Author: 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.
Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments on The LattePanda Mu SoM is now available with Intel Core i3-N305 octa-core SoC

The LattePanda Mu SoM is now available with Intel Core i3-N305 octa-core SoC

LattePanda Mu Intel Core i3-N305 CPU

Launched last year with an Intel Processor N100, the LattePanda Mu system-on-module is now available with an Intel Core i3-N305 octa-core processor delivering both higher single-core and multi-core performance, and faster 3D graphics acceleration. All interfaces are the same all exposed through a 260-pin SO-DIMM edge connector including up to 9x PCIe Gen3 lanes, two SATA, eDP, HDMI, and DisplayPort interfaces, twelve USB interfaces, and more.  The LattePanda Mu launched with 8GB RAM last year, but both the N100 and Core i3-N305 models are now available with up to 16GB LPDDR5 IBECC memory, while the eMMC flash capacity remains at 64GB for all variants. LattePanda Mu specifications: SoC (one or the other) Intel Processor N100 quad-core Alder Lake-N processor @ up to 3.4 GHz (Turbo) with 6MB cache, 24EU Intel HD graphics @ 750 MHz; TDP: 6W Intel Core i3-N305 octa-core Alder Lake-N processor @ up to 3.8 GHz (Turbo) […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 6 Comments on ESP32-C61-DevKitC-1 development board features ESP32-C61 low-cost WiFi 6 and Bluetooth LE 5.0 SoC

ESP32-C61-DevKitC-1 development board features ESP32-C61 low-cost WiFi 6 and Bluetooth LE 5.0 SoC

ESP32-C61-DevKitC-1 development board

The ESP32-C61-DevKitC-1 is a development board based on the upcoming ESP32-C61 low-cost WiFi 6 and Bluetooth LE 5.0 SoC that was first unveiled in January 2024, and offered with two USB-C ports, two buttons, an RGB LED, and GPIO headers. In my 2024 year in review report, I noted that Espressif would likely launch the ESP32-C5 dual-band WiFi 6 SoC in 2025, but I completely forgot about the ESP32-C61 which is basically a cost-down version of the ESP32-C6. I’ve now noticed the documentation of the  ESP32-C61-DevKitC-1 development board and ESP32-C61-WROOM-1 module is now available, so we have more details about those and the ESP32-C61 itself, so let’s have a closer look. ESP32-C61-DevKitC-1 specifications: Wireless module – ESP32-C61-WROOM-1 SoC – ESP32-C61HR2 CPU – Single 32-bit RISC-V core clocked up to 120MHz Memory – 320KB SRAM, 2MB PSRAM Storage –  256KB ROM Wireless – WiFi 6 and Bluetooth LE 5.0 Storage – […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 13 Comments on CNX Software’s 2024 Year in review, website statistics, and what to expect in 2025

CNX Software’s 2024 Year in review, website statistics, and what to expect in 2025

CNX Software Happy New Year 2025

That’s it! 2024 is almost over, and it’s time to reflect on what happened during the year. So I’ll look at the highlights of 2024, share some CNX Software website traffic statistics, and speculate on what may be ahead of us in 2025. Looking back at 2024 Raspberry Pi was super active this year with 22 product launches that included boards and modules like the Raspberry Pi 5 with 2GB RAM,  Raspberry Pi Pico 2 and Pico 2 W, Raspberry Pi CM5, expansion modules like the Raspberry Pi AI camera, AI HAT+, and M.2 HAT+, new accessories such as the Raspberry Pi Touch Display 2 and the Raspberry Pi Monitor, and the new Raspberry Pi 500 keyboard PC among others. As usual, there was also plenty of announcement of accessories from third parties, and some boards with the new Raspberry Pi RP2350 Arm/RISC-V microcontroller. There weren’t any ground-breaking Arm processors […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 9 Comments on WiFi 7 access point and client M.2 modules are cheaper than I thought

WiFi 7 access point and client M.2 modules are cheaper than I thought

WiFi 7 M.2 modules

We have already seen WiFi 7 mini PCIe and M.2 modules from Compex for business customers, but I’ve recently noticed AsiaRF AW7991-AE2 M.2 module rated BE5000 offers an affordable alternative design for access points for just $58 plus shipping. But adding WiFi 7 to a consumer device can be cheaper than I expected as Intel BE200 or MediaTek MT7925-based M.2 modules can be purchased for around $20 to $30. Let’s have a look at some of the options available. AsiaRF AW7991-AE2 dual-band WiFi 7 “access point” M.2 module AsiaRF AW7991-AE2 specifications: SoC – MediaTek MT7991AV (Filogic 660?) with 32bit RISC-V MCU for Wi-Fi protocol and Wi-Fi offload Chipset – MT7976C WiFI 6 3×3 MIMO chipset System Memory –  8MB WLAN IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be compliant Frequency bands 2.4GHz – Bandwidth: 20/40MHz; 2T2R 2ss 5GHz – Bandwidth:20/40/80/160MHz; T3R 3ss Dual-Band Dual Concurrent (DBDC) Supports up to 4096-QAM Data rate of up to 688Mbps […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment on GigaDevice GD32H75E – A 600MHz Arm Cortex-M7 MCU with an EtherCAT SubDevice Controller

GigaDevice GD32H75E – A 600MHz Arm Cortex-M7 MCU with an EtherCAT SubDevice Controller

Gigadevice GD32H75E GDSCN832

GigaDevice has launched its first EtherCAT SubDevice Controller with the GDSCN832 along with the 600 MHz GD32H75E Arm Cortex-M7 microcontroller series which incorporates the EtherCAT SubDevice Controller. The GH32G57E microcontroller also comes with 1024KB SRAM, 3840 KB flash with protection, up to two Ethernet PHY, USB Full Speed and High-Speed interfaces, and a range of peripherals and timers. Both products are made for the industrial automation market and are suitable for servo control, variable frequency drives, industrial PLCs, and communication modules. Gigadevice GD32H75E specifications: CPU – Arm Cortex-M7 32-bit processor core operating at 600 MHz frequency Memory and Storage 512KB AXI SRAM 512KB RAM shared (ITCM/DTCM/AXI) memory 3840 KB on-chip Flash memory with security protection to prevent illegal code/data access External memory controller (EXMC) for SRAM, PSRAM, ROM, and NOR Flash Accelerator – Filter arithmetic accelerator (FAC) and Trigonometric Math Unit (TMU) Industrial communication 2x Ethernet PHYs (YMJ6 parts only) […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments on I-Pi SMARC Amston Lake development kit features Intel Atom x7433RE SoC, 8GB LPDDR5, two Raspberry Pi GPIO headers

I-Pi SMARC Amston Lake development kit features Intel Atom x7433RE SoC, 8GB LPDDR5, two Raspberry Pi GPIO headers

I-Pi SMARC Amston Lake devkit

ADLINK’s I-Pi SMARC Amston Lake is a fanless development kit based on SMARC 2.1-compliant system-on-module with an Intel Atom X7433RE quad-core SoC, 8GB LPDRR5 memory, and up to 256GB eMMC flash, plus a carrier board with dual 2.5GbE with TSN, two Raspberry Pi-compatible GPIO headers, and a range of other interfaces. Those include 4-lane MIPI DSI, HDMI, eDP, and dual-channel LVDS display interfaces, two MIPI CSI camera interfaces, a 3.5mm audio jack, four USB Type-A ports, three PCIe M.2 sockets for storage, wireless, and cellular connectivity. I-Pi SMARC Amston Lake devkit specifications: LEC-ASL SMARC 2.1 module Amston Lake SoC  – Intel Atom x7433RE quad-core processor with 6MB cache, 32EU Intel UHD graphics; 9W TDP System Memory – 8GB LPDDR5 Storage – 32GB to 256GB eMMC flash Host interface – 314-pin MXM edge connector Storage – 1x SATA III (6 Gbps) Display – Dual-channel 18-/24-bit LVDS Camera – 2-lane MIPI CSI, […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment on MECOOL KM9PRO MAX 4K Streaming Box runs Google TV 12.0 on Realtek RTD1325 SoC

MECOOL KM9PRO MAX 4K Streaming Box runs Google TV 12.0 on Realtek RTD1325 SoC

MECOOL KM9PRO Max 4K GTV Box

MECOOL KM9PRO MAX 4K is a Google TV 12.0 streaming box based on the Realtek RTD1325 quad-core Cortex-A55 SoC which we initially found in the Formuler Z Mini 4K Android 12 dongle. Since it’s a more traditional TV box as opposed to an HDMI dongle, it adds features like 10/100Mbps Ethernet, optical S/PDIF output, an AV composite and audio jack, two USB 2.0 ports, while keeping the 4K-capable HDMI 2.1 port and WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. The KM9PRO Max 4K also comes with a larger 32GB eMMC flash. MECOOL KM9PRO MAX 4K specifications: SoC – Realtek RTD1325 CPU – Quad-core Arm Cortex-A55 @ 1.7GHz with 512KB L3 cache; 20,000 DMIPS GPU – Arm Mali-G57 MC1 with OpenGL ES 3.2 VPU – 4Kp60 10-bit AV1, VP9, H.265 video decoder System Memory – 2GB LPDDR4 Storage – 32GB eMMC flash Video & Audio Output HDMI 2.1 up to 4K resolution […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 4 Comments on Sipeed NanoKVM-PCIe is an inexpensive KVM over IP solution with optional WiFi 6 and PoE support

Sipeed NanoKVM-PCIe is an inexpensive KVM over IP solution with optional WiFi 6 and PoE support

Sipeed NanoKVM-PCIe

Sipeed NanoKVM-PCIe is a variation of the NanoKVM KVM-over-IP solution introduced last summer, but instead of being a tiny Cube with USB-C power, the new model can be powered through the PCIe slot from the host (as well as USB-C) and adds optional WiFi 6 and PoE functionality. While it’s not based on the LicheePi Nano SBC like the NanoKVM, it relies on the same SOPHGO SG2002 RISC-V/Arm/8051 SoC and offers many of the same ports in a different form factor including 10/100Mbps Ethernet, two USB-C ports one for HID, the other for power, a small OLED information display, and an HDMI input port supporting up to 1080p60. NanoKVM-PCIe specifications: SoC – SOPHGO SG2002 Main core – 1GHz 64-bit RISC-V C906 or Arm Cortex-A53 core (the latter is likely not used here) Minor core – 700MHz 64-bit RISC-V C906 core Low-power core – 25 to 300MHz 8051 MCU core VPU […]

UP 7000 x86 SBC