Category: Linux

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 10 Comments on PIX NII is a pocket-sized mini PC powered by an Intel Pentium N6005 processor (Crowdfunding)

PIX NII is a pocket-sized mini PC powered by an Intel Pentium N6005 processor (Crowdfunding)

PIX-NII pocket-sized PC

PIX NII pocket-sized mini PC features an Intel Pentium N6005 Jasper Lake processor that should provide a nice upgrade to existing 2.4-inch mini PCs based on Gemini Lake processors such as Larkbox. The tiny computer is slightly larger (2.7×2.6 inch) than the previous 2.4-inch models, but ships with up to 16GB RAM, up to a 1TB NVMe SSD, and offers two 4K-capable HDMI 2.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet & WiFi 6 connectivity, as well as a few USB 3.2 ports, plus a 3.5mm audio jack. PIX NII specifications: SoC – Intel Pentium N6005 quad-core processor @ 2.0GHz / 3.3GHz (Turbo) with Intel UHD graphics; 10W TDP System Memory – 8GB or 16GB DDR4 RAM Storage SATA or NVMe SSD with 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB capacity (up to 520MB/s with SATA, 1,000MB/s with NVMe) MicroSD card socket Video Output – 2x HDMI 2.0 ports up to 4Kp60 Audio – 3.5mm audio jack, […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 70 Comments on Rock 5B RK3588 SBC preview – What works, what doesn’t in Debian 11

Rock 5B RK3588 SBC preview – What works, what doesn’t in Debian 11

Rock 5B review Debian 11

I’ve recently received an early sample of Radxa ROCK5 Model B (aka ROCK 5B) SBC part of the “Developer Edition” batch with 16GB RAM, and already showed the hardware and it booting successfully in Debian 11.

I’ve now spent more time with the board, and as part of the “debug party” tested performance and features in Debian 11. As one would expect, some things work fine, providing excellent performance, but others still need improvements.

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments on Nano-U12P – An 8K digital signage player powered by an Intel Alder Lake processor

Nano-U12P – An 8K digital signage player powered by an Intel Alder Lake processor

8K digital signage player alder lake

Alder Lake processors were first formally announced at the end of 2021 with the most powerful H-Series, followed by a range of Alder Lake Edge IoT processors, and in February, Intel officially launched Alder Lake P-Series and U-Series mobile hybrid processors which I had expected to find in several mini PCs by now. But apart from ASRock iBOX 1200 Series announcement, and leaks of the NUC 12 Studio Pro, I had not really seen any. But today, I found what looks like a mini PC with the Polywell Nano-U12P, but it’s instead marketed as an 8K digital signage player with a choice of Alder Lake P-series and U-series processors. Nano-U12P specifications: SoC (one or the other) Intel Core i7-1280P 6P+8E (20 threads) processor @ 3.60/4.80GHz with Intel Xe graphics; 20/28W TDP Intel Core i7-1270P 4P+8E (16 threads) processor @ 3.50/4.80GHz with Intel Xe graphics; 20/28W TDP Intel Core i7-1260P 4P+8E […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 11 Comments on CrowPi L Raspberry Pi 4 laptop review – Part 1: Unboxing and teardown

CrowPi L Raspberry Pi 4 laptop review – Part 1: Unboxing and teardown

CrowPi L Raspberry Pi Education Laptop Review

Elecrow CrowPi L is an 11.6-inch laptop shell based on Raspberry Pi 4 designed for STEM education with optional electronics modules and tutorials. That’s an evolution of the CrowPi 2 laptop I reviewed in 2020 with a thinner design and more flexible since the electronics modules are optional, so it can serve the market of people just wanting a Raspberry Pi 4 laptop. The company has sent me a full “CrowPi L Advanced Kit” for review with the CrowPi L laptop fitted with a Raspberry Pi 4, as well as the Crowtail Starter Kit for Raspberry Pi. CrowPi L Advanced Kit Unboxing Let’s check out the laptop package first. Since in this design, the laptop comes with a battery, and mine already had a Raspberry Pi 4 installed, I could just turn it on immediately. Accessories include a wireless mouse, a 12V/2A power supply (with USB Type-C plug… this should […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 8 Comments on Libre Computer ROC-RK3328-CC now supports Ubuntu 22.04 with Linux 5.18.2

Libre Computer ROC-RK3328-CC now supports Ubuntu 22.04 with Linux 5.18.2

Libre Computer Ubuntu 22.04

Libre Computer’s latest Ubuntu 22.04 desktop and server images for ROC-RK3328-CC board are based on Linux mainline, namely Linux 5.18.2, and other boards from the company, based on Allwinner H2+/H5 processor or Amlogic S905X, have gotten the same treatment. Some companies will churn out boards regularly but provide limited software support. Libre Computer seems to have taken a different approach, as they released most of their board in 2017 and 2018, starting with AML-S905X-CC “Le Potato” board based on the Amlogic S905X processor, followed by ALL-H3-CC “Tritium” SBC with Allwinner H2+, H3, or H5 processor, and finally ROC-RK3328-CC “Renegade” board, but still release updated OS images in 2022. I reviewed ROC-RK3328-CC SBC with Debian 9 and Ubuntu 18.04 using Linux 4.4 in July 2018, and four years later, you might have thought such boards could have become abandonware, but Libre Computer just released Ubuntu 22.04 Desktop and Server image with […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments on Geniatech XPI-3566 is a business-card sized Rockchip R3566 SBC

Geniatech XPI-3566 is a business-card sized Rockchip R3566 SBC

Geniatech XPI-RK3566

Geniatech has added a new member to its XPI SBC family with the business card-sized XPI-3566 board powered by a Rockchip RK3566 quad-core Cortex-A55 processor, and mostly following the Raspberry Pi 3 form factor like its predecessors. The single board computer comes with 1GB to 8GB RAM, up to 64GB eMMC flash, HDMI 2.0 video output, Gigabit Ethernet, dual-band WiFi, a few USB ports, and a 40-pin GPIO header. It is said to target retail, “interactive communication”, and education applications. Geniatech XPI-3566 specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3566 quad-core Cortex-A55 processor @ up to 1.8 GHz with Arm Mali-G52 2EE GPU, 0.8 TOPS AI accelerator System Memory – 2GB DDR (1GB, 4GB, or 8GB optional） Storage 16GB eMMC flash (8GB, 32GB, 64GB optional） MicroSD card socket Video Output HDMI 2.0 up to 4Kp60 MIPI DSI connector (not listed in the specs, but it can clearly be seen on the board) Camera […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments on DEBIX Model A – A Raspberry Pi-inspired NXP i.MX 8M Plus SBC for AI applications

DEBIX Model A – A Raspberry Pi-inspired NXP i.MX 8M Plus SBC for AI applications

NXP i.MX 8M Raspberry Pi SBC

DEBIX Model A is a single board computer powered by an NXP i.MX 8M Plus quad-core Cortex-A53 processor with a 2.3 TOPS AI accelerator in a form factor that combines Raspberry Pi 4 and 3 Model B designs. The SBC comes with up to 6GB RAM, a microSD card slot, an optional eMMC flash of up to 128GB capacity, HDMI 2.0a, LVDS, and MIPI DSI display interfaces, a MIPI CSI camera interface, Gigabit Ethernet and WiFi 5 connectivity, plus a 40-pin GPIO expansion header. DEBIX Model A specifications: SoC – NXP i.MX 8M Plus quad-core Cortex-A53 @ up to 1.6 GHz (industrial) or 1.8 GHz (commercial), with Arm Cortex-M7 @ up to 800 MHz, Vivante GC7000UL 3D GPU, Vivante GC520L 2D GPU, 2.3 TOPS NPU System  Memory – 2GB LPDDR4 (4GB/6GB optional) Storage – Default: Micro SD card; optional 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB eMMC flash Video Output HDMI […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 27 Comments on What is PVTM? Or why your Rockchip RK3588 CPU may not reach 2.4 GHz

What is PVTM? Or why your Rockchip RK3588 CPU may not reach 2.4 GHz

Rockchip PVTM

While the Rockchip RK3588 processor is advertised as reaching 2.4 GHz, not all RK3588 chips may achieve this frequency. The keyword is PVTM (Process-Voltage-Temperature Monitor), and we’ll try to explain why it does, and why some of the RK3588 processors may only be clocked at about 2.3 GHz, while others will run fine at 2.4 GHz. This all started with Rock 5B SBC debug party, where we noticed our boards did not reach the same frequency. Willy Tarreau noted the “pvtm” value was different between our boards: Willy’s board: (Cortex-A76 cluster 1 @ 2,304 MHz, cluster 2 @ 2,352 MHz)

CNXSoft board (Cortex-A76 cluster 1 @ 2,304 MHz, cluster 2 @ 2,304 MHz) :

Thomas Kaiser (tkaiser) board: (Cortex-A76 cluster 1 @ 2,400 MHz, cluster 2 @ 2,400 MHz)

For reference, CPU 0 to 3 are Cortex-A55 cores, CPU 4-5 are two Cortex-A76 cores (cluster 1), and […]

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