BeagleV: A powerful RISC-V single-board computer that runs Linux from US$119

There are many single-board computers about, but few are powerful and have RISC-V processors. The BeagleV is an example of a board that fits that criteria though, thanks to its SiFive U74 processor. The BeagleV is comparatively affordable, too. The SiFive U74 has two cores clocked at 1.5 GHz and 2 MB of L2 cache, which compete with the performance that something like an ARM Cortex-A55 processor.

The SiFive U74 also includes an NVDLA Engine, a Vision DSP Tensilica-VP6, a Neural Network Engine and an audio processing DSP, among other components. Initial BeagleV boards will ship without a GPU, but future batches should ship with one from Imagination Technologies. According to CNX Software, BeagleV boards with GPUs should begin shipping in September 2021.

The BeagleV will be compatible with freeRTOS and Linux distributions like Debian and Fedora, according to the manufacturer. The board itself has been developed in partnership between BeagleBoard, StarFive Seeed Studio, as the BeagleV website outlines. The first BeagleV boards should begin shipping in March, although the manufacturer is currently only accepting applications to order a board. You can find the full specifications and pinout of the BeagleV below.

Purchase the SiFive HiFive1 Rev B on Amazon