Affordable Raspberry Pi Alternative with Multiple USB-C Ports

Key Takeaways

1. The Radxa Cubie A7S is a new single-board computer priced around $44 on AliExpress and $25 from Araca Tech, offering 4 GB of RAM with options for 8 or 16 GB.
2. It features an Allwinner A733 processor with two Cortex-A76 cores and six Cortex-A55 cores, supporting NPU performance of 3 TOPS.
3. Video output is via USB-C, supporting DisplayPort and 4K resolution at 60 frames per second, along with MIPI CSI for video input.
4. Connectivity options include Gigabit Ethernet, WiFi 6, and Bluetooth 5.4 for easy device pairing.
5. The board has 45 GPIO headers, measures 51 x 51 mm, and supports NVMe SSD connection through an FPC connector with a PCIe 3.0 interface.

A new, smaller substitute for the Raspberry Pi has hit the market. The Radxa Cubie A7S can be found on AliExpress for about $44, not including shipping costs, while Araca Tech offers it for approximately $25. At that lower price, buyers get a single-board computer equipped with just 4 GB of RAM; however, the model can also be found with options of 8 or 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM. Additionally, there is an option for 256 GB of eMMC storage. Like most single-board computers, it comes with a microSD card slot to make installing the operating system simple.

Performance and Connectivity

The processor is an Allwinner A733, which features two Cortex-A76 cores and six Cortex-A55 cores. The NPU performance is rated at 3 TOPS. For video output, the setup is simple, but instead of HDMI, it uses USB-C, which can support DisplayPort and 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. The Cubie A7S can also accept video input through MIPI CSI, mainly from specific cameras, making it useful for automated image processing tasks. For networking, it includes Gigabit Ethernet and WiFi 6 support. There’s also Bluetooth 5.4, which allows for easy pairing with devices such as keyboards and mice.

Power and Expansion Options

Power is delivered through USB-C, with support also for USB 2.0 and USB OPT. Additionally, there are 45 GPIO headers, and the board measures 51 x 51 mm, featuring an FPC connector with a PCIe 3.0 interface (one lane). This setup permits the connection of NVMe SSDs, expanding the storage capabilities even further.

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