Announcing the ROCK 5C: Power, Performance, and Versatility for Just $30

hipboi · March 24, 2024, 12:49pm

Dear Community,

We are excited to announce the launch of the ROCK 5C and ROCK 5C Lite, groundbreaking additions to the world of single board computers (SBCs). These boards bring the high-end ARM Cortex-A76 architecture into the $35 SBC market, offering unprecedented performance and features at an unparalleled price point.

Introducing the ROCK 5C: A New Standard in SBC Performance

The ROCK 5C is engineered to push the boundaries of what an affordable SBC can achieve. Powered by the high-performance Rockchip RK3588S2 SoC, it offers a robust computing experience that rivals desktop performance. The ROCK 5C is not just about raw power; it also introduces a wealth of connectivity and multimedia capabilities:

Rockchip RK3588S2 SoC : Features an octa-core processor that integrates ARM Cortex-A76 and Cortex-A55 cores, delivering high-speed and efficient processing.
8K HDMI Port : Outputs ultra-high-definition video for the most immersive visual experiences.
GbE with PoE Support : Enables fast wired network connections with the added convenience of Power over Ethernet for streamlined installations.
MIPI CSI and DSI Interfaces : Support for high-resolution cameras and displays, allowing for dual-camera setups and vibrant screen output.
Multiple USB Ports : Includes 2x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0 HOST, and 1x USB 3.0 OTG, catering to a wide array of peripherals and devices.
Headphone Jack with Mic Support : Provides audio input and output for projects requiring sound integration.
eMMC and SD Card Storage : Flexible storage options with an eMMC connector and an SD card slot, ensuring fast and reliable data access.
Extensive GPIO : A 40-pin header for interfacing with various sensors, modules, and expansions.
Compact Form Factor : All these features are packed into a credit card-sized board that can fit into countless projects.

The ROCK 5C Lite: Streamlined Efficiency at Your Fingertips

The ROCK 5C Lite offers the core features of the ROCK 5C but with a focus on providing essential functions at an even more accessible price. It is powered by the Rockchip RK3582 SoC, which still delivers substantial performance for a wide range of applications:

Rockchip RK3582 SoC : Provides a balance of performance and efficiency, making it suitable for server tasks, AI projects, and educational use.
Essential Multimedia Support : While streamlined, the ROCK 5C Lite maintains the 8K HDMI output for impressive visual capabilities.
Connectivity Options : Retains the full suite of connectivity features including GbE with PoE, USB ports, and camera/display interfaces.

Transforming the SBC Landscape

The ROCK 5C series is positioned to transform the SBC landscape, offering features that are typically reserved for higher-priced boards. Whether you are a developer, a hobbyist, or an educator, these boards provide a versatile and powerful platform for a multitude of projects:

AI and Machine Learning : Leverage the onboard NPU for edge AI processing in a compact and cost-effective package.
Multimedia Projects : Create stunning visual displays and media centers with 8K video output.
IoT and Smart Home : Utilize the Ethernet connectivity with PoE for reliable and clean installations in smart home applications.
Educational Tools : Offer students and researchers a high-performance computing experience for learning and development at an affordable entry point.

Conclusion

With the introduction of the ROCK 5C and ROCK 5C Lite, Radxa is once again leading the charge in the SBC market. These boards exemplify a commitment to making high-performance computing accessible to all, without sacrificing functionality or quality.

Which model do you prefer?

ROCK 5C Lite 1GB - $29.9
ROCK 5C Lite 2GB - $34.9
ROCK 5C Lite 4GB - $44.9
ROCK 5C Lite 8GB - $64.9
ROCK 5C Lite 16GB - $104.9
ROCK 5C 2GB - $49.9
ROCK 5C 4GB - $59.9
ROCK 5C 8GB - $79.9
ROCK 5C 16GB - $119.9
ROCK 5C 32GB - $199.9

0 voters

hipboi · March 24, 2024, 12:54pm

ROCK 5C vs. ROCK 5C Lite

The only difference is the pin-to-pin compatible SoC: RK3588S2 vs. RK3582

hipboi · March 24, 2024, 12:56pm

mariusd_ro · March 24, 2024, 1:21pm

no h264/h265 decoding ?

incognito · March 24, 2024, 2:21pm

No GPU on rk3582 or is it unknown?

buncker · March 24, 2024, 3:42pm

@hipboi May I ask please if an RK3582 SOM planned any time soon?

wong_disable · March 24, 2024, 5:17pm

rk3588S2 = octocore (4x A76 + 4x A55)
rk3582 = hexacore (2x A76 + 4x A55)

em… if it came with pcie3.0 would be a better choice.

What’s the major problem with rk3588s to be replaced by rk3588s2?
And I wonder how rk3582 perform in comparison with rk3399!

Btw, the RK3399 pcie driver is really bad…

hipboi · March 25, 2024, 1:55am

Yes, CM5 will offer a Lite version with RK3582.

hipboi · March 25, 2024, 10:14am

RK3582 is way better than RK3399. 2xA76+4xA55 performance better than 2xA72+4xA55.

hipboi · March 25, 2024, 1:57am

GPU is unknown, if you are lucky, you will have GPU, if not, then no GPU.

hipboi · March 25, 2024, 2:00am

HW encoding/decoding is confusing part, the rk3582 datasheet overview did not mention it, but the description below do have 8K decoding and 4k encoding. From our test on samples we have right now, the encoder/decoder works but we can not guarantee for all the chips.

https://dl.radxa.com/rock5/5c/docs/hw/datasheet/Rockchip%20RK3582%20Datasheet%20V1.1-20230221.pdf

rippanda12 · March 25, 2024, 4:17am

This is starting to sound like the AMD 2012 days where you had an Athlon cpu whose cores are locked and if u were lucky you could unlock them and use them

mo123 · March 25, 2024, 4:25am

Is RK3582 better or worse than RK3576 in terms of multimedia?
RK3576 supports 10-bit YUV444 HEVC, YUV422 H264, 10-Bit AV1 which RK3588 doesn’t support so multimedia playback will be better, not sure if RK3582 is similar or worse.

nyanmisaka · March 25, 2024, 5:04am

I checked the MPP repo and found that RK3576 newly supports 8-bit YUV444 HEVC. The remaining 10-bit YUV422 H264 and 10-bit AV1 are already supported by RK3588. The RK358x entered production earlier than the RK3576. So it’s unlikely there will be anything new.

mo123 · March 25, 2024, 5:23am

RK3588 converts 10-bit AV1 to 8-Bit YUV420 AV1 and no AV1 HDR support because there is a display output limitation on RK3588. RK3576 is supposed to support it.

wong_disable · March 25, 2024, 5:31am

em… but for SBC, the software support is the key…

nyanmisaka · March 25, 2024, 5:36am

RK3588 supports outputting 10-bit AV1 (NV15) and 8-bit AV1 (NV12). If you explicitly request format conversion, it can also convert NV15 to NV12 through the post-processor on the decoder side. I don’t see any reason why it doesn’t support 10-bit.

amazingfate · March 25, 2024, 6:08am

Decoding YUV444 HEVC is very promising. I hope someday we can use sunshine/moonlight with 444 support: https://github.com/LizardByte/Sunshine/discussions/1188#discussioncomment-8773715

nyanmisaka · March 25, 2024, 6:27am

Currently, only 8-bit YUV444 support (yuv444p/nv24) can be inferred from MPP. However, 10-bit (yuv444p10le/nv30) has not been implemented or is not supported by the hardware.

github.com

rockchip-linux/mpp/blob/ee946af015c350c926a0fca2f02da8e429f8b079/mpp/hal/rkdec/h265d/hal_h265d_vdpu383.c#L1402




(void)hal;
(void)param;
switch ((MpiCmd)cmd_type) {
case MPP_DEC_SET_FRAME_INFO: {
    MppFrame frame = (MppFrame)param;
    MppFrameFormat fmt = mpp_frame_get_fmt(frame);


    if (fmt == MPP_FMT_YUV422SP) {
        mpp_slots_set_prop(p_hal->slots, SLOTS_LEN_ALIGN, rkv_len_align_422);
    } else if (fmt == MPP_FMT_YUV444SP) {
        mpp_slots_set_prop(p_hal->slots, SLOTS_LEN_ALIGN, rkv_len_align_444);
    }
    if (MPP_FRAME_FMT_IS_FBC(fmt)) {
        vdpu383_afbc_align_calc(p_hal->slots, frame, 16);
    }
    break;
}
case MPP_DEC_SET_OUTPUT_FORMAT: {
} break;
default: {

mariusd_ro · March 25, 2024, 7:22am

selling lottery tickets - way to go Radxa !