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Orange Pi Compute Module 4 – A low-cost Rockchip RK3566-powered alternative to Raspberry Pi CM4

Orange Pi Compute Module 4 is a system-on-module mechanically and electrically compatible with the Raspberry Pi CM4, but powered by a Rockchip RK3566 quad-core Arm Cortex-A55 AI processor just like the Radxa CM3 introduced a few years ago, or more recently the Banana Pi BPI-CM2 (RK3568). The new module, also called Orange Pi CM4 for shorts, comes with 1GB to 8GB RAM, 8GB to 128GB eMMC flash, and an optional 128/256MBit SPI flash, as well as a Gigabit Ethernet PHY and on-board WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0. It comes with the two 100-pin high-density connectors found on the Raspberry Pi CM4, and a smaller 24-pin connector for extra I/Os. Orange Pi Compute Module 4 specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3566 quad-core Arm Cortex-A55 processor @ 1.8 GHz with Arm Mali-G52 2EE GPU, 0.8 TOPS AI accelerator, 4Kp60 H.265/H.264/VP9 video decoding, 1080p100f H.265/H.264 video encoding System Memory – 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, or […]

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Banana Pi BPI-CM2 – A Raspberry Pi CM4-compatible Rockchip RK3568 SoM with extra I/Os

Banana Pi BPI-CM2 is another Raspberry Pi CM4-compatible system-on-module, this time based on a Rockchip RK3568 quad-core Cortex-A55 SoC and with a twist as besides the two 100-pin high-density connectors, the module adds two 70-pin high-density connectors for the extra I/Os provided by the Rockchip processor such as PCIe 3.0, USB 3.0, eDP, MIPI DSI, and an additional Gigabit Ethernet. The Rockchip RK3568 module comes with many of the same features and options as the Raspberry Pi CM4 with 2GB to 8GB RAM, 8GB to 256GB eMMC flash, optional WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, and an on-module Ethernet transceiver, in this case, a Realtek RTL8211F. Banana Pi BPI-CM2 specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3568 CPU – Quad-core Cortex-A55 processor @ up to 2.0 GHz GPU – Arm Mali-G52 2EE GPU with support for OpenGL ES 1.1/2.0/3.2, OpenCL 2.0, Vulkan 1.1 AI accelerator – 0.8 TOPS NPU VPU – 4Kp60 H.265/H.264/VP9 […]

ArmSoM CM5 - Raspberry Pi CM4 alternative with Rockchip RK3576 SoC
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Raspberry Pi supplies are improving, but trust may be hard to rebuild with makers

Last December, Eben Upon provided an update about Raspberry Pi availability and expected “unlimited supplied” by H2 2023. Nine months later, Raspberry Pi supplies have indeed improved a lot. Still, some makers with small-volume production have already moved on, and are using alternative solutions. This seems especially true for products based on Raspberry Pi CM4 modules. Tom’s Hardware has just had a fresh look at the Raspberry Pi supply situation, and based on Eben’s tweets noted an increased number of Raspberry Pi boards had shipped in 2023. Eben said June was the second-best month ever for Raspberry Pi Trading with 788,000 units sold, and July looks to breach if the one million units a month is reached, beating the March 2021 records of 814k units. He further expanded saying 119k Zero boards, of which 33k Zero 2 boards (almost entirely consumer), and estimated around 250-400ku went to the retail market. […]

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Turing RK1 RK3588 system-on-module for cluster boards is now available (for pre-order)

Turing Pi has been making mini-ITX cluster boards for Raspberry Pi CM4 and NVIDIA Jetson modules for over four years, but last year, the company teased their own Turing RK1 system-on-module based on a powerful Rockchip RK3588 Arm processor with 6 TOPS NPU while launching the Turing Pi 2 cluster board on Kickstarter and raising over 2 million dollars in the process. The Turing RK1 is now available for pre-order with the 8GB RAM going for $130, the 16GB model for $170, and you’d have to spend $260 if you need 32GB RAM. Most people will probably want to add $10 to purchase the RK1 heatsink with a built-in fan as well. Pre-orders are expected to start shipping on October 27. Turing RK1 specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3588 CPU – Octa-core processor with 4x Arm Cortex-A76 @ 2.4 GHz, 4x Arm Cortex-A55 @ 1.8 GHz GPU – Arm Mali-G610 MP4 […]

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LuckFox Core3566 – A Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 alternative that sells for $24 and up

We’ve already seen Rockchip RK3566 system-on-modules that follow the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 with the likes of Pine64 SOQuartz and Radxa CM3. But there’s at least one more Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 alternative based on the RK3566 SoC with the LuckFox Core3566 going for as little as $23.99. I found out about the new module after checking out the upcoming Orange Pi Compute Module 4 (another CM4 alternative based on RK3566), and the LuckFox Core3566 is offered with 2GB or 4GB RAM, an optional 32GB eMMC flash, and an optional WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 module. LuckFox Core3566 specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3566 quad-core Cortex-A55 processor up to 1.8 GHz with a 32-bit RISC-V MCU, an Arm Mali-G52 GPU supporting OpenGL ES 1.1/2.0/3.2, OpenCL 2.0, Vulkan 1.1, a 0.8 TOPS NPU for AI acceleration System Memory – 2GB to 4GB LPDDR4 Storage – Optional 32GB eMMC module Wireless module […]

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Rongpin DR4-S905/DR4-A311D SoM features Amlogic S905D3 or A311D processor

Shenzhen Rongpin Electronic Technology (Rongpin) DR4-S905 and DR4-A311D are SO-DIMM system-on-modules (SoM) respectively powered by Amlogic S905D3 quad-core Cortex-A55 processor and Amlogic A311D octa-core Cortex-A73/A53 processor. The modules come with 2GB LPDDR4 and 16GB eMMC flash by default, but can be ordered with up to 4GB RAM and 128GB storage, and the company offered a feature-rich carrier board to test all interfaces provided but the system-on-modules. DR4-S905 system-on-module specifications: SoC – Amlogic S905D3 quad-core Cortex-A55 processor @ 1.9GHz with Arm Mali-G31MP2 GPU up to 800MHz supporting OpenGL ES 3.2, Vulkan 1.0 and OpenCL 2.0, real-time Cortex-M4 core for always-on processing, and 1.2 TOPS NPU System Memory – 2GB LPDDR4 by default (1GB/4GB options) Storage – 16GB eMMC 5.1 flash by default (8GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB options) SO-DIMM edge connector for connection to a carrier board Power management – Discrete design Dimensions – 69.6 x 30mm Temperature Range – -25℃ to […]

Rockchip RK3568/RK3588 and Intel x86 SBCs
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Mixtile Core 3588E Rockchip RK3588 system-on-module works with NVIDIA Jetson TX2 NX carrier boards

Mixtile Core 3588E is a system-on-module powered by a Rockchip RK3588 SoC and equipped with the 260-pin SO-DIMM connector found in the NVIDIA Jetson TX2 NX (and Jetson Nano, Xavier NX, Orin Nano modules). We’ve seen several companies make Raspberry Pi CM4 alternatives such as Radxa CM3 or Pine64 SoQuartz, and Mixtile even has its own Core 3568M SoM that can be used as a drop-in replacement for the Raspberry Pi CM4. But I had not seen companies try to make system-on-modules based on NVIDIA Jetson’s 260-pin SO-DIMM edge connector, and that’s exactly what the Mixtile Core 3588E has to offer. Mixtile Core 3588E specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3588 CPU – Octa-core processor with 4x Arm Cortex-A76 cores @ up to 2.4 GHz, 4x Arm Cortex-A55 cores GPU – Arm Mali-G610 MP4 GPU with support for OpenGL ES3.2, OpenCL 2.2, Vulkan1.1 AI accelerator – 6 TOPS NPU with support for […]

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ArduPico – An Arduino UNO compatible baseboard for Raspberry Pi Pico

WisdPi ArduPico is an Arduino UNO-shaped baseboard designed for the Raspberry Pi Pico and compatible boards that enables makers to reuse most 3.3V Arduino shields available on the market and also adds for few I/Os and features. ArduPico specifications: Compatible board – Raspberry Pi Pico, Pico H, Pico W, Pico WH, and other Pi Pico compatible board solderable using through holes or castellated holes Expansion Arduino UNO header compatible with a wide range of shields 5-pin and 6-pin headers for additional GPIOs and 3.3V, GND All Raspberry Pi Pico GPIOs are exposed 3.3V only, no 5V tolerant Debugging – SWD header Misc – Pico RESET key, WS2812 RGB LED Power Supply – 7 to 15V DC via DC jack Dimensions – 68.6 x 53.3 x 11.6 mm (Arduino UNO form factor) Weight – 18 grams   Compatibility with the Arduino UNO is not 100% percent as, for instance, only three […]

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