iKOOLCORE R2 Max Alder Lake-N mini PC/server features two 10GbE and two 2.5GbE ports

iKOOLCORE R2 Max

The iKOOLCORE R2 Max is an Alder Lake-N-powered firewall/gateway/server/mini PC that is offered with either an Intel Processor N100 or Core i3-N305 CPU, and equipped with two 10GbE ports and two 2.5GbE ports. It builds upon the iKOOLCORE R2 mini PC and router which we reviewed with Promox VE, Ubuntu 22.04, and pfSense and features four 2.5GbE ports in a smaller form factor. The new R2 Max model uses the N100/Core i3-N305 CPU instead of the N95/Core i3-N300, supports up to 48GB SO-DIMM memory, features a wider yet thinner design, and provides support for both 10GbE and 2.5GbE networking. iKOOCORE R2 Max specifications: Alder Lake-N SoC Intel Processor N100 quad-core processor @ up to 3.4 GHz (Turbo) with 6MB cache, 24EU Intel UHD graphics; TDP: 6W Intel Core i3-N305 octa-core processor @ up to 3.8 GHz (Turbo) with 6MB cache, 32EU Intel UHD Graphics; TDP: 15W System Memory – 8GB, […]

Wiznet W55RP20-EVB-Pico board features W55RP20 SiP with W5500 Ethernet controller and RP2040 MCU

W55RP20 EVB PICO evaluation board

Wiznet has recently released the W55RP20-EVB-Pico dev board, a compact board based around the W55RP20 SiP that fuses the Raspberry Pi RP2040 MCU and the W5500 Ethernet controller into a single IC, plus a 2MB flash chip for firmware storage. Just last month we wrote about W5100S-EVB-Pico2 and W5500-EVB-Pico2 dev boards, both the boards have a newer Raspberry Pi RP2350 MCU and external Ethernet controller (W5500 or W5100S). The RP2350 offers additional security features such as One Time Programmable (OTP) memory, secure boot, and Arm TrustZone technology, making it more suitable for secure applications. The W55RP20 on the other hand integrates a W5500 Ethernet controller and the RP2040 in a single SiP which is also pin-compatible with the Raspberry Pi Pico, making it easy to use existing Pico accessories and code examples. W55RP20-EVB-Pico dev board specifications: SiP– W55RP20 microcontroller MCU – Raspberry Pi RP2040 Core– Dual Cortex M0+ cores up […]

Qualcomm Networking Pro A7 Elite is a WiFi 7 SoC with a 40 TOPS NPU for AI-optimized traffic and range

Qualcomm Networking Pro A7 Elite

The Qualcomm Networking Pro A7 Elite platform is a new wireless networking platform that integrates WiFi 7 with edge AI. The wireless networking platform can deliver up to 33 Gbps of throughput and features an AI coprocessor that provides up to 40 TOPS for AI workloads. AI features are designed to enhance Wi-Fi and networking user experience and include Smart Traffic Classifier, Range Boost, and Networking AIOps. The platform also includes 10Gbps Fiber (XGS-PON), Ethernet, front-end modules, and filters into an integrated platform. All these features are designed to streamline system development and reduce design complexity by integrating key elements—from broadband to antenna—into an integrated platform. Qualcomm Networking Pro A7 Elite platform specification Qualcomm’s Wireless Networking Platform CPU – Unnamed quad-core processor, built on a 14 nm node, and clocked at 1.8 GHz NPU – Up to 40 TOPS (AI coprocessor featuring Qualcomm Hexagon NPU) System Memory – DDR3L/DDR4 Storage […]

Raspberry Pi RP2350 dev board features Ethernet RJ45 port with WIZNet W5500 or W5100S Ethernet controller

Wiznet W5500 EVB Pico2 and W5100S EVB Pico2 Dev boards

WIZnet has recently launched two new Raspberry Pi RP2350-based Ethernet boards – W5100S-EVB-Pico2 and W5500-EVB-Pico2 – based on different Ethernet controllers. The entry-level W5100S-EVB-Pico2 is built around the W5100S controller that features 4 independent sockets and 16 Kbytes of buffer memory. On the other hand, the W5500-EVB-Pico2 is built around the W5500, which features 8 sockets, 32 Kbytes of buffer memory, and improved security features such as OTP memory, Secure Boot, and Arm TrustZone technology. These make the W5500-EVB-Pico2 ideal for projects with robust network handling and advanced security measures. After the recent announcement of the $5 Raspberry Pi Pico 2 we have seen many development boards built around the RP2350 MCU, including the Challenger+ RP2350 WiFi6/BLE5, the Solder Party’s RP2350 Stamp, the Seeed Studio XIAO RP2350, the Cytron MOTION 2350 Pro, and more. Feel free to check those out If you are interested in RP2350-based dev boards. W5100S-EVB-Pico2 and […]

NanoPi Zero2 is a tiny headless Arm Linux computer with Gigabit Ethernet, a USB port, and an M.2 Key-E socket for WiFi

NanoPi Zero2

FriendlyELEC NanoPi Zero2 is one of the world’s smallest Arm Linux computers with the 45x45mm board featuring a Rockchip RK3528A quad-core Cortex-A53 processor, up to 2GB RAM, microSD and eMMC flash module sockets for storage, a Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 jack, an M.2 socket for WiFi, a USB Type-A port, and a 30-pin GPIO FPC connector for expansion. When I went to find more information about the earlier NanoPi Zero, I quickly realized… it did not exist, and the closest thing we have is the ZeroPi released in 2019 with an Allwinner H3 Cortex-A7 processor and an even smaller 40x40mm form factor.  The NanoPi Zero2 comes with a 64-bit processor, more memory, and optional support for an M.2 WiFi module among other improvements. It’s designed for headless applications since there’s no video output/display interface. NanoPi Zero2 specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3528A CPU – Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 @ 2.0 GHz GPU – […]

Jetway MF32 3.5-inch SBC is offered with Intel Core i5-1335UE or Intel Processor U300, four 2.5GbE, M.2 expansion

Intel Processor U300 3.5-inch SBC

Jetway MF32 is a 3.5-inch single-board computer (SBC) offered with either an Intel 13th Gen Core i5-1335UE or an Intel Processor U300. It includes four Intel 2.5GbE LAN ports and optional dual PoE with a max output of 40W. The board supports up to 32GB of DDR5 memory, offers various M.2 expansion slots, and comes with a Nano SIM card slot. This board can be used in networking devices, edge computing, IoT projects, digital surveillance, etc… Jetway offers four variants of their MF32 SBC: The MF32-133E0 and MF32-133E2 models are equipped with the Intel Core i5-1335UE processor, while the MF32-300U0 and MF32-300U2 feature the Intel Processor U300. It’s important to note that the MF32-133E0 and MF32-300U0 do not include TPM 2.0 (dTPM) security features. Jetway is well known for its SBCs, and we’ve previously covered its products like the JMTX-ADN8, JNUC-ADN1 mini-ITX motherboard, and JF35-ADN1 3.5-inch motherboard, all featuring the […]

NanoPi R3S – A low-cost Rockchip RK3566 SBC and dual gigabit Ethernet router

NanoPi R3S

FriendlyELEC NanoPi R3S is a low-cost Rockchip RK3566 SBC and router with two gigabit Ethernet ports, a USB 3.0 host ports, a USB-C port for power and data, a microSD card slot, Reset and Mask buttons, and a few LEDs.  It also features a MIPI DSI connector for people wanting to connect a display. Its design and size are similar to the NanoPi R5C dual 2.5GbE SBC and router, so it could be viewed as a low-cost alternative with dual GbE, no M.2 socket for WiFi & Bluetooth, only one USB 3.0 port, and no HDMI video output.  The company promotes it as an inexpensive platform for IoT applications, basic NAS solutions, and so on. NanoPi R3S specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3566 CPU – Quad-core Cortex-A55 processor @ up to 2.0 GHz GPU – Arm Mali-G52 MP2 GPU NPU – 0.8 TOPS AI accelerator VPU 4Kp60 H.265/H.264/VP9 video decoder 1080p60 […]

Microchip LAN887x industrial single-pair gigabit Ethernet transceivers can communicate over 40 meters of cable

Microchip LAN887x family of PHY Transceivers

Microchip has released the LAN887x family of single-pair gigabit Ethernet transceivers adding to their line of Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) devices. This new family of transceivers supports 100BASE-T1(compliant with IEEE 802bw-2015) and 1000BASE-T1(compliant with IEEE 802.3bp) network speeds and can handle extended cable lengths up to 40 meters. They also integrate time-sensitive networking (TSN) protocols and comply with ISO 26262 functional safety standards. Additionally, they can operate in low-power mode with features like EtherGREEN technology and OPEN Alliance TC10 sleep mode. All these features make this IC useful for applications such as automotive, industrial, avionics, robotics, and automation fields. Microchip previously released the LAN8770 100BASE-T1 Ethernet PHY Transceiver which has a max cable length of 15 meters for UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) cable and 40 meters for STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) cable. The speed was limited to 100 Mbps, but now, with the release of the new 1000BASE-T1 ethernet controllers, […]

UP 7000 x86 SBC