Radxa Rock 4D is a new Raspberry Pi competitor with PCIe and NPU
The Radxa Rock 4D is a new single-board computer that’s now available. The model variant with 2GB RAM can be ordered at Arace Tech for $30. The SBC is also available with 4, 8, and 16GB of memory. All versions are equipped with a Rockchip RK3576 SoC, which features four Cortex-A72 and four Cortex-A53 cores that run at 2.2GHz and 2GHz, respectively. This chipset also includes an NPU for better performance in AI applications, boasting up to 6 TOPS of AI performance.
The Radxa Rock 4D supports two monitors, but it only has one HDMI port. The second display has to be connected via MIPI DSI. According to Radxa, the HDMI output supports 4K at 120Hz. Users can also connect cameras via MIPI CSI, which is useful for things like transmitting a live security camera feed. The Rock 4D’s NPU could then recognize license plates and open an electric gate, for example. Sensors and actuators can be connected via a 40-pin header.
Multiple USB ports are available as well, and the SBC is powered via USB Type-C. With a compatible HAT, tinkerers can also power this Raspberry Pi alternative via PoE. A PCIe 2 connection with one lane can be established with a corresponding cable, which can be used to install SSDs. Last but not least, the Radxa Rock 4D supports both WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3.
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