in Broadcom BCM2835 SoC on the RasPi.

I used google but everything i got is the ARM Periferals "Datasheet", but it says nothing about power consumption. I found an approximation for the ARM1176JZF for different process geometries from TSMC, but i am not sure if any of it is used by Broadcom to maufacture the SoC.
Is somebody out there, who can give me a hint where i can get some informations about the power consumtion of this SoC (the Broadcom Homepage provides very few information) ?

For another ARM SoC from TI (Cortex A8) i got a power approximation spread sheet, something like this would be so great to have.

[RobertMM]

Hi,

Here are some numbers taken from Model-A and Model-B RPs.
Measurements were taken using one of these:
http://www.msoon.com/LabEquipment/PowerMonitor/

For these tests there was no display connected unless stated.

352mA - Model-B running stress test (for ARM)
330mA - Model-B idle
143mA - Model-A running stress test (for ARM)
118mA - Model-A idle (with HDMI connected)
110mA - Model-A idle
107mA - Model-B after "sudo halt"
106mA - Model-A, ARM_freq=300MHz (and for all below)
93mA - as above + SDRAM_freq=100MHz
93mA - Model-A idle, GPU_freq=100MHz
90mA - Model-A idle, GPU_freq=100MHz, Vdd=1.0V
80mA - Model-A idle, as above, + SD-card pulled
(power peaks as card is polled)
33mA - Model-A, after "sudo halt"

(you obviously need to multiple by 5 to get power in mW)

Hope that helps,
- Rob.

[Spi]

Hey,
the values are very helpful. Thanks for that.

[alias_neo]

Hi,

Here are some numbers taken from Model-A and Model-B RPs.
Measurements were taken using one of these:
http://www.msoon.com/LabEquipment/PowerMonitor/

For these tests there was no display connected unless stated.

352mA - Model-B running stress test (for ARM)
330mA - Model-B idle
143mA - Model-A running stress test (for ARM)
118mA - Model-A idle (with HDMI connected)
110mA - Model-A idle
107mA - Model-B after "sudo halt"
106mA - Model-A, ARM_freq=300MHz (and for all below)
93mA - as above + SDRAM_freq=100MHz
93mA - Model-A idle, GPU_freq=100MHz
90mA - Model-A idle, GPU_freq=100MHz, Vdd=1.0V
80mA - Model-A idle, as above, + SD-card pulled
(power peaks as card is polled)
33mA - Model-A, after "sudo halt"

(you obviously need to multiple by 5 to get power in mW)

Hope that helps,
- Rob.

Can you elaborate as to what other hardware was connected?

I found that with HDMI, a USB wireless desktop adapter and ethernet, my 1A rated Samsung Galaxy S3 charger wouldn't cut it under load and would crash the system.

[asb]

No other hardware was connected other than a serial adapter, which did not affect power consumption.

[alias_neo]

No other hardware was connected other than a serial adapter, which did not affect power consumption.

Great, thanks. I need to get some measurements for the wireless desktop and ethernet.

[RobertMM]

Numbers with USB devices connected:

(HDMI connected + 8GB Freecom USB memory stick)
450-490mA - Model-B sequential writes to USB drive
450mA - Model-B cat /dev/sda > /dev/null
400mA - Model-B idle

(HDMI connected + Netgear N150 USB wireless adapter)
480mA - Model-B running "apt-get update"
435mA - Model-B idle

(below: no HDMI and no USB devices unless otherwise stated)
352mA - Model-B running stress test (for ARM)
330mA - Model-B idle
143mA - Model-A running stress test (for ARM)
118mA - Model-A idle (with HDMI connected)
110mA - Model-A idle
107mA - Model-B after "sudo halt"
106mA - Model-A, ARM_freq=300MHz (and for all below)
93mA - as above + SDRAM_freq=100MHz
93mA - Model-A idle, GPU_freq=100MHz
90mA - Model-A idle, GPU_freq=100MHz, Vdd=1.0V
80mA - Model-A idle, as above, + SD-card pulled
(power peaks as card is polled)
33mA - Model-A, after "sudo halt"

- Rob.

[alias_neo]

Numbers with USB devices connected:

(HDMI connected + 8GB Freecom USB memory stick)
450-490mA - Model-B sequential writes to USB drive
450mA - Model-B cat /dev/sda > /dev/null
400mA - Model-B idle

(HDMI connected + Netgear N150 USB wireless adapter)
480mA - Model-B running "apt-get update"
435mA - Model-B idle

(below: no HDMI and no USB devices unless otherwise stated)
352mA - Model-B running stress test (for ARM)
330mA - Model-B idle
143mA - Model-A running stress test (for ARM)
118mA - Model-A idle (with HDMI connected)
110mA - Model-A idle
107mA - Model-B after "sudo halt"
106mA - Model-A, ARM_freq=300MHz (and for all below)
93mA - as above + SDRAM_freq=100MHz
93mA - Model-A idle, GPU_freq=100MHz
90mA - Model-A idle, GPU_freq=100MHz, Vdd=1.0V
80mA - Model-A idle, as above, + SD-card pulled
(power peaks as card is polled)
33mA - Model-A, after "sudo halt"

- Rob.

This makes a little more sense and explains why I'm hitting near an AMP with X server running, ethernet, HDMI and wireless desktop adapter with Chromium browser making out the CPU and on 224 split.

[meltwater]

Very useful measurements, thanks for doing them. Does the model A have the same linear 3.3 regulator? If so potential for even lower consumption with the hardware hack to use a switch mode one...

Don't suppose you have some bare metal measurements, wonder how close they come to the idle rates.

Thanks again!

[rew]

Does the model A have the same linear 3.3 regulator? If so potential for even lower consumption with the hardware hack to use a switch mode one...

No, not much

Most of the 3.3V went to the 9512 lan/usb chip. Which used a linear regulator to make it into 1.8V. Lots of wasted power there.

The Broadcom also needs a 1.2V powersupply. That however is generated from the 5V using a switch mode DCDC converter.

On the model B about half the 5V power went into the 3.3V regulator. Most of that went to the lan chip. So cutting off the lan chip reduces power by about half, but cuts the 3.3V usage by almost 90% (my estimate).

[portets]

The Broadcom also needs a 1.2V powersupply. That however is generated from the 5V using a switch mode DCDC converter.

The BCM has multiple +v pins. A 1.8v for itself and the ram that's stepped down using an internal switchmode. 3.3v powers various parts of it as well, like the hdmi. The 3.3v also powers the SD card. 2.5v linear powers the BCM's composite video out.

So replacing both the 3.3v and 1.8v linears with switching could be pretty beneficial.