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RK3588: The chip that powers SBC
Rockchip RK3588 is one of the popular options that drivers use for SBC or Mini PC. For example, our Kiwi-line products (Kiwi PI single board computers) also use this processor. In this article, we explain how this chip works, its specifications, and other information about this option. Rockchip RK3588 Chipset is an absolutely convenient options for SBCs.
First, let's check the specifications of this chip (see the table below). We can see that RK3588 features an 8-core 64-bit architecture (4x Cortex-A76 at 2.4-2.6 GHz and 4x Cortex-A55 at 1.8 GHz) with a GPU Arm-Mali-G610 MP4 and a 6 TOPS NPU. For example, our Kiwi Pi 5 Pro/Ultra uses this chip configuration (but Kiwi Pi 5 uses the RK3588S version), and it is suitable for any task you need to perform.
RK3588 Specification
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| CPU | 8-core 64-bit Arm® v8.2-A architecture:
|
| GPU | Arm Mali-G610 MP4, support for OpenGL ES 3.2, OpenCL 2.2, Vulkan 1.2 |
| NPU (AI Accelerator) | 6 TOPS performance (RKNN Toolkit support, TensorFlow, Caffe, ONNX, etc.) |
| Memory | Supports LPDDR4, LPDDR4x, LPDDR5, DDR4 (up to 32 GB, 4-channel, 2133 MHz) |
| Storage | eMMC 5.1, SD 3.0, UFS 2.1, SPI-NAND, SPI-NOR |
| Video Decode | 8K@60fps H.265/VP9 8K@30fps AVS2 4K@60fps H.264, VP8 |
| Video Encode | 8K@30fps H.265/H.264 |
| Display Output | Up to 3 independent displays:
|
| Camera Input | Up to 4 independent inputs:
|
| Connectivity | PCIe 3.0, USB 3.1, USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, GMAC, CAN bus |
| Other I/O | I²C, SPI, UART, GPIO, PWM, ADC |
| Process Node | 8 nm |
| Target Applications | AIoT, edge computing, industrial, automotive, multimedia, SBCs (e.g. Kiwi Pi 5, Orange Pi 5, Rock 5B, etc.) |
RK3588 vs RK3588S
As we mentioned, there is another version of RK3588 - RK3588S (Our SBC Kiwi Pi 5 uses this chip, also you can read the article about the comparison with Radxa Rock ). What are the differences?
| Feature | RK3588 | RK3588S |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 8-core (4× Cortex-A76 up to 2.4-2.6 GHz + 4× Cortex-A55 up to 1.8 GHz) | Same as RK3588 |
| GPU | Mali-G610 MP4 (supports OpenGL ES 3.2, Vulkan 1.2, OpenCL 2.2) | Same |
| NPU | 6 TOPS | 6 TOPS |
| Memory | LPDDR4/LPDDR4X/LPDDR5/DDR4, up to 32 GB, 4-channel | Same (but often paired with soldered onboard RAM/ROM in SBCs for cost reduction) |
| Video Decode | 8K@60fps H.265/VP9, 8K@30fps AVS2, 4K@60fps H.264 | Same |
| Video Encode | 8K@30fps H.265/H.264 | Same |
| Display Output | Up to 3 displays:
| Limited:
|
| Camera Input | Up to 4 independent cameras (MIPI-CSI2, DVP, up to 48 MP) | Fewer lanes: up to 2-3 cameras |
| Connectivity | Rich I/O:
| Cut-down I/O:
|
| Other I/O | SPI, I²C, UART, GPIO, PWM, CAN, ADC | Same but fewer total lanes available |
| Process Node | 8 nm | 8 nm |
| Target Devices | High-end SBCs (Radxa ROCK 5B, Firefly ITX-3588J, industrial PCs, edge servers) | Cost-optimized SBCs (Orange Pi 5, Kiwi Pi 5, NanoPC-T6, etc) |
In short, RK3588S is a cost-optimized version designed for smaller boards like Kiwi Pi 5, while RK3588 is used for more powerful SBs like our Kiwi Pi 5 Pro/Ultra. All chips built with 8nm technology, still powerful for AI tasks or applications.
So, why is RK3588 so convenient for SBCs?
The Rockchip RK3588 is a popular choice for making small computer boards. It has good speed and lots of input/output options, and it doesn’t use much power. Its 8-core processor (4 Cortex-A76 and 4 Cortex-A55) makes it capable of doing work similar to a desktop computer. It also has a Mali-G610 GPU for smooth graphics, has a built-in 6 TOPS NPU, which is really good for any AI tasks like finding objects and recognizing faces.
For SBC makers, the RK3588 is really helpful because it has many ways to connect. It supports fast interfaces like PCIe 3.0, USB 3.1, HDMI 2.1 (up to 8K output), multi-channel MIPI-CSI camera inputs, and quick storage options with eMMC, UFS, or NVMe. This means the same chip can be used for many different devices, from small hobby boards like Orange Pi 5 to industrial mini-PCs and edge AI servers.
RK3588 and RK3588S
Another reason the RK3588 is pretty useful is because it can grow with what you need. It can support up to 32 GB of RAM, also can handle 8K video work, has multiple screens, so developers don't have to choose between speed and how small the device is. The smaller RK3588S version is a cheaper option that has the same CPU, GPU, and NPU power but fewer I/O options.
Basically, the RK3588 has a good mix of quick computing, AI tools, multimedia features, and flexible input/output options—it's one of the best options now for people building SBCs, edge AI setups, or new IoT gadgets.
