AAEON has unveiled the UP 4000 single board computer with a form factor and ports arrangement similar to Raspberry Pi 2/3, but powered by a choice of x86 processors, namely the Intel Atom E3900 series, Celeron N3350, or Pentium N4200 all parts of the Apollo Lake family.
The first UP Board was introduced in 2015 as a device offering an x86 alternative to the Raspberry Pi 2 with an Intel Atom x5-Z8300/Z8350 “Cherry Trail” processor, but later “UP bridge the gap” boards from the company used larger “Squared” (85.6 x 90 mm) or “Xtreme” (122 x 120 mm) form factors. The UP 4000 SBC brings us back to the original business card form factor but with a boost in performance and various specifications improvements.
UP 4000 vs UP Board specifications
| UP Board | UP 4000 | |
|---|---|---|
| SoC | Intel Atom x5-Z8350 (up to 1.92 GHz) | Intel Celeron N3350 (up to 2.40 GHz) Intel Pentium N4200 (up to 2.50 GHz) Intel Atom x7-E3950 (up to 2.00 GHz) |
| GPU (in SoC) | Intel HD Graphics 400 | Intel HD Graphics 500 or 505 |
| System Memory | Up to 4GB RAM | Up to 8GB dual-channel. LPDDR4 |
| Storage | 16GB to 64GB eMMC flash |
|
| Display | HDMI 1.4a | HDMI 1.4b 1x DP 1.2 via USB Type C |
| Audio | I2S audio port | 1x 6pin Audio wafer (Mic in/ Line out) |
| Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet | |
| USB | 4x USB 2.0 Type A 1x USB 3.0 OTG Micro B 2x USB 2.0 via 10pin wafer | 3x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type C 2x USB 2.0 via 10pin wafer |
| HW Security | N/A | TPM 2.0 on board |
| Expansion | 10pin wafer for WiFi/ Bluetooth | 10pin wafer for WiFi/ Bluetooth 1x FPC connector for M.2 expansion board |
| Power Input | 5V DC | 12V DC, up to 5A |
AAEON says the new board is able to deliver 30% faster CPU performance and twice the 3D graphics performance compared to UP Board. The UP 4000 did lose one USB port, but it might be for the best, as the company used a USB + HDMI combo connector, which puts Ethernet, HDMI, and USB Type-A ports on one side of the board.
The new interfaces include support for an additional display through a USB Type-C port with Displayport Alt. mode, TPM 2.0 security, and support for M.2 modules (WiFi, AI module, 5G connectivity) via an expansion board that’s coming later this year. The UP 4000 should also be compatible with expansion boards for the UP board.
On the software side, the company lists Microsoft Windows 10 full version, Windows IoT Core, and Linux (Ubuntu, Yocto). But as an x86 board, you should be able to install other 64-bit x86 (AMD64) operating systems as well including FreeBSD or NetBSD, but Windows 11 may not be supported due to the processor used, or at least not directly without some hacks. The new Apollo Lake SBC is said to be especially suited for automation, robotics, and retail services.
The UP 4000 SBC is now up for pre-order with a 10% discount until July 15, and prices range between $116.10 and $233.10 depending on CPU, memory, and storage configuration. Shipping is scheduled to start in August. More details may be found on the product page.
Via FanlessTech
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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