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May 11, 2026 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Mind xPlay display and keyboard review using Khadas Mind and Mind 2 mini PCs

Khadas xPlay connected to Crowview USB C display

In this review, I’ll report my experience with the Khadas Mind xPlay display and keyboard using the Mind and Mind 2 mini PCs, as well as a CHUWI CoreBook Air Plus 16 laptop to test it as a standard external display. Using Mind xPlay with the Mind 2 mini PC I received the Mind xPlay with the Mind 2 Meteor Lake mini PC, and I already showed how to connect it and get started in the first part of the review. So I’ll continue the review with it initially. I used the EIZO monitor test website to evaluate the display panel itself. I went through all 13 tests, including dead pixel and gradients tests. The pattern above looks fine too, so I compare the Mind xPlay monitor to the 16-inch display of the ASUS Vivobook 16 to find differences. Both were set to maximum brightness. The xPlay delivers noticeably more […]

May 11, 2026May 12, 2026 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 6 Comments

Up to 256 MB FERRIT modular F-RAM storage device preserves critical data for up to 200 years

Machdyne’s FERRIT is a modular USB F-RAM storage device with a capacity of up to 256 MB and capable of storing data for up to 200 years with a virtually unlimited number of writes and high-radiation resistance. It builds upon the earlier Blaustahl F-RAM storage device that only offers 8KB capacity. The FERRIT device supports 8 MB to 256 MB by combining up to 256 individual 1 MB F-RAM ICs. The prototype below is housed in a metal frame and looks like a typical cluster solution. FERRIT specifications and key features: FERRIT-CY controller based on Raspberry Pi RP2040 MCU with USB-FS Type-C port FERRIT-M8 removable ferroelectric memory cards with up to 16MB capacity using 16x 1MB F-RAM ICs (double-sided: 2x 8 chips) FERRIT-16 backplane with slots for FERRIT-CY and 16x FERRIT-M8 connected over SPI/QSPI bus Max capacity – 256 MB+ through up to 256x memory devices (16 memory cards with 16 chips) […]

May 7, 2026May 7, 2026 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

Khadas Mind Graphics 2 and Mind xPlay display + keyboard review – Part 1: Unboxing, teardown, and first try

Khadas has sent us the Mind Graphics 2 dock, Mind xPlay portable display and keyboard, as well as the Mind 2 mini PC for review. In the first part of the review, I’ll start by listing specifications, an unboxing of all three packages, a teardown of the graphics dock, and a first try of the xPlay and Mind Graphics 2 with the mini PC. While the Mind 2 will be used for testing, I won’t go into details here since it’s quite similar to the Mind 2 AI Maker Kit we reviewed last year. Instead, in the next parts, I’ll do a review of the xPlay with it, the first-generation Mind, and maybe another platform with USB-C video output. I’ll follow that by detailed testing of the Khadas Mind 2, including graphics and AI performance with the built-in NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB card, and check all its features. […]

May 7, 2026May 7, 2026 by Debashis Das - 1 Comment

FalCAN Probe is an open-source, STM32-based USB to CAN/RS-485/RS-422 adapter

Most USB-to-bus adapters, including tools like CANTact Pro or MeatPi’s Ollie V1 and V2, typically support either CAN or RS-485/RS-422 as fixed-function serial devices. In contrast, the FalCAN Probe by Anders B. Nielsen is a multi-protocol USB adapter based on the STM32F042 microcontroller. The FalCAN Probe is a compact open-source USB Type-C board that connects a computer to CAN, RS-485, and full-duplex RS-422 networks. Instead of using a fixed USB bridge, it exposes the MCU’s native USB interface along with SWD and GPIOs, and can also be used as a small Arm Cortex-M0 development platform. FalCAN Probe specifications: MCU – STMicro STM32F042C6Tx Arm Cortex-M0 microcontroller @ 48 MHz with 32KB flash, 6KB SRAM Host Interface – USB 2.0 Full Speed via USB Type-C port Interfaces (non-isolated) CAN bus via Texas Instruments SN65HVD230 transceiver; enumerates as a GS_USB CAN device when jumper JP4 is open RS485 and full-duplex RS422 via dual […]

April 23, 2026 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 9 Comments

Beelink EX Mate Pro – A multi-function USB4 v2 80 Gbps dock with 2.5GbE, M.2 sockets, 140W charger, voice communication system, and more

Beelink EX Mate Pro is a multi-function USB4 v2 (80 Gbps) dock featuring four PCIe Gen4 sockets for M.2 SSDs, integrating a 140W charger with 96W USB PD charging for a laptop or mini PC, 2.5GbE networking, HDMI and USB4 video output, and a built-in quad-microphone array and speaker for voice interaction. Other features include a second 15W PD USB4 v2 port to connect peripherals like an external GPU (eGPU) or display, Bluetooth connectivity to convert the dock into a wireless speaker, USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 host ports, and buttons for volume control, microphone mute, etc… Beelink EX Mate Pro specifications: Storage – 4x M.2 PCIe Gen4 x1 sockets for NVMe SSDs Video Output HDMI port up to 4Kp60 USB4 v2 port Up to two independent displays Audio Speaker Quad-mic array with 5-meter range connected to B1 AI noise-cancellation chip (likely referring to Alif Semi Balleto B1) Bluetooth speaker […]

April 14, 2026April 14, 2026 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

192 MHz WCH CH32V205 RISC-V MCU offers a 480 Mbps USB 2.0 interface

WCH CH32V205 is a 32-bit RISC-V MCU clocked at up to 192 MHz with 32KB SRAM, 256KB flash, and a USB 2.0 high-speed Host/device interface with a 480 Mbps PHY. The new microcontroller also features another USB 2.0 full speed (12 Mbps) Host/Device interface, a USB PD port, eighty GPIOs, a 16-channel 12-bit ADC, a 16-channel touchkey interface, and other interfaces such as CAN Bus, USART, I2C, SPI, and QSPI. WCH CH32V205 specifications: MCU core – QingKe 32-bit RISC-V3B core processor up to 192 MHz Memory & Storage 32KB SRAM 256KB Flash Flexible Static Memory Controller (FSMC) Peripherals USB 480Mbps high-speed USB 2.0 controller and PHY Full-speed USB 2.0 controller and PHY USB PD and Type-C controller and PHY 8x USARTs, 2x I2C, 2x SPI , 1x QuadSPI 1-wire (default)/ 2-wire serial debug interface 1x CAN 2.0B Up to 80x GPIO with 16 external interrupts Programmable Protocol I/O Controller (PIOC). Note: […]

April 3, 2026April 4, 2026 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 8 Comments

Realtek RTL8159 10GbE to USB 3.2 adapters sell for about $55 and up

Realtek unveiled low-cost, low-power 10GbE RTL8127 (PCIe) and RTL8159 (USB 3.0) controllers at Computex 2025. Since then, we noted that RTL8127-based M.2 and PCIe 10GbE cards had already launched for as low as $35. However, a new X post by Jeff Geerling reminded me it was time to check on those RTL8159 10GbE to USB 3.2 adapters. So let’s do that now, starting with the Wisdpi WP-UT9 mentioned in the post/tweet. Wisdpi WP-UT9 WisdPi WP-UT9 specifications: Chipset – Realtek RTL8159 Ethernet – Up to 10GbE RJ45 port; backward compatible with 5 Gpbs, 2.5 Gbps, 1Gbps, and 10/100Mbps Ethernet USB – USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C port; backward compatible, but slower ports will impact performance; USB hubs/docks and long cables are not recommended either Misc – 2x LEDs – Amber (Link) / Green (Activity) Power Supply – Via USB-C port Dimensions – 59 x 29 x 13 mm Weight – 58.8 grams […]

April 2, 2026April 3, 2026 by Debashis Das - No Comments

Nuvoton NuMicro M3331 Cortex-M33 MCU features built-in ARGB LED controller, optional USB 2.0 OTG interface

Nuvoton’s new NuMicro M3331 is a series of 32-bit Arm Cortex-M33 MCUs clocked at 180 MHz that integrate an ARGB LED controller, a DSP instruction set, a single-precision FPU, and TrustZone security for smart factories, renewable energy systems, and consumer devices. In the past, we have written about other Cortex-M33 MCUs like the STM32U3B5/C5, Texas Instruments MSPM33C321A, Nordic Semi’s nRF54LM20A, and various others, but the Nuvoton M3331 series specifically features a built-in Enhanced LED Light Strip Interface (ELLSI) and up to 10 standard LLSI channels. This allows the MCU to natively support gaming ARGB Gen1 and Gen2 LED control protocols, completely offloading the CPU to run fluid, dynamic LED effects. It comes in two variants, the M3333 series and the M3334 series, with the latter adding a high-speed USB 2.0 OTG controller with an integrated PHY. NuMicro M3331 specifications: MCU core – Arm Cortex-M33 32-bit CPU @ 180 MHz with single-precision […]