LeMaker Guitar Specifications
Summary
This page provides the complete technical specifications for the LeMaker Guitar single-board computer. Use it as a hardware reference when planning enclosure designs, evaluating peripheral compatibility, or comparing the Guitar against other boards in the LeMaker lineup.
Who This Is For
Hardware engineers, system integrators, and advanced hobbyists who need precise electrical and mechanical data. If you are looking for a getting-started guide, visit the Guitar overview page instead.
Hardware Specifications
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| SoC | Actions Semi S500, quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 @ 1.1 GHz |
| GPU | Imagination PowerVR SGX544, OpenGL ES 2.0 / OpenVG 1.1 |
| RAM | 1 GB or 2 GB DDR3 (soldered, not upgradable) |
| Storage | microSD slot (SDHC/SDXC); optional eMMC module footprint |
| USB | 4 × USB 2.0 host ports; 1 × micro-USB OTG |
| Video Output | HDMI 1.4a, up to 4K @ 30 fps (3840 × 2160) |
| Audio | 3.5 mm stereo analog output; HDMI digital audio |
| Network | 10/100 Mbps Ethernet (RJ-45); no onboard WiFi or Bluetooth |
| GPIO | 40-pin expansion header (compatible pinout with common SBC standards) |
| Serial | UART on GPIO header — 3.3 V logic, 115200 baud default |
| I2C / SPI | Available on GPIO header; active buses depend on device-tree configuration |
| IR Receiver | Onboard infrared receiver for remote-control input |
| Power Input | 5 V via micro-USB or DC barrel jack (5.5 mm / 2.1 mm center-positive) |
| Power Consumption | Typical 3–5 W under load; idle approximately 2 W |
| Board Dimensions | 92 mm × 60 mm (excluding connectors) |
| Weight | Approximately 48 g |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to 60 °C (ambient, no active cooling) |
Board Layout
When the board is oriented with the Ethernet jack at the top-right, the four USB 2.0 ports are stacked in two double-deck connectors on the right edge below Ethernet. The HDMI port is on the bottom edge. The microSD slot is on the left edge, and the 40-pin GPIO header runs along the top-left. The micro-USB OTG port and DC barrel jack are located on the bottom-left. Two LEDs near the SoC indicate power (green) and activity (blue).
GPIO Header Pinout Notes
The 40-pin header provides 3.3 V and 5 V power rails, ground pins, up to 28 configurable GPIO lines, two I2C buses, one SPI bus, and one UART. Pin assignments are defined in the device tree and may vary between OS images. Always consult the pin diagram included in the board schematics before wiring external peripherals. The header uses 2.54 mm pitch and is compatible with standard Dupont jumper wires.
Comparison Notes
Compared to the Banana Pi (Allwinner A20 dual-core), the Guitar offers twice the CPU cores and a more capable GPU, but lacks onboard SATA. Compared to the Banana Pro, the Guitar trades built-in WiFi for additional USB ports and higher video resolution. If your project requires onboard wireless or SATA storage, consider the Banana Pro or Banana Pi respectively. For the highest CPU performance in the LeMaker lineup, see the HiKey 960 with its octa-core Kirin processor.
FAQ
- Can I add eMMC storage? Yes, if your board revision includes the eMMC footprint. An eMMC module solders or clips onto the designated pads on the underside of the PCB.
- Is the GPIO header 5 V tolerant? No. The S500 GPIO pins operate at 3.3 V. Applying 5 V directly will damage the SoC.
- Does the GPU support hardware video decoding? The S500 includes a dedicated video processing unit supporting H.264, H.265, and VP8 decode. Driver support depends on the OS image.
Related Guides
Author: LeMaker Documentation Team
Last updated: 2026-02-10