The Chinese manufacturer Seeedstudio has announced the BeagleV, a comparatively inexpensive RISC-V single-board computer. Unlike the Raspberry Pi 4, for example, the BeagleV uses a RISC-V processor with two U 64 CPU cores from architecture designer SiFive. The subsidiary StarFive designed the processor JH 7100 using SiFive technology.

The pure CPU performance should be on the level of cheap mobile processors and thus fall significantly behind the Raspi 4. This is about the first points of contact with RISC-V. Thanks to RV 64 GC instruction set, StarFives JH 7100 is too Linux compatible – a Debian version should be available in time for the start of delivery of the BeagleV.

Deep learning in the package In addition, the single-board computer is suitable for running trained neural networks (inference): An open source Nvidia Deep Learning Accelerator (NVDLA) and a general neural network engine with shared computing power are located in the system-on-chip (SoC) of just under 5 TOPS. A Tensilica image signal processor (DSP) analyzes image content.

There are also 4 or 8 GByte LPDDR4-SDRAM (firmly soldered) and 40 GPIO pins for controlling external devices, including the I2C and I2S interfaces, a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) and Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART). Linux is installed on a micro SD card. Gigabit Ethernet and Wi-Fi 4 round off the equipment.

From September with GPU The first version the BeagleV comes without a graphics unit. Instead, the image signal processor is used for the image output: A DSI-HDMI translator converts data from the Display Serial Interface (DSI) into a full HD signal with 30 Hertz around. From September 2021 Seeedstudio wants to ramp up production and loudly CNX software use a GPU from Imagination Technologies.

Seeedstudio sells the first revision only in small numbers to selected interested parties. In the course of the year, general sales will start from 120 US dollars for the 4 GB version. For the 8 GB version, the manufacturer has set 140 US dollars. Seeedstudio single-board computers are usually also available in Germany.

(mma )