M5Stack CM4Stack – A tiny Raspberry Pi CM4 Linux computer with an integrated 2-inch display

CM4Stack mini PC Raspberry Pi CM4

M5Stack CM4Stack is a tiny Arm Linux mini PC based on Raspberry Pi CM4 that measures 59 x 44 x 46mm and integrates a 2-inch touchscreen display for information and control, as well as the usual ports you’d expect from a mini PC such as HDMI, USB 3.2 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, and so on. We’ve previously written about M5Stack Core and Atom controllers based on ESP32 microcontrollers, an optional 2.0-inch display, and a few GPIOs. The company has now decided to provide a similar solution with a jump in performance and interfaces with the CM4Stack development kit. CM4Stack specifications: SoM – Raspberry Pi CM4 (CM4104032) with SoC – Broadcom BCM2711 quad-core Cortex-A72 processor @ 1.5 GHz System Memory – 4GB RAM Storage – 32GB eMMC flash Wireless module with 802.11 b/g/n/ac WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 Integrated display – 2.0-inch LCD with ST7789V2 controller, touchscreen function Video Output – HDMI […]

NanoPi R6C review – Ubuntu 22.04, NVMe SSD, USB debug

NanoPi R6C Review Ubuntu 22.04

FriendlyElec has recently announced the NanoPi R6C mini PC that a variant of the Rockchip RK3588S powered NanoPi R6S mini PC and 2.5GbE router that we reviewed with FriendlyWrt/OpenWrt and Ubuntu 22.04 earlier this year, but with just one 2.5GbE and one GbE interface, a built-in M.2 NVMe SSD socket and USB-C Debug UART port for easy external access to the serial console. The company sent me a NanoPi R6C sample for review, but since we’ve already tested the similar NanoPi R6S extensively, I’ll write a single-post mini review this time around, checking out the hardware, and focusing on testing the new features such as the NVMe SSD and the USB debug port when running Ubuntu 22.04. NanoPi R6C unboxing As usual, the device came in a non-descript cardboard package with a few 3M rubber pads. The most obvious change compared to the NanoPi R6S is that all main ports […]

SOPHON BM1684/BM1684X Edge AI computer delivers up to 32 TOPS, decodes up to 32 Full HD videos simultaneously

Sophon BM1684 BM1684X Edge AI computer

Firefly EC-A1684JD4 FD and EC-A1684XJD4 FD are nearly identical Edge AI embedded computers based on respectively SOPHON BM1684 and BM1684X Arm AI SoC delivering up to 32 TOPS of AI inference, and capable of decoding up to 32 H.265/H.264 Full HD videos simultaneously for video analytics applications. The BM1684(X) SoCs are equipped with eight Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 2.3 GHz to run Linux, and the systems come with up to 16GB RAM, 128GB flash, two Gigabit Ethernet ports to receive the video streams, one HDMI output up to 1080p30 for monitoring,  as well as RS232 and RS485 DB9 connectors, and a few USB ports. Firefly EC-A1684JD4 FD and EC-A1684XJD4 FD specifications: SoC – SOPHGO SOPHON BM1684/BM1684X CPU – Octa-core Arm Cortex-A53 processor @ up to 2.3GHz TPU BM1684 64 NPU arithmetic units with each NPU containing 16 EU arithmetic units, or 1,024 EU in total Up to 17.6 TOPS (INT8), […]

Cincoze P1201 – A slim Atom x6000E Elkhart Lake PC for embedded and panel PC applications with a CDS connector

Elkhart Lake Embedded PC Panel PC

Cincoze P1201 is a slim embedded computer based on an Atom x6000E Elkhart Lake processor and mostly designed for panel PC applications thanks to the company’s patented CDS (Convertible Display System) connector that allows the mini PC to slide into the back of a display for easy installation. Equipped with up to 32GB RAM, SATA and/or mSATA storage, the P1201 can also be used for generic embedded and industrial applications thanks to DisplayPort and VGA video interfaces, two Gigabit Ethernet ports, optional wireless modules for WiFi, Bluetooth, and cellular, terminal blocks for RS232, RS485, and digital I/Os, as well as support for a wide supply voltage up 48V, and a -40°C to 70°C operating temperature range. Cincoze P1201 specifications: Elkhart Lake SoC (one or the other) Intel Atom x6425E quad-core processor @ 2.00 GHz / 3.0 GHz with 1.5MB cache, 32 EU UHD graphics; 12W TDP Intel Atom x6211E dual-core […]

ACEMAGICIAN T8PLUS – Processor N95 mini PC comes with three HDMI ports, dual GbE

ACEMAGICIAN T8PLUS

ACEMAGICIAN T8PLUS is an ultra-compact mini PC based on the latest Intel Processor N95 “Alder Lake N-Series” processor with three HDMI video outputs and dual gigabit Ethernet ports. The 8.9 x 8.9 x 4.3cm computer ships with 8GB LPDDR5 memory, a 256GB M.2 NVMe SSD, and is also equipped with three USB 3.0 ports, a WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2 wireless module, and a 3.5mm audio jack, plus a Kensington lock slot.   ACEMAGICIAN T8PLUS specifications: SoC – Intel Processor N95 quad-core Alder Lake-N processor @ up to 3.4 GHz (Turbo) with 6MB cache, 16EU Intel HD graphics @ 1.2 GHz; TDP: 15W System Memory – 8GB LPDDR5 @ 4800MHz Storage – 256GB M.2 NVMe SSD Video Output – 3x HDMI 2.0b ports up to 4Kp60; triple independent display support Audio – 3.5mm audio jack, digital audio output via HDMI ports Networking 2x Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 ports Wi-Fi 5 and […]

iKOOLCORE R1 review – A quad 2.5GbE mini PC tested with Windows 11, Ubuntu 22.04, Proxmox

iKOOLCORE R1 review

When I first saw the iKOOLCORE R1 I was fascinated that a mini PC of similar size to the smallest fully functional ones available (think Chuwi LarkBox, GMK NucBox or ECS LIVA Q Series) could be equipped with four 2.5 gigabit Ethernet (2.5GbE) ports. I approached iKOOLCORE who kindly provided an R1 for review and I’ve looked at performance running both Windows 11 and Ubuntu 22.04 and dabbled with using hypervisors on this mini PC through Proxmox virtual environment. iKOOLCORE R1 specifications iKOOLCORE list the R1 specifications on their website as: Of note are the ‘EC, FCC, RoHS’ certifications indicating both European conformity and approval for use in the US. Technically ‘EC’ refers to an ‘EC declaration of conformity’ which is not a certificate, however, the ‘EC declaration of conformity’ is called a ‘CE statement’ or ‘CE certificate’ which is why you often see this abbreviated as ‘CE’. The rest […]

Rockchip RK3588 embedded PCs support PoE, 4G LTE, 10GbE, 2.5-inch SATA HDD, and more

Mekotronics R58X-Pro embedded PC

Mekotronics R58X-Pro and R58X-HDD Rockchip RK3588 embedded PCs are updates to the company’s earlier R58X and R58X-4G mini PCs with features such as built-in PoE module, 4G LTE module, optional 10GbE M.2 PCIe 3.0 module, and a microSD card slot. The R58X-HDD also adds a 2.5-inch SATA bay for HDD or SSD, and the R58X-Pro implements a volume knob and a front panel display. Both R58X-Pro and R58X-HDD embedded PCs still come with up to 16GB RAM, 128GB eMMC flash, support dual 8K video output through HDMI and DisplayPort outputs, feature one HDMI 2.0 video input, two GbE ports, RS485 and RS232 interfaces, a few USB ports and more. Mekotronics R58X-Pro/R58X-HDD specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3588 octa-core processor with four Cortex-A76 cores @ 2.4 GHz, four Cortex-A55 cores @ 1.8 GHz, an Arm Mali-G610 MP4 GPU, a 6TOPS NPU, 8K 10-bit decoder, 8K encoder System Memory – 4GB, 8GB, or […]

Framework modular laptop adds Intel Raptor Lake, AMD Ryzen motherboards, 16-inch laptop frame

Framework Modular Laptop Intel Raptor AMD Ryzen 7040 motherboard

When we first covered the Framework modular laptop in 2021 it came with a choice of 11th generation Intel Tiger Lake Core processors, up to 64GB RAM, up to 4TB SSD storage, a 13.5-inch display, a Full HD webcam, and a 55Wh battery. Modular electronic devices have been worked on by several companies over the years, but such endeavors usually result in failure due to costs and other difficulties. Remember Google’s Project Ara?  But Framework may have found something that works, as they’ve now launched 13th Generation Intel Raptor Lake motherboards, AMD Ryzen 7040-series motherboards, updated the 13.5-inch display with a Matte finish, and even unveiled the Framework Laptop 16 with a 16-inch display that should become available in Q3 2023. Intel Raptor Lake and AMD Ryzen 7040 motherboards The Framework modular laptop now supports additional Intel Raptor Lake and AMD Ryzen motherboards with the following processors and key options. […]

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