# Walnut Pi CM2 - A cheaper Raspberry Pi CM5 alternative based on Allwinner T527 octa-core SoC

DevFeed: [Walnut Pi CM2 - A cheaper Raspberry Pi CM5 alternative based on Allwinner T527 octa-core SoC](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/walnut-pi-cm2-a-cheaper-raspberry-pi-cm5-alternative-based-on-allwinner-t527-octa-core-soc-61534.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://www.cnx-software.com/2026/09/29/walnut-pi-cm2-a-cheaper-raspberry-pi-cm5-alternative-based-on-allwinner-t527-octa-core-soc/>)

Author: Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)

Published: 2026-09-29T00:00:17Z

Content type: news

Language: en

Sources: [CNX Software - Embedded Systems News](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/cnx-software-embedded-systems-news.md>)

Topics: [allwinner](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/allwinner.md>), [Raspberry Pi](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/raspberry-pi.md>), [cortex a55](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/cortex-a55.md>)

Tags: [allwinner-t-series](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/allwinner-t-series.md>), [android](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/android.md>), [compute-module](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/compute-module.md>), [debian](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/debian.md>), [devkit](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/devkit.md>), [edge-ai](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/edge-ai.md>), [hardware](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/hardware.md>), [home-assistant](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/home-assistant.md>), [linux](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/linux.md>), [npu](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/npu.md>), [raspberry-pi](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/raspberry-pi.md>), [som](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/som.md>), [ubuntu](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ubuntu.md>), [wifi-6](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/wifi-6.md>)

## AI overview

Walnut Pi CM2 is a low-cost Compute Module based on the Allwinner T527, with eight Cortex-A55 cores, up to 4GB RAM and a 2 TOPS NPU. It supports several operating systems, but Raspberry Pi CM5 electrical compatibility is partial, with limitations affecting HDMI, cameras, displays and PCIe connectivity.

## Source excerpt

Walnut Pi CM2 is a low-cost Raspberry Pi CM5-compatible Compute Module powered by an Allwinner T527 octa-core Cortex-A55 processor paired with up to 4GB LPDDR4 RAM, 16GB eMMC flash, and an optional wireless module. It's basically the company's Walnut Pi 2B credit card-sized SBC in Pi Compute Module form factor, exposing I/Os via two 100-pin high-density connectors. Besides the price, benefits include a WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 module, a Gigabit Ethernet PHY on the module, and a built-in 2 TOPS NPU in the T527 SoC. Downsides are that the Allwinner T527 is not quite as powerful as the Broadcom BCM2712 (4x Cortex-A76 cores) found in the CM5, and as with other such "Raspberry Pi CM5-compatible" modules, it's only partially electrically compatible. Walnut Pi CM2 specifications: SoC - Allwinner T527 CPU Octa-core Arm Cortex-A55 processor with four cores @ 1.80 GHz and four cores @ 1.42GHz E906 RISC-V core up [...] The post Walnut Pi CM2 - A cheaper Raspberry Pi CM5 alternative based on Allwinner T527 octa-core SoC appeared first on CNX Software - Embedded Systems News.