The Quartz64 Zero is a thinner, cheaper version of the Quartz64 Model B with a Rockchip RK3566T quad-core Cortex-A55 SoC clocked at 1.6 GHz, 1GB LPDDR4, and HDMI and USB ports. The Quartz64 Zero has almost the same design as the Quartz64 with footprints for optional components (more on that later). Two noticeable differences are the presence of the 20-pin PCIe connector compatible with the one found on the Raspberry Pi 5 instead of a mini PCIe socket, and WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 support instead of just WiFi 5/Bluetooth 5.0. Quartz64 Zero specifications (changes highlighted in bold and strikethrough when items have been removed): SoC – Rockchip RK3566T CPU – Quad-core Cortex-A55 processor up to 1.6 GHz GPU – Arm Mali-G52 GPU supporting OpenGL ES 1.1/2.0/3.2, OpenCL 2.0, Vulkan 1.1 NPU – 0.8 TOPS NPU for AI acceleration (Unclear whether it’s present, not listed in the specs) System Memory […]
OpenWrt One WiFi 6 router with Filogic 820 SoC launched for $89
The “OpenWrt One/AP-24.XY” is a Filogic 820-based WiFi 6 router board manufactured by Banana Pi whose software is directly managed by OpenWrt developers with assistance from MediaTek. The router was first announced in January 2024, and developer samples became available sometime in April with some early units auctioned away at the OpenWrt Summit which took place in Cyprus on May 18-19. The good news is that the OpenWrt One is now available to anyone on Aliexpress for $89 including a metal enclosure, a PoE module, three antennas, and a power supply. Here’s a reminder of the OpenWrt One router specifications: SoC – MediaTek MT7981B (Filogic 820) dual-core Cortex-A53 processor @ 1.3 GHz System Memory – 1GB DDR4 Storage 128 MB SPI NAND flash for U-boot and Linux 4 MB SPI NOR flash for write-protected (by default) recovery bootloader (reflashing can be enabled with a jumper) Two types of flash devices […]
UnifyDrive UT2 – A compact NAS powered by Rockchip RK3588C with NVMe SSD support and AI-driven storage management (Crowdfunding)
The UnifyDrive UT2 is a compact network-attached storage (NAS) device powered by the Rockchip RK3588C processor. It supports WiFi 6, and Bluetooth, and has multiple ports for connectivity. Equipped with two M.2 2280 slots for PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSDs, it offers up to 16 TB of storage. The device can connect to networks via 2.5 GbE or WiFi and also function as a WiFi access point, allowing file transfers even without an internet connection. A built-in battery provides uninterruptible power supply (UPS) functionality, enabling continued operation when unplugged. Designed for both home and mobile use, the UnifyDrive UT2 offers AI-driven storage management in a portable form factor. Its versatile networking options allow remote access, backups, and on-the-go file transfers. Despite its size, it delivers robust functionality, serving as a full-featured NAS solution in a variety of settings. I didn’t find any significant differences between the Rockchip RK3588 and RK3588C. This […]
Congatec conga-TCR8 AMD Ryzen Embedded 8000 COM Express computer-on-module series delivers up to 39 TOPS of AI performance
Congatec has released a new line of Ryzen Embedded 8000-powered COM Express Type 6 Compact computer-on-modules with the conga-TCR8 module series offering up to 39 tera operations per second (TOPS) for AI inference and 128GB of DDR5-5600 memory with error correction code (ECC) for data-sensitive and data-critical applications. The Ryzen Embedded 8000 processor series comes with either six or eight ‘Zen 4’ cores, an integrated XDNA neural processing unit (16 TOPS), and the AMD Radeon RDNA 3 graphics unit which can be used as a general-purpose graphics processing unit with up to 12 compute units (adding up to 39 TOPS for the SoC). Graphics output is supported by four displays with up to 8K resolution, and peripheral options include six PCIe Gen 4 slots, four USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, four USB 2.0 ports, and three DisplayPort interfaces. The conga-TCR8 Type 6 modules are intended for high-volume applications that require […]
Radxa X4 review – An Intel N100 alternative to Raspberry Pi 5 tested with Ubuntu 24.04
We already looked at the Radxa X4 kit featuring an Intel N100 SBC with a design similar to the Raspberry Pi 5 and accessories including a Radxa Power PD 30W power adapter, an NVMe SSD, and a USB-C to USB-C cable, in the first part of the review, before installing Ubuntu 24.04 on the board.
In the second part of the review, we will test Ubuntu 24.04 in more detail with some benchmarks and power consumption measurements to show how well it works (or not) compared to a Raspberry Pi 5. We will also test the 40-pin GPIO header on the Radxa X4 controlled through a Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller.
NXP i.MX RT700 dual-core Cortex-M33 AI Crossover MCU includes eIQ Neutron NPU and DSPs
NXP has recently announced the release of NXP i.MX RT700 RT700 AI crossover MCU following the NXP i.MX RT600 series release in 2018 and the i.MX RT500 series introduction in 2021. The new i.MX RT700 Crossover MCU features two Cortex-M33 cores, a main core clocked at 325 MHz with a Tensilica HiFi 4 DSP and a secondary 250 MHz core with a low-power Tensilica HiFi 1 DSP for always-on sensing tasks. Additionally, it integrates a powerful eIQ Neutron NPU with an upgraded 7.5 MB of SRAM and a 2D GPU with a JPEG/PNG decoder. These features make this device suitable for applications including AR glasses, hearables, smartwatches, wristbands, and more. NXP i.MX RT700 specifications: Compute subsystems Main Compute Subsystem Cortex-M33 @ up to 325 MHz with Arm TrustZone, built-in Memory Protection Unit (MPU), a floating-point unit (FPU), a HiFi 4 DSP and supported by NVIC for interrupt handling and SWD […]
AAEON SRG-CM4 IoT gateway features Raspberry Pi CM4 SoM for industrial applications
AAEON SRG-CM4 is an IoT gateway based on the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 (CM4) with 1GB to 8GB of RAM and 8GB to 32GB of eMMC storage, all powered by the Broadcom BCM2711 quad-core Cortex-A72 SoC. The gateway features a modular chassis, maintaining the compact size and industrial-grade features typical of AAEON’s edge gateway products, making it ideal for various embedded applications. In terms of connectivity, the SRG-CM4 offers two switchable serial ports supporting RS-232/422/485, with an optional isolated RS-485 port, CAN 2.0 A/B, and two isolated DI/DO. Additional interfaces include two Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and an HDMI 1.4 video output. The device operates within a wide temperature range of -20°C to 70°C and supports a DC 9V to 36V power input, ensuring reliability in industrial environments. We previously covered the reComputer R1025-10, a Raspberry Pi CM4-based DIN Rail industrial gateway with optional wireless […]
ADLINK AVA-1000 is a rugged EN50155-compliant T2G gateway for railway and industrial applications
The ADLINK AVA-1000 T2G gateway is a rugged, EN50155-compliant T2G (Train-to-Ground) gateway designed for railway and industrial environments. Powered by a choice of NXP i.MX8M Plus Quad Cortex-A53 processor or an Intel Processor N50 Alder Lake-N processor. The i.MX8M Plus model is equipped with up to 8GB LPDDR4 and a 64GB eMMC flash whereas the Alder Lake variant features up to 4GB LPDDR5 memory and a 32GB eMMC flash. In terms of connectivity, the gateway features three M12 GbE ports and supports a wide range of options including 5G, WiFi 6, and GNSS. The AVA-1000 T2G gateway’s fanless design, wide operating temperature range, and 24-110V DC input ensure reliable operation in industrial environments. Additionally, its compliance with EN50155 and other industrial standards makes it ideal for various industrial applications. AVA-1000 T2G gateway specifications System Processor (multiple options) NXP i.MX8M Plus quad-core Cortex-A53 processor @ up to 1.8 GHz with Cortex-M7 […]