Well, it looks like Nikolaus has mostly (or completely) resolved the power issues now.
While not 100% sure yet (more testing needs to be done), he was able to run a stresstest (100% CPU load) for 10 minutes - and then he manually did shut it down - no freeze so far! Doing normal stuff, he let it run for a few hours and it didn't freeze as well.
Turns out it wasn't a hardware issue (yeeha!), but mostly just a not yet properly configured power management chip. There are still a lot of other parameters to tweak, but at least we know that the hardware seems fine.
Nikolaus still has a few more tests to do to confirm the remaining hardware, but the list got REALLY short now!
What does that mean? Well, he can now send me a set which I can assemble into the case (as soon as I got the remaining parts). That means: The time to make videos of a real prototype can soon be made! And when that happens.... well, it's time to start the preorders!
By the way, in case you didn't know: The Pyra can charge the battery even when the system is switched off. It even charges the battery when the CPU board is not even there - it's all handled by the charger chip.
That's something a few of you probably know :)
Okay, then a few more words about the heat:
As I saw some discussions about that in a thread, here are some informations: Yes, the OMAP5 can get pretty hot. But in case you think that's only the case with the OMAP5: Nope. Almost every new CPU has that issue.
Just check this information about the Raspberry Pi3.
So why don't you hear much about that with modern smartphones?
Simple: First, the tasks you do are usually not that demanding. You don't compile on your smartphone (though you might do that on the Pi or the Pyra), and most apps don't really stress the CPU a lot. You get occasional high peaks, but that doesn't raise the temperature a lot. If you run something demanding (i.e. Drastic with HiRes Rendering), smartphones get pretty warm as well.
Well, and second: The CPU is being throttled when the temperature rises to lower the temperature again.
There's no magic SoC that doesn't produce heat when they're fully used. Yes, modern ones are a bit better and provide more CPU power before they get too hot but they will also heat up when 100% stressed.
So we're not a special case. That's pretty normal these days.
Okay, so much for the short, but pretty good news (at least in my opinion!) See you soon!
Want to leave feedback? Visit:
https://pyra-handheld.com/boards/threads/and-suddenly-it-works.77045/