Rock Pi X is a cheap single board computer with Windows 10 support
Radxa has been selling small, cheap single board computers under the Rock Pi brand for the past few years, but so far most have been powered by ARM based processors.
Rock Pi X is different. It is equipped with an Intel Atom x5-Z8350 processor based on x86 architecture. This feature means that this small computer can run almost any operating system, including Windows 10, Ubuntu (although most other GNU / Linux distributions should probably run on it as well as Android).
According to CNX Software, Rock Pi X is available for pre-order from Allnet China for $ 59 and up.
The 2GB model can be purchased for the starting price RAM and 16 GB eMMC storage, which is the absolute minimum for Windows 10. But you can pay extra and not worry about this:
- 4GB / 32GB for $ 75
- 4 GB / 64 GB for $ 85
- 4 GB / 128 GB for $ 99
Also in the announcement there is a mention of a model for $ 49 with 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal memory, but in it is currently out of stock.
The Intel Atom 5-Z8350 Processor is a 2-watt, quad-core, four-thread processor released in 2016. It is not very fast, so you should not expect desktop-class performance from a computer using this chip. But since this processor is built on x86 architecture, it is compatible with a wide range of software applications.
According to Rock Pi X product specifications, the system has HDMI 2.0 ports supporting 4K output at up to 30fps, but not expect the built-in Atom GPU to perform well at this resolution. However, at 1080p, the computer should work without any problems.
Here are some of the key specs of the Rock Pi X Model B:
- Processor: Intel Atom x5-Z8350 Cherry Trail 64-bit Quad Core, 1.44GHz / 1.84GHz (Turbo)
- Graphics: Intel Gen8 HD @ 500 MHz
- Memory: 64-bit dual channel 4GB LPDDR3 @ 1866Mbps
- Built-in memory: 8 GB to 128 GB, eMMC
- Micro-SD card: up to 128 GB support
- Display: HDMI 2.0 up to 4k @ 30
- 3.5mm audio jack with mic
- HD codec supporting audio up to 24 bit / 96 kHz.
- Wi-Fi 5
- Bluetooth 4.2
- Onboard antenna and support for external antenna
- Ports: 1 x USB 3.0 OTG, 3 x USB 2.0 HOST
- Ethernet 1 x GbE LAN with Power over Ethernet (PoE)
- 40-pin expansion header
- 2 x UART
- 2 x SPI buses
- 2 x I2C buses
- 1 x PCM / I2S
- 1 x SPDIF port
- 2 x PWM
- 1 x ADC
- 6 x GPIO
- 2 x 5V power inputs
- 2 x 3.3V power inputs
- Power : USB PD, support USB Type C PD 2.0, 9V / 2A, 12V / 2A, 15V / 2A, 20V / 2A.
- Qualcomm Quick Charge: Supports QC 3.0 / 2.0, 9V / 2A adapter, 12V / 1.5A
- Size 85mm x 54mm
According to the Rock Pi X page in Radxa Wiki, there may be a cheaper Rock Pi model at some point The X Model B, which has the same basic functionality but lacks built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and onboard antenna, and lacks PoE support.