Most ARM based mini PCs come with 1 or 2GB RAM, with few exceptions like Nagrace HPH NT-V6 or Tronsmart Draco AW80 Telos featuring 4GB RAM, but they are mostly optimized for Android, and although they can also run Linux desktop distributions there are often caveats with lack of hardware video decoding for example. Solidrun has now added a new model to its Cubox-I mini PC family with Cubox-I 4×4 powered by Freescale i.MX6 quad core processor coupled with 4GB RAM, and it’s also one of the few mini PCs coming with an eSATA port.
SolidRun CuBox-i 4×4 specifications
- SoC – Freescale i.MX6 Quad 4x Cortex A9 @1GHz-1.2GHz with Vivante GC2000 (OpenGL/ES 2.0)
- System Memory – 4GB 64-bit DDR3 @ 1066 MHz
- Storage – microSD card slot, eSATA II (3 Gbps) connector
- Video Output – HDMI 1.4 with 3D support
- Audio Output – HDMi, optical S/PDIF
- Connectivity – Gigabit Ethernet (up to 470Mbps), WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0
- USB – 2x USB 2.0 host, 1x micro USB to RS232 port for console access
- Misc – InfraRed receiver and transmitter, RTC with backup battery
- Power Supply – 5V/3A via 2.1/5.5mm power jack
- Dimensions – 55 x 55 x 42 mm
CuBox-i 4×4 will ship with a 110V/220V power adapter, and a 8GB Micro SD Class 10 card preloaded with OpenELEC/Kodi or Android 4.4.2 KitKat, but you can also download GeexBox XBMC, Debian, Arch Linux ARM, OpenSUSE, and other Linux based operating systems for the platform.
Cubox-i 4×4 can be pre-ordered for $169.99 on Solid-run website, or on Newegg for the same, with shipping scheduled for the end of May. You may find more details on Solidrun Cubox-i mini computer page.
Via LinuxGizmos
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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Haven’t they spoiled it by using a rather old, wasn’t ever very powerful, processor?
Great name “Cubox-i 4×4”, but what a high price. And that only for the 4GB RAM? The CPU isn’t special, is it? And all the interfaces are the same as on my good old Cubox-i original (Freescale i.MX6 CPU, 0.5GB RAM) running Debian Jessie. So I’ll stick to that original Cubox.
There should be i.MX8 (A53, A57) at some point. I think, this is in official roadmap since 2013.
@onebir
I guess they wanted continuity with their current platform so it’s just software compatible. It’s still the only ARM board for less than $200 that I know of with Gigabit Ethernet, SATA and 4GB RAM.
@Sander
If you have 512MB RAM you probably have the version with Freescale i.MX6 Solo, so I don’t think you have a working eSATA port.
That one is using the quad core version. The one with 2GB RAM and the same features is called CuBox-i4Pro and sells for $140, so you pay $30 for the extra 2GB RAM, which still looks a bit expensive when comparing to the price you’d pay for a 2GB SO-DIMM DDR3 module.
I agree with onebir. I own a cubox-i4 pro and I’m quite satisfied with it, but I don’t think I’d spend 30 extra $$ just for 2GB of extra RAM.
@davidlt
I’ve seen work on i.MX7 (single or dual core Cortex A7), and rumors about i.MX6 Plus with a faster GPU, but I haven’t seen anything about i.MX8 in the recent past.
@cnxsoft
Yes, Solo could very well be: /proc/cpuinfo only shows one CPU. See below.
“so I don’t think you have a working eSATA port.” Ouch: that explains why I can’t get the eSATA drive working! I just ordered another eSATA cable this morning … so probably useless.
So: there is an eSATA-interface, but it doesn’t work? Strange idea.
$ cat /proc/cpuinfo
processor : 0
model name : ARMv7 Processor rev 10 (v7l)
Features : swp half thumb fastmult vfp edsp neon vfpv3 tls vfpd32
CPU implementer : 0x41
CPU architecture: 7
CPU variant : 0x2
CPU part : 0xc09
CPU revision : 10
Hardware : Freescale i.MX6 Quad/DualLite (Device Tree)
Revision : 0000
Serial : 0000000000000000
@Sander
Only i.MX6 dual and quad support SATA, so your model does not. See specs: http://www.solid-run.com/products/cubox-i-mini-computer/cubox-i-specifications/
Maybe they do this as it might be cheaper to have only one baseboard and casing, even if they add have extra eSATA connector to their lower-end models.
I’m looking for an ARM board with 4GB or more RAM to use as a server.
And I think this is only one board which is available on the market.
Other boards are sold out or available from 100 pcs.
@Evgeniy
Ugoos UT3(s), Tronsmart Draco AW80 Telos, and HPH NT-V6 should still be available.
@Evgeniy
The Ugoos UT3S makes sense as a small server with 4 GB RAM, 32 GB on board eMMC and a small silent fan.
http://bitkistl.blogspot.co.at/2015/04/ugoos-ut3s-first-impressions.html
@cnxsoft
Thank you a lot.
I also found Firefly RK3288 plus at your site.
It seems all board supported ubuntu 14.04 LTS.
But I could find if any vendors support LTS linux kernel for their chips.
So I need to find out how often security patches are applied to its kernels.
@Evgeniy
But I could find … -> But I could NOT find …
@Evgeniy
If you really want a kernel with the latest security patchsets then you’d probably be better off with Intel or AMD, at least for now.
Ouch. And ARM confirms this with their attitude towards GPL.
@cnxsoft
There is 3.14 LTS kernel for Solidrun cubox-i at https://github.com/SolidRun/linux-imx6-3.14
And I think it contains latest security bug fixes.
rk3288 is supported in 4.0 rc1 kernel and theoretically will be in a few month in LTS.
A80 has no eMMC and USB support in current kernel
A quite negative review of the Cubox-i4Pro: in German “Viel Gefummel für viel Geld” or “a lot of fumbling for a lot of money”
http://www.golem.de/news/cubox-i4pro-im-test-viel-gefummel-fuer-viel-geld-1505-114183.html