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It’s hard to fight for a place in the top list when the top 1 is… one – for more than twelve years, the British Raspberry Pi has ruled the SBC single-board computer market.
However, it turns out that the Rock Pi X, measuring just 85 mm x 54 mm, has a sizable fan base.
Rock Pi X - what is it?
It’s hard to avoid the description in the context of the rivalry between the Rock Pi platform and the Raspberry Pi.
Although the clashes are sometimes constructive, we prefer to move within the concept of alternatives.
However, one often finds oneself in the juxtaposition of the Rock Pi X single board computer (SBC) with the Raspberry Pi 4.
Both boards are popular choices in the SBC market even after the release of the RPi 5 – they share a common time of popularity, while the issue of processors differs.
The Rock Pi X has an x86-64 processor, while the Raspberry Pi 4 uses an ARM architecture processor.
When comparing the Rock Pi X and Raspberry Pi 4 models with 4 GB RAM, the Rock Pi X has 32 GB of built-in flash memory, while the RPi 4 has a 32 GB microSD card as a boot drive.
In this comparison, the RPi wins in terms of connectors – both boards have large passive heatsinks for better heat management, but the Rock Pi X has a single full-size HDMI connector, while the Raspberry Pi 4 has two micro HDMI connectors.
In addition, the Raspberry Pi 4 offers a more favorable USB configuration with 2 USB 3.0 and 2 USB 2.0 ports, compared to 1 USB 3.0 and 3 USB 2.0 ports on the Rock Pi X. Both boards have a 3.5mm audio jack and 40-pin GPIO connector and are powered by USB-C.
One thing is certain – regardless of the iteration of texts about SBC computers, whenever we come across a Rock Pi, regardless of the model and specification differences, the British giant from the Raspberry Pi Foundation is somewhere around.
Rock Pi X capabilities
Rock Pi X is the first SBC (single board computer) x86 from manufacturer Radx and was developed as a result of repeated requests to run Windows on the earlier Rock Pi 4.
The Model A and Model B Rock Pi offer 1 GB, 2 GB or 4 GB of RAM and 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB or 128 GB of eMMC storage.
In addition, Model B includes WiFi and Bluetooth along with Power over Ethernet (PoE) support, although this requires an additional HAT overlay.
It uses an Intel Atom (Cherry Trail) x5-Z8350 processor, which is a quad-core, 4-threaded processor clocked at 1.44 GHz increasing to 1.92 GHz with Intel Gen8 HD graphics.
The ROCK Pi X is powered by a USB Type-C port and supports a wide input voltage range of 9V to 20V.
The power supply can be compatible with USB Type-C PD 2.0 9V/2A, 12V/2A, 15V/2A and 20V/2A or Quick Charge 2.0 9V/2A, 12V/2A protocol.
A 9V or 12V power adapter with a USB C tip will also work – at the same time, it is worth noting the information on the Radx manufacturer’s website that the USB C 9V/12V adapter is unsafe for other 5V devices.
If the power supply is PD/QC compliant, the USB power cable must support USB data communication (USB 2.0 or 3.0) between the board and the power supply, otherwise the power supply will not generate the desired voltage required by the board.
Withfour USB-A connectors, the ROCK Pi X can be equipped with a full-size keyboard and mouse.
The Rock Pi X is equipped with a full-size HDMI connector.
HDMI EDID display data is used to determine the best display resolution.
For monitors and TVs that support 1080p (or 4K) resolution, this will be selected.
If 1080p is not supported, the next available resolution reported by EDID will be used.
According to the manufacturer’s claims, this selected mode will work with most, but not all monitors or TVs.
Rock Pi X processor - Intel Atom x5-Z8350 Cherry Trail and eMMC memory
The Intel Atom x5-Z8350 Cherry Trail processor features four cores with a base clock speed of 1.44 GHz with a maximum turbo frequency of 1.84 GHz.
For simple applications and everyday use such as web browsing, document handling and media streaming it comes across as quite powerful among reviewers.
For demanding applications like video editing and gaming, however, it may prove insufficient.
It uses an integrated Intel Gen8 HD graphics chip clocked at 500 MHz, and while it is neither the latest nor the most powerful graphics option, it is sufficient for retro gaming.
The Rock Pi X also boasts impressive built-in eMMC storage with a maximum capacity of 128GB.
If we need even more space, we can easily expand it with an additional microSD card.
The total potential storage capacity of up to 256 GB is pretty good if you’re looking for a small media center to store on one device.
Rock Pi X operating environment
The Rock Pi X is designed with operating system flexibility for developers in mind. Its x86 processor allows it to run Windows natively, making it one of the few SBC computers to offer this capability.
In addition, it supports various Linux distributions.
The Radx team provides resources on its website to help you get started with Windows or Linux operating systems, making it easy to customize the board for your specific needs.
In terms of audio, you get a gold-plated headphone jack and microphone functions without the need for additional hardware, in short: no additional sound card.
The Rock Pi X’ s wide range of features makes it an extremely versatile board that can be used for a variety of purposes.
It can function as a minicomputer for basic tasks or serve as a central computing unit in a larger project.
There’s no avoiding a return to the Raspberry Pi – both boards have similar I/O configurations, but the Rock Pi X’s ability to run 32-bit native Windows applications makes it the obvious choice for Windows enthusiasts.
While this is technically possible on the Raspberry Pi, it’s not that simple.
Ultimately, you still get a powerful SBC that can be combined with a variety of sensors and electronic components for various DIY electronic projects, but sourcing components compared to the RPi’s abundant accessories and extensions can prove a bit laborious.
