Computer technology has advanced so fast that it’s shrunk in the dryer. Computers that used to take entire rooms full of equipment to function can now fit in the palm of your hand. Makers are living the dream as this technology becomes more accessible to anyone who wishes to tinker. Single board computers are powerhouses of multimedia functionality and operating systems on a small form factor which you can use in endless smart applications like custom laptop builds. But sometimes, the popular official Raspberry Pi boards are too hard to find, or you might have need for a slightly modified version at a similar cost. This BTT Pi V1.2 Board is one of these mind-blowing SBC’s that especially supports Klipper to upgrade your 3D printer’s system, or acts as an awesome alternative to the Raspberry Pi 3B model.
The BigTreeTech Pi V1.2 Single Board Computer offers a strong 64-bit Cortex processor with 1GB RAM and pre-configured support for Klipper software. The BigTreeTech team clearly designed these boards for optimal hardware compatibility, able to hook into and even get powered straight from your BTT motherboard or another printer mainboard. Many of the ports and connectivity features are in the same configuration as the Raspberry Pi boards, making it a clever alternative to the Pi for any tinkering projects. Use the handy ethernet or WiFi connectivity and the GPIO header of 40-pins, colour-coded and ready for your easy connections.
WHAT AWESOME KEY FEATURES ARE INCLUDED IN THE BTT PI V1.2 SINGLE BOARD COMPUTER?
Within its small form factor, the BigTreeTech Pi V1.2 Single Board Computer contains fantastic features that bring functionality to your electronics project. The similarities to Pi are hard to ignore. But even so, we must dig a bit deeper into the juicy details of the features at your fingertips:
- Powerful 64-bit Processor – At the heart of the BTT Pi V1.2 sits its very own high performing ARM Cortex-A53 processor that makes up the brains behind these little single board computers. With this brainpower, the BTT Pi V1.2 caters to Debian Linux and fully customizable needs.
- Pre-Configured for Klipper – This awesome board is the key piece to elevate your 3D printing game. Klipper software is a super software that speeds up your printing, enhance your print quality, and provide advanced features. Designed for hassle-free setup, the BTT V1.2 is your ticket to upgrading your printer with cloud connectivity where you can control and monitor your print from anywhere.
- WiFi and Ethernet Connectivity – WiFi, Ethernet, USB and HDMI ports are all configured masterfully onto the BTT Pi V1.2 for an array of connective capabilities. The ethernet or WiFi offers high speed internet connections while the USB and HDMI ports allow you to connect external components like a camera and display. On top of it all, a built-in IR receiver allows you to incorporate the BTT Pi V1.2 into even more awesome applications.
- Multimedia Functionality – The BTT Pi V1.2 board includes audio and video output, a HDMI port, and an audio output for multimedia features. 4K support allows you to connect a high-quality display for an awesome tinkerer project or creating a touch screen TFT monitor for your printer.
Please Note: This model of the BTT Pi V1.2 is the 1GB RAM/64-bit version with WiFi and ethernet. If you are interested in the original Raspberry Pi 3B, check out our stocks of Pi boards.
BigTreeTech Pi V1.2 Single Board Computer – Technical Specifications: |
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– Allwinner H616, Quad-core Cortex-A53 @ 1.5GHz |
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– Mali G31 MP2 | Support OpenGL 3.2 |
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– 1GB DDR3L SDRAM |
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– Fast Ethernet – 100Mbps WiFi 2.3G/802.11b/g/n – Onboard IR Receiver |
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– 4x USB2.0 – 1x USB Type-C (Supports Power Input) – ADXL345 Accelerometer Sensor Port – USB to CAN Module |
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– 3.5mm Jack | HDMI |
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– HDMI 2.0A, 4K Supported SPI Display Port |
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– Standard 40-Pin GPIO Header |
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– 5V DC±5%/2A via USB Type-C Port – 12V to 24V DC via the Screw Terminals |
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– 3.3V±2%/100mA |
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– Same as the Raspberry Pi |
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– 85x56mm |
Typical Applications for the BigTreeTech Pi V1.2 Single Board Computer:
The awesome BigTreeTech Pi V1.2 board saves you so much hassle when you’re ready to setup Klipper with your 3D printer. BigTreeTech primarily designed this board to make the installation easy easier than with a Raspberry Pi. The board can even be powered through your 3D printer using the screw terminals that accept 12V to 24V power input. Makers ready to bring some automation to their printer setup will absolutely love the BTT Pi V1.2. But that’s not all it’s good for. This board is also a great alternative to the Raspberry Pi 3B in other use cases too. With the same USB Type-C port to accept 5V power and an IR receiver, you can create other cool pi-centric projects using this alternative board. Enjoy the fantastic durability of this BTT Pi V1.2 Single Board Computer.
Additional Resources:
- If you’re ready to dive into tinkering with this board, the BigTreeTech Github page for their Pi boards is extremely useful with guides and downloads.
- For a quick visual demonstration of the Okdo Rock 4 SE Single Board Computer’s onboard features, check out this informative YouTube video review from ModBot:
As one of the rising stars in the world of 3D Printer Component Research and Development, BigTreeTech have certainly hit the ground running, entering the market in 2015 and spending their early stages primarily learning, researching, testing and developing, before producing some truly impressive results. From simple but effective upgrades to standard parts, all the way through to completely custom parts that no other brand offered at the time, BigTreeTech now have an incredibly diverse range, with almost no area of 3D Printing being left out.
Some of BigTreeTech’s most notable additions to the world of 3D Printing include the SKR Motherboard Range for numerous different 3D Printer models, the awesome TFT Touch Display Range with fancy features like dual-mode operation, as well as their very impressive Stepper Driver Range that cater to all tastes and preferences under the sun. And of course, to top it all off, BigTreeTech also have a sister company named BIQU, and we must admit that they have been producing some pretty impressive (and low price) 3D Printers, with the BIQU B1 possibly becoming a new rival to the Ender 3.
Of course, it’s easy to see that BigTreeTech are modern masters of 3D Printing R&D, and while we do still have a lot of different parts that we want to test out from them, so far we’ve been extremely happy with what they’re capable of producing – all while fitting into same kind of hobbyist budget that they used to operate on as Makers and Tinkerers themselves.