ArmSom Sige7 Review- A Rockchip RK3588 SBC with Dual 2.5GbE Ethernet, NVMe Storage, and Triple Display Output

6 May, 2024

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Introduction

The ArmSoM Sige7 is a compact single-board computer (SBC) powered by the RK3588, an octa-core 64-bit SoC clocked at 2.4 GHz. The SoC features a 6TOPS NPU for AI tasks and supports up to 32GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 128GB of eMMC flash storage. It includes an M.2 2280 socket for NVMe SSDs. It offers three display interfaces (HDMI, USB-C, MIPI DSI) and two camera connectors. Connectivity options include dual 2.5GbE, WiFi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2, plus multiple USB ports and a 40-pin GPIO header for expansion.

The SoC features the ARM Mali-G610 MP4 GPU clocked at 1GHz, which delivers high-performance graphic capabilities so much that it can play or stream 4K very smoothly. This GPU also features enhanced 3D rendering which allows for lag-free gameplay in major open-world online games, console games, and even some AAA titles, this feature makes this device suitable for a broad spectrum of gaming enthusiasts looking for a powerful, compact computing solution.

RK3588 Features:

8K video encoding/decoding support
Abundant interfaces support
Dual 2.5G Ethernet support
WiFi 6 & BT 5 support
Multiple video outputs support
Multiple operating systems support

Triple Display Interface

The most interesting feature for me is the triple display interface, When you think about applications where you will need a triple display like video editing graphic design 3d modeling, the board is not powerful enough to run that application. But it will shine when it comes to Trading, you can just use this device as a multiple equities monitoring device.

Specifications

CPU: Quad-Core [email protected]+Quad-CoreCortex-A55@ 1.8GHz，8nm process
- 6 TOPS@INT8(3 NPU core)
GPU&VPU: GPU Mali-G610 MP4 (4x256KB L2 Cache)
- Decode: 8K@60fps
- Encode:8K@30fps H.265 / H.264
Storage: 8GB LPDDR4x + 64bit 64GB eMMC 5.1
Interface: 2x 2.5G Ethernet
- Onboard IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax WIFI6 and BT5 (AP6275P)
- 1x HDMI 2.1, supports 8K@60fps
- 1x DP 1.4 up to 8192×4320@30Hz
- 1x MIPI DSI up to 4K@60Hz
- 2x 2-lane MIPI CSI, up to 2.5Gbps per lane

Neural Processing Unit

The RK3588 processor includes a powerful Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of performing up to 6 trillion operations per second, enhancing its ability to handle AI tasks efficiently. This NPU supports well-known deep learning frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, and MxNET, broadening its application in various AI fields. With this capability, the RK3588 is optimized for AI applications, offering improved performance in tasks such as image and voice recognition, making it a versatile choice for AI-driven projects.

8K UHD support

Among other features, this board also has advanced video encoding and decoding capabilities with 8K UHD support. This allows for ultra-high-definition video playback and recording, enhancing applications in digital signage, entertainment, and gaming with its capacity to deliver sharp, detailed visuals. It’s designed to create immersive display experiences across different settings, significantly enhancing user engagement.

OS Support

The board supports Debian 11 and Android 12, based on Linux 5.10, and is compatible with the Buildroot build system. Additionally, third-party Armbian images (Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 22.04) and Kylin OS are available. The wiki currently has direct links to these images.

Update! In a recent update, the company tells electronics-lab.com that they have “successfully integrated Linux into the mainline” meaning the developers have ensured that their ArmSoM-Sige7 device will be compatible with the widest range of standard Linux distributions and software. This avoids the need to maintain custom versions of Linux. Mainline support ensures that the Sige7 will benefit from future bug fixes, security patches, and new features added to the Linux kernel over time.

Connectivity

The board features the AP6275P Wi-Fi BT module that offers advanced wireless capabilities, including support for the latest 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax standards for Wi-Fi and BT including 2×2 MIMO technology for better signal quality and reliability. All and all this module is designed for robust wireless connectivity, enabling high-speed internet access and efficient data transmission across a wide range of applications and devices.

Resources and Development

The ArmSom Sige7, also known as the Banana Pi BPi-M7, offers detailed resources for developers and users, this includes links to kernel and u-boot sources hosted on the ArmSom GitHub account, highlighting the collaborative and open-source nature of the project. Other than that, ArmSom provides an array of in-development documentation, firmware images, and essential development tools, all accessible via Google Drive.

Multiple Use Cases

The board has a lot of use cases, which makes it perfect for a bunch of projects. You can use it as a mini-computer whether you’re at home, at work, or on the move. It’s also great for setting up a tiny server to manage web services or files. For those into AI and robotics, this board has the chops to handle complex projects. Plus, with edge computing capabilities, it can process data super fast, cutting down on lag. It’s a little powerhouse for any tech project you’ve got in mind.

Booting on Ubuntu 22.04.3 from SD Card

Booting on Ubuntu 22.04.3 from eMMC

Packaging

Performance Results

We conducted a benchmark using PassMark CPU software on Ubuntu 22.04.4 LTS. The board was identified as ArmSom RK3588 sige7 Board and the CPU as ARM Cortex-A76 4 Core 1800 MHz . As you can see on the CPU page the Average CPU Mark is 3108 and our test showed a CPU Mark of 2622 for Sige7, which is below the average performance of most implementations. This may result in numerous factors and has a high margin of error according to PassMark. During the testing phase, we also took thermal images of the board to evaluate the temperature profile of the board. You can see the thermal images below.

Results submitted: https://www.passmark.com/baselines/V11/display.php?id=506435630904

Thermal Profile

Board Outline

The company also offers a handy hardware description for the board, highlighting all the key components. This guide makes it easier for both developers and users to get started with the board smoothly and effectively.

More information & Purchase

The Sige7 documentation includes a product introduction, a detailed manual, performance benchmarks, and access to a user forum and Discord. This comprehensive set of resources is designed to help both developers and users quickly get up to speed with the board, for more information on the board you can check out the ArmSom Sige7 docs page or other store page & Aliexpress.

Exciting Update! The company also confirms the launch of ArmSoM’s RK3588 AI Module (AIM7) on Crowdsupply. Stay tuned for updates and your chance to support this project!