11-26-2020, 05:37 PM
@xyzzy
First off, I would not want a NVMe -> eMMC adapter. That's not what I suggested. A simpler PCIe -> eMMC interface, (or dual eMMC), would be much more appropriate. Then deal with the difference in software. If it had to be bootable, then an additional driver for U-Boot would be needed.
Yes, it would add a translator chip. Ideally it would also break out 2 of the PCIe lanes, make support I/O and give you a M.2 slot that was A, B or E key, which ever is used by LTE or WiFi cards. Thus, a multi-function card. LTE WAN or new WiFi LAN, plus an additional eMMC or 2.
@nightranger73, it's 1 watt active, waiting for action is quite a bit less. Unless you mirror, that's basically 1 watt maximum for 3 x eMMCs.
To be clear, I am not suggesting that this is the best solution. Or even that it's appropriate for most people. It's just something that we can think about with open hardware. In standard laptops, getting a driver into it's BIOS to allow booting off a PCIe -> eMMC would be impossible. And in a standard laptop, you would not make a different adapter board, you would have to make a M.2 M-key card that was PCIe -> eMMC, (or 2). So perhaps that is the way to go, M.2 M-key card.
First off, I would not want a NVMe -> eMMC adapter. That's not what I suggested. A simpler PCIe -> eMMC interface, (or dual eMMC), would be much more appropriate. Then deal with the difference in software. If it had to be bootable, then an additional driver for U-Boot would be needed.
Yes, it would add a translator chip. Ideally it would also break out 2 of the PCIe lanes, make support I/O and give you a M.2 slot that was A, B or E key, which ever is used by LTE or WiFi cards. Thus, a multi-function card. LTE WAN or new WiFi LAN, plus an additional eMMC or 2.
@nightranger73, it's 1 watt active, waiting for action is quite a bit less. Unless you mirror, that's basically 1 watt maximum for 3 x eMMCs.
To be clear, I am not suggesting that this is the best solution. Or even that it's appropriate for most people. It's just something that we can think about with open hardware. In standard laptops, getting a driver into it's BIOS to allow booting off a PCIe -> eMMC would be impossible. And in a standard laptop, you would not make a different adapter board, you would have to make a M.2 M-key card that was PCIe -> eMMC, (or 2). So perhaps that is the way to go, M.2 M-key card.
--
Arwen Evenstar
Princess of Rivendale
Arwen Evenstar
Princess of Rivendale