CM3588 module does not boot when powered with 12V only

[Homuzorow]

Hello,

I have a CM3588 module.

When I power the module directly with 12V, the Power LED lights up, but the system does not boot.
There is no UART output, and the red LED does not blink.

When I attach the same CM3588 module to the NAS base board, it boots correctly and the red LED starts blinking.

Here are the details:
- 12V power is stable (no voltage drop)
- VDC_MODE pin is floating (open)
- 3.3V and 5V are generated on the module
- UART debug port shows no activity
- Only the Power LED stays solid (red LED never blinks)
- Tested image: **rk3588-XYZ-ubuntu-noble-desktop-6.1-arm64-YYYYMMDD.img.gz**

On the NAS base board:
- When VDC_MODE is pulled low, the red LED stays off until the Power button is pressed.
- After pressing the Power button, the red LED turns on and starts blinking.

But on my custom board (no power button circuit), nothing happens even when VDC_MODE is open.

Questions:
1. Does the CM3588 module require a Power button signal to start even if VDC_MODE is floating?
2. Could missing pull-ups on GPIO pins (HDMIIRX_DET_L, HP_DET_L, SDMMC_DET_L, etc.) prevent the module from booting?
3. Is there a recommended OS image or U-Boot configuration for using the CM3588 module standalone (without the NAS board)?

Any advice or documentation would be appreciated.

[jessedillard]

Thanks for sharing these detailed observations — very helpful! It does sound like the CM3588 might be waiting for a power-on or PMIC enable signal that the NAS base board normally provides. I’m also curious to know whether the module can auto-boot when powered directly, or if a Power button (or specific GPIO state) is required. Documentation or reference schematics for standalone operation would definitely clarify this. Subscribing for updates — this is valuable info!