MiQi Rockchip RK3288 Development Board using Raspberry Pi Form Factor to Sell for $35 and Up

Rockchip RK3288 processor may have launched in 2014, but it’s still one of the most powerful processor found in TV boxes for example, and in the past we’ve seen higher end board based on the processor such as Firefly-RK3288 or Radxa Rock 2 Square selling for well above $100. But MQMaker, the company that previously made WiTi router board, is bringing a smaller and cheaper RK3288 development board with MiQi, which definitely looks similar to the Raspberry Pi.

MiQi_Board

MiQi board specifications:

  • SoC – Rockchip 3288 quad core ARM Cortex A17 up to 1.8 GHz with Mali-T764 GPU supporting OpenGL ES 1.1/2.0 /3.0, and OpenCL 1.1
  • System Memory – 1 or 2G DDR3 depending on model
  • Storage – 8 or 32 GB eMMC flash depending on model + micro SD slot
  • Video & Audio output – HDMI 2.0 up to 3840×2160@60p
  • Connectivity – Gigabit Ethernet
  • USB – 4x USB 2.0 host ports, 1x micro USB port
  • Debugging – Serial console header
  • Expansion Headers – 16-pin header, and 12-pin header but details are not known.
  • Misc – Button, unpopulated fan header
  • Power Supply – 5V via micro USB port
  • Dimensions – 85 x 56 cm (PCB)
Click to Enlarge
Click to Enlarge

The board currently dual boots Android 5.1 and Lubuntu 14.04 from the eMMC flash, and while my sample came without heatsink, the final version will include a heatsink to ensure performance is stable even with higher loads. The firmware can already be downloaded, and the Linux 3.10 source code for the board is on github.MiQiI’ve got sample #2, cool! But less cool is that I’ve not been able to boot it with a 5V/2A power supply connected to the board. I’m investigating. Using another power supply, and the board automatically booted Lubuntu just fine.

RK3288_Raspberry_Pi

There will be two version of the board: one with 1GB RAM & 8GB storage for $35, and the other with 2GB RAM & 32GB flash for $69 to be launched on Indiegogo later on. You can find some more information in the forum announcement and comments.

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31 Replies to “MiQi Rockchip RK3288 Development Board using Raspberry Pi Form Factor to Sell for $35 and Up”

  1. “and the other with 2GB RAM & 32GHz”
    I think you mean 32GB, otherwise it would be a killer machine for sure 🙂

  2. ARM actually has drivers for for the Mali-76x with OpenCL support.

    http://malideveloper.arm.com/resources/drivers/arm-mali-midgard-gpu-user-space-drivers/

    Besides only having GLES support are there any other caveats? The kernel driver part of the Mali driver is open source so I believe that this means it could work on the mainline kernel too. I don’t know the status of the mainline kernel for the RK-3288. I’m probably missing something because there doesn’t seem to be a way to escape the madness of lack of proper GPU driver support on ARM.

  3. @ade
    3.10 is a LTS kernel and its EOL is oct 2017 https://kernel.org/category/releases.html
    so bugfixes are still backported but… is the 3.10 kernel used for this board up-to-date ? i doubt it is (i might be wrong though, didn’t check)

    also, if i remember correctly, i think android kernel is based on 3.10. that would explain why it is still used

  4. Anyone know a current price for the RK3288 SOC? It used to be expensive but if you can build a $35 board with it, it must be a lot cheaper now.

  5. @cnxsoft
    Even power requirements of four USB ports more than micro USB connector can pass without significant voltage drop.

  6. would be really awesome IF the 4 I2S output pair pins (for 8 channel output) of the SOC would be routed (accessible) to some pads

  7. This is nice, at the price.

    Am not able to see any Wi-Fi chip, let alone an antenna provision. I take it there’s none on-board?

  8. @Gabe
    No you need a Raspberry 3, ideal for boiling cup of coffee, running a 360p video for 3 mins soon gets the burning finger effect.

    Now remember children always ask a responsible adult before cooking with your Raspberry

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