The Allnet Radxa Rock 5C is a single-board computer (SBC) based on the Rockchip RK3588S2 64-bit octa-core processor, developed for demanding industrial and embedded applications. The board combines four Cortex®-A76 cores with a clock speed of 2.2 to 2.4 GHz and four Cortex®-A55 cores at 1.8 GHz, based on the Arm® DynamIQ™ architecture. This CPU configuration enables high computing performance while maintaining energy efficiency. The integrated graphics unit, Arm Mali™ G610MC4, supports decoding of H.265/VP9 up to 8K@60fps, H.264 up to 8K@30fps, and AV1 up to 4K@60fps, making the Rock 5C particularly suitable for multimedia applications and video processing. The integrated NPU offers up to 6 TOPs of computing power and supports various precision formats such as INT4, INT8, INT16, FP16, BF16, and TF32, enabling the SBC to be used for AI-based applications and machine learning.

Applications
The Radxa Rock 5C is suitable for applications requiring high computing performance, multimedia support, and scalability. These include industrial control systems, intelligent surveillance solutions, AI-based edge computing applications, media players, network devices, and embedded systems. Support for Debian, Ubuntu Linux, and Android 12 enables a flexible software environment for various use cases.

Features and Specifications in Detail
The board features LPDDR4x RAM in various capacities (2, 4, 8, 16, or 32 GB), allowing flexible adaptation to different requirements. Storage options include an eMMC socket and a Micro-SD card slot, enabling flexible and scalable storage solutions. Connectivity includes an HDMI 2.1 port (up to 8K) and a MIPI DSI port (up to 2K), supporting dual-display functionality. Network connectivity is provided by a Gigabit Ethernet port with PoE support (requires additional PoE HAT), as well as WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 with an external antenna connector. PoE (Power over Ethernet) allows power delivery through the network cable, simplifying installation in industrial or outdoor environments.

Technology Explained Simply
The Rockchip RK3588S2 processor is a powerful 64-bit octa-core chip consisting of two clusters: four high-performance Cortex-A76 cores for demanding tasks and four energy-efficient Cortex-A55 cores for background processes. The Mali G610MC4 GPU enables simultaneous playback of multiple high-resolution videos and supports modern video formats. The NPU with up to 6 TOPs is specifically optimized for AI and machine learning. The LPDDR4x memory architecture provides high bandwidth and low latency, which is crucial for compute-intensive applications. Dual-display support via HDMI and MIPI DSI allows simultaneous use of two screens, for example, for user interfaces and monitoring displays.

Compatibility and Accessories
The Rock 5C is compatible with various accessories that extend its functionality. These include antennas for WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4, which can be connected via the external antenna connector. For power supply, options include the Radxa Power PD 30W EU or a replacement power supply with USB-C connector. An eMMC-to-Micro-SD adapter allows the use of eMMC modules in Micro-SD format. Additionally, there is an EMMC 5.1 32GB module suitable for other platforms such as ODroid or Raspberry Pi. An EMMC-to-USB 3.1 adapter can be used for external use of eMMC modules.

Mounting and Installation
Installation of the Radxa Rock 5C requires a 5V USB-C power supply with at least 10 W power. When using PCIe 2.1 or USB 3.0, a minimum power of 25 W is required. The board features a 40-pin 0,3 cm ( 0,1 inch ) header providing access to various interfaces such as UART, SPI, I2C, GPIO, PWM, CAN, and ADC. This enables connection to sensors, actuators, and other peripheral devices. The operating temperature ranges from 0 °C to 50 °C, allowing use in controlled indoor and outdoor environments. Dimensions are 86 mm × 56 mm, enabling compact integration into devices and systems.

Operational Advantages
The Radxa Rock 5C offers high computing performance in a compact form factor. PoE support simplifies installation, especially in industrial environments where cable routing should be minimized. Dual-display support and diverse interfaces enable flexible use in various application scenarios. Software support for Linux distributions such as Debian and Ubuntu, as well as Android 12, provides a wide range of operating systems. Scalability via M.2 socket, PCIe FPC socket, and the 40-pin header allows individual customization to meet specific requirements.