Business card-sized dual GbE SBC runs OpenWrt on Rockchip RK3328 SoC

Pi-R2S3328-B

We’ve previously reported about at least two dual GbE router boards based on Rockchip RK3328 quad-core Cortex-A53 processor with namely NanoPi R2S and Orange Pi R1 Plus. But there’s now a third option with SmartHomeBoard Pi-R2S3328-B single board computer offered in a larger business card-sized format, equipped with 1GB DDR4, and booting OpenWrt from a MicroSD card. Debian and Ubuntu are also supported according to the manufacturer. Specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3328 quad-core Cortex-A53 @ 1.5 GHz with Arm Mali-450MP2 System Memory – 1GB DDR4 RAM (Note some photos how 2x 512MB DDR3 instead) Storage – MicroSD Slot Connectivity -2x Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 ports, one native, one USB 3.0 to GbE USB – 1x USB Type-A host port, 1x micro USB OTG port, 1x USB Type-C port for power Debugging – 3-pin 2.54mm pitch header for serial console Misc – Reset button, Sys,WAN and LAN LED’s, Power Supply – 5V/2A […]

Linux 5.12 – Main Changes, Arm, MIPS and RISC-V Architectures

Linux 5.12

Linux 5.12 release was expected last Sunday, but Linus Torvalds decided to release one more release candidate, namely Linux 5.12-RC8, to “make sure things are all settled down“, so the latest Linux kernel is now expected this weekend.  Tihs should not yield any significant changes, so we can check what’s new in Linux 5.12, notably with regards to Arm, MIPS, and RISC-V architectures often used in SoC’s found in embedded systems. Around two months ago, the release of Linux 5.11 added support for Intel’s software guard extensions (SGX) and Platform Monitoring Technology (PMT), AMD “Van Gogh” and “Dimgrey cavefish” graphics processors, MIPI I3C host controller interfaces, and much more. Some interesting changes in Linux 5.12 include: Added support for ACRN hypervisor designed for IoT & embedded devices Added support for Playstation DualSense & Nintendo 64 game controllers, as well as Nintendo 64 data cartridges Dynamic thermal power management via a […]

Geniatech SDM3399 RK3399 SBC looks like a PCIe card

Geniatech SDM3399

There are so many Rockchip RK3399 SBCs that it’s getting boring, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Rockchip RK3399 SBC that follows the PCIe card form factor, and that’s exactly what Geniatech SDM3399 offers. The board/card comes with up to 4GB RAM, up to 64GB flash, and exposes Gigabit Ethernet, USB ports, and an audio jack via the PCIe bracket. Geniatech SDM3399  specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3399 hexa-core processor with 2x Cortex-A72 cores @ 1.8 GHz, four Cortex-A53 cores @ 1.4 GHz, Arm Mali-T860MP4 GPU 800MHz System Memory – 2GB DDR (4GB optional) Storage – 8GB eMMC flash (16GB/32GB/64GB optional) Audio – 3.5mm audio jack Connectivity Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 port 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WiFI 4 and Bluetooth USB – 2x USB 2.0 ports Expansion – 1x M.2 socket Intel SDM Connector – PCIe x 8 (98-pin) SMT connector with HDMI output, DisplayPort output 2x USB 2.0, 1x serial port Battery […]

ECS LIVA M300-W industrial mini PC is powered by Rockchip RK3399K SoC

ECS LIVA M300-W industrial mini PC

Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) is mostly known for its x86 motherboards and mini PCs, but earlier with year, ECS LIVA Q1A Arm mini PC was introduced with either Rockchip RK3288 or RK3399 SoC, and support for Linux and Android operating systems. But the Taiwanese company has now unveiled a new Arm-based industrial-grade mini PC with LIVA M300-W powered by Rockchip RK3399K processor that allows for either higher 2.0 GHz frequency at commercial temperature range, or the usual 1.8 GHz frequency in a wider (-20°C to +85°C) temperature range. ECS LIVA M300-W specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3399K hexa-core processor with two Cortex-A72 up to 1.8GHz/2.0GHz, four Cortex-A53 up to 1.4GHz, Arm Mali-T860MP4 GPU System Memory – 2GB/4GB DDR3L Storage – 32GB or 64 GB eMMC flash, internal Micro SD slot Video Output 1x HDMI 2.0 port up to 4Kp60, CEC support 1x DisplayPort 1.2 port up to 4Kp60 Audio – 1x […]

Pine64 unveils Quartz64 SBC powered by Rockchip RK3566 SoC

Quartz64 RK3566 SBC

We may just have written about Geniatech RK3566/RK3568 development board, but as expected, Pine64 has now unveiled more details about Quartz64 SBC powered by Rockchip RK3566 SoC. As we’ll see below, the design is very similar to RK3399 based RockPro64, but the new model adds a native SATA 3.0 port, an integrated battery charging circuitry, an ePD port for e-Ink displays, and supports more memory with up to 8GB LPDDR4 RAM. Quartz64 Model A preliminary specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3566 quad-core Cortex-A55 processor up to 1.8 GHz with Arm Mali-G52 GPU supporting OpenGL ES 1.1/2.0/3.2, OpenCL 2.0, Vulkan 1.1, 0.8 TOPS NPU for AI acceleration System Memory – 2GB to 8GB LPDDR4 Storage SPI Flash optional eMMC module from 16GB up to 128GB capacity bootable SDHC/SDXC MicroSD card up to 256GB (or is it 2TB?) SATA 3.0 port (multiplexed with USB 3.0) Video Output / Display Interfaces HDMI 2.0a up […]

Linux 5.11 Release – Main Changes, Arm, MIPS & RISC-V Architectures

Linux 5.11 release

Linus Torvalds has released Linux 5.11 just in time for… “Valentine’s Day”: Nothing unexpected or particularly scary happened this week, so here we are – with 5.11 tagged and pushed out. In fact, it’s a smaller-than-average set of commits from rc7 to final, which makes me happy. And I already have several pull requests lined up for tomorrow, so we’re all set for the merge window to start. But in the meantime – and yes, I know it’s Valentine’s Day here in the US – maybe give this release a good testing before you go back and play with development kernels. All right? Because I’m sure your SO will understand. Linus Last time around, Linux 5.10 was an LTS release that added EXT-4 performance enhancements, improved post-Spectre performance, as well as the enablement of BCM2711 (Raspberry Pi 4) display pipeline, among other many changes. Some of the notable changes in […]

Geniatech RK3568 Development Board to support Android 11 and Linux

RK3568 development board

RK3566 and RK3568 are the latest AIoT processors from Rockchip equipped with four Arm Cortex-A55 cores, a Mali-G52 GPU, and an impressive range of peripherals that make them suitable for all sorts of applications including AI edge computing and network video recorder (NVR). We already know Pine64 is working on Quartz64 SBC based on Rockchip RK3566, but I’ve just noticed Geniatech’s “RK3568 development board” that should offer even more features since the processor comes with extra I/Os compared to its little brother. Let’s have a look. Geniatech RK3568 development board specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3568 quad-core Cortex-A55 processor up to 2.0 GHz with Arm Mali-G52 GPU supporting OpenGL ES 1.1/2.0/3.2, OpenCL 2.0, Vulkan 1.1, 0.8 TOPS NPU for AI acceleration System Memory – Up to 4 GB LPDDR4 Storage – Up to 128 GB eMMC 5.1 flash, 1x SATA 3.0 port, MicroSD card slot, M.2 socket for NVMe SSD (See […]

UniPi Gate RS485 Linux IoT Gateway features 600 MHz Rockchip RK3328 SoC

UniPi Gate RS485 Linux IoT Gateway

Based in the Czech Republic, UniPi Technology design and manufacture programmable logic controllers, gateways, sensors and systems for smart homes, building management systems, industry and automation projects. Their latest product is UniPi Gate G100/G110 Linux IoT gateway with Ethernet and RS485 interfaces. When the company contacted CNX Software about the gateway, they told us the system was based on a quad-core Cortex-A53 processor clocked at 600 MHz. Since we are not aware of such SoC, we asked, and UniPi told us it was Rockchip RK3328. That processor is normally clocked at 1.5 GHz, and it turns out the company purposely underclocked the processor to 600 MHz to extend the temperature range and reduce the heat emitted by the CPU. UniPi Gate G100 & G110 specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3328 quad-core Cortex-A53 processor @ 600 MHz System Memory – 512MB RAM Storage – 16GB eMMC flash, MicroSD card slot Networking – […]

UP 7000 x86 SBC