HiFive Unleashed (Discontinued)
Freedom Unleashed
Featuring the Freedom U540 (FU540) SoC, the world’s first Linux-capable, multi-core, RISC-V processor, this developer board marks a brand-new era for RISC-V software - the beginning of support for rich operating systems. With 3 execution modes (Machine, Supervisor, User), Sv39 Virtual Memory, 8GB of DDR4, Gigabit Ethernet, and a ChipLink expansion port, modern operating systems have an ideal RISC-V target. A 5th core (monitor core) is also available for real time applications. SiFive Mix+Match technology offers a potent combination of application and real-time processing. The SiFive Essential™ S51 (RV64IMAC) can service auxiliary functions and cooperate with the SiFive Essential U54-MC cluster, making this an ideal heterogeneous software development platform where Linux and an RTOS can co-exist.
HiFive Unleashed Features & Specifications
SoC
SiFive Freedom U540 SoC
Memory
8GB DDR4 with ECC
Networking
Gigabit Ethernet Port
Flash Memory
32MB Quad SPI Flash from ISSI
Removable Storage
MicroSD Card
Future Expansion
FMC Connector
Dimensions
120 mm
Long
90 mm
Wide
SoC
Freedom U540
FU540
Using HiFive Unleashed
HiFive Unleashed Expansion Board
The HiFive Unleashed Expansion Board converts your HiFive Unleashed into a RISC-V Linux PC. It features a Microsemi PolarFire FPGA preprogrammed as a PCI Express Root Complex, allowing you to connect peripherals to the following:
Peripheral Connections
- x1 PCI Express connector
- x16 PCI Express connector with 4 lanes of PCIe connected
- SSD M.2 connector
- SATA connector (PCI Express to SATA Bridge)
Advantages of HiFive Unleashed
If you’re a serious software developer, kernel developer, or Linux hacker, we can think of a few reasons to use this board:
- Port software to the RISC‑V platform
- Evaluate the SiFive U54‑MC SoC
- Own the fastest RISC‑V SoC in the world
- Want multi-core, Linux-capable RISC‑V hardware
- Want to support open source hardware
- Need to create the next great thing!
Our Partners
Working together with SiFive to accelerate the growth of the RISC‑V ISA and our Mi‑V ecosystem, the HiFive Unleashed Expansion Board and HiFive Unleashed development board give the broader Linux market an extremely robust platform for RISC‑V development.
The 28nm fabricated U540 SoC that drives the SBC is not only the first multi-core and Linux-ready RISC‑V processor, but the first to provide cache coherence.
It‘s the first off-the-shelf RISC‑V product to be able to boot operating systems running the Linux kernel, which recently received mainstream support for the RISC‑V ISA.
The RISC‑V Foundation applauds the work Microsemi and SiFive have done to deliver a comprehensive Linux software development platform for RISC‑V. Particularly in the embedded market, where a growing majority of today’s designs run Linux, this Microsemi/SiFive RISC‑V solution offers a compelling development environment.
