$249 Rockchip RK3588 8K mini PC comes with up to 16GB RAM

Mekotronics R58X is an embedded mini PC powered by Rockchip RK3588 Cortex-A76/A55 processor with 16GB RAM, dual Gigabit Ethernet, 8K capable HDMI and DisplayPort video output ports, HDMI input, M.2 NVMe storage, and more.

This is yet another announcement of Rockchip RK3588 hardware following ROCK5 Pico-ITX SBC, Firefly ITX-3588J mini-ITX motherboard,  and Mixtile Blade 3 server board among others. Melotronix R58X may have different use cases, as it is suitable as an IoT gateway, an industrial PC, an edge computing platform, a video analytics server, digital signage, a vehicle control unit, and other embedded applications.

Mekotronics R58X RK3588 mini PC

Mekotronics R58X mini PC/SBC specifications:

  • SoC – Rockchip RK3588 octa-core processor with four Cortex-A76 cores @ 2.4 GHz, four Cortex-A55 cores @ 1.8 GHz, an Arm Mali-G610 MP4 GPU, a 6TOPS NPU, 8K 10-bit decoder, 8K encoder
  • System Memory – Up to 16GB LPDDR4x
  • Storage
    • eMMC 5.1 flash
    • 2x SATA 3.0 connectors + SATA power connector
    • Support for M.2 NVMe SSD
  • Video Output
    • 1x HDMI 2.1 port up to 8Kp60
    • 1x DisplayPort up to 8Kp60
  • Video Input – 1x HDMI 2.0, internal 2-lane MIPI CSI connector
  • VPU (in SoC)
    • Video Decoder
      • 8Kp60 H.265 VP9, AVS2
      • 8Kp30 H.264 AVC/MVC
      • 4Kp60 AV1
      • 1080p60 MPEG-2, MPEG-1, VC-1, VP8
    • Video Encoder – Real-time H.265/H.264 video encoding up to 8Kp30, also usable as a multi-channel encoder in parallel (at lower resolution)
  • Audio – Internal 4-pin audio header for microphone and speaker
  • Networking
    • 2x Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 port
    • Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (2T2R)
  • USB – 1x USB 3.0 Type-A port, 2x USB 2.0 Type-A ports, 1x USB Type-C port
  • Expansion
    • M.2 M-Key PCIe socket
    • 8-pin terminal block with RS232, RS485, 12V power output
    • Internal headers with 6x GPIO, I2C
  • Debugging – 1x USB Type-C port for serial console access
  • Misc – Power button, RTC + CR2032 battery
  • Power Supply – 12V/3A via DC jack or header
  • Dimensions – TBD (metal case with opening for wall mounting)
  • Temperature Range – – 40°C to 80°C

RK3588 embedded mini PCThe company will allegedly provide Android 12, Linux Ubuntu 18.04, and Debian 11 for the mini PC. Based on our recent article about the Mixtile board, I’d suspect only Android 12 will be available initially, and providing an Ubuntu 18.04 image in 2022 instead of Ubuntu 20.04, or Ubuntu 22.04 whose release is planned for next month, looks strange to me.

It should also be possible to purchase the DEV-RK3588-4D32 board only, especially since some interfaces like MIPI CSI and SATA are not accessible from the mini PC. That board may have been unveiled last December during the official RK3588 announcement at RKDC 2021 according to a post on CSDN in Chinese.

DEV-RK3588-4D32 board

Mekotronics told CNX Software the sample cost is $249 with a shipping lead time of just 7 days. I was unable to get the details about memory and storage capacity for the sample in time for this article, but I’d suspect at this price it should be 4GB RAM with 32GB eMMC flash. Again based on what I have read over the last few months, I doubt software, even Android, is ready for prime time. More details may be found on the product page, and we were told the download link to the first firmware image would be available on March 15. They also have a YouTube account with some demos. R58K can’t be purchased online right now, so you’d have to email them or call them to get more information and/or arrange a sample.

Share this:

Support CNX Software! Donate via cryptocurrencies, become a Patron on Patreon, or purchase goods on Amazon or Aliexpress

ROCK Pi 4C Plus
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
The comment form collects your name, email and content to allow us keep track of the comments placed on the website. Please read and accept our website Terms and Privacy Policy to post a comment.
16 Comments
oldest
newest
Noloqoq
Noloqoq
2 years ago

I wonder if the holes are in VGA support format, to skrew behind screen ? This would make it so convenient to have a clean desktop and easy to move desktop computer.

TLS
TLS
2 years ago

VESA mount you mean? If so, no, too wide housing for that.

PhilS
PhilS
2 years ago

Good to see an actual product with videos too.

Would like to see some real world benchmarks to compare against those previously posted.

I do wonder how many would pay this price instead of buying an Intel box though.

Noloqoq
Noloqoq
2 years ago

Just because rising price of energy.

tonny
tonny
2 years ago

Why oh why, they’re selling with these kind of price. What a pity. Looks like x86 powered mini-pc’s still better for price/perf than something like these. Just get intel NUC11PAHi3 (~$270 barebone), or mini-pc with intel T series procie, underclock and undervolt it. It’s super easy to upgrade and get compatible OS and drivers usually works OOTB. i5-8500T elitedesk 600 G4 (2nd hand, ~$340, 8/128GB) undervolt 170mV clock to 2500MHz, idle at 5-6watt. Youtube at < 20w (around 11-16watt). Dota2 at <= 44watt (~58 celcius ambient at > 30 degree). Silent. If want to frugal, tune it down to 2GHz… Read more »

Niki six
Niki six
8 months ago

They are selling the idea friend : )

Arm chips maybe perform better for Android / Linux, but please.. not for that price 🤣

domih
2 years ago

The question now is: who in Shenzhen has NOT announced an RK3588 board yet?!

Tim
Tim
2 years ago

Can these rk3588 capture HDMI video in 4K @ 120fps?

If so they are the least expensive device which can do this.

crashoverride
crashoverride
2 years ago

The datasheet (page 12) states the HDMI RX is only capable of up to 4k@60. However, the more practical issue will be the need for HDCP keys to decode protected content.

JohnG
JohnG
2 years ago

Rockchip boards are almost useless.

Theguyuk
Theguyuk
1 year ago

For those interested Michael Wang has posted YouTube videos of this device running Debian OS 11, Antutu and GLmark2 results.

Wesley pfeifer
Wesley pfeifer
1 year ago

I’m really interested in a sample R58x & I would leave great reviews. I love watching & streaming movies . Please respond

George Omoregie
George Omoregie
1 year ago

will android version play 3D, and dolby vision mkvs?
thanks.
George

William Barath
William Barath
1 year ago

There’s a typo: “Decoder: … 4Kp60 AVI” It’s AV1 not AVI.

Anastasius Cielto
1 year ago

Can someone please help.. I have the R58X but it comes with the mobile old version of Android 12 …I want to download and install the updated version of Android 12 for 2023…But i need the UPDATING TOOL V286…PLEASE HELP..

Khadas VIM4 SBC