LeapFive NB2 quad-core RISC-V processor comes with GPU, NPU, and DSP

After SiFive and StarFive, here comes LeapFive RISC-V silicon vendor offering the NB2 quad-core 64-bit RISC-V application processor with GPU, NPU, and vision and audio DSPs capable of running Linux.

LeapFive NB2 processor is equipped with MIPI DSI and LVDS display interface, dual GbE, USB 3.2/2.0 interfaces, and other peripheral interfaces that make it well-suited to a wide range of applications including Smart Home applications, robotics, industrial gateways, drones, building automation, smart cities, digital signage, medical equipment and more.

LeapFive NB2 specifications:

CPU – Quad-core SiFive U74 64-bit RISC-V processor @ 1.8 GHz delivering 2.5 DMIPS/MHz
Cache – 32KB I-cache, 32KB D-cache, 2MB level 2 cache
GPU – “High-performance graphics processor” @ 850 MHz
DSP – Dedicated vision DSP, audio DSP
NPU – Independent AI engine delivering up to 4 TOPS @ 1.4 GHz
VPU – 4Kp60 H.264/H.265 Video encoding and decoding, JPEG image codec
System Memory – Up to 2x 32MBit LPDDR4/LPDDR4x, up to 4x 16Mbit DDR4 @ 4266 MHz
Storage – eMMC 5.1, QSPI NOR flash, 2x SD4.0 UHS-I interfaces
Video Output
- 4-lane MIPI DSI 2.0
- 2x LVDS interfaces
Audio I/F – 4x I2S, 2x PDM, 1x Audio DAC
Networking – 2x Gigabit Ethernet interfaces
USB – 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Host, 2x USB 2.0 Host, 1x USB 2.0 OTG
Other peripherals
- 4x 12-bit SAR ADC
- 4x I2C, 4x SPI, 6x PWM, 7x UART, GPIO
Security
- SiFive Shield
- Safe boot
- Hardware encryption engine, Hardware encryption engine
Process – 12nm

The 2.5 DMIPS/MHz number from the specifications is the same as the SiFive U74-MC core with Cortex-A55-class performance, so considering the LeapFive NB2 also comes with the SiFive Shield security platform, I would not be surprised if those were indeed U74-MC 64-bit RISC cores. [Update: A representative for SiFive confirmed this was the case, and the specifications have been updated accordingly]

The basic specifications are also similar to the StarFive JH7110 quad-core RISC-V processor with GPU that should be officially announced today in China together with the VisionFive V2 SBC, so we’ll have to see how both compare, and we’ll probably write about the StarFive solution tomorrow once/if we can manage to get more details. [Update: The VisionFive 2 has just launched on Kickstarter]

A few more details about the NB2 quad-core RISC-V processor may be found on the product page. There’s also additional information in the press release published today with photos of the chip and boards.

Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)

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.