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Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 vs Radxa ROCK 5B+: Comparison
Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 vs Radxa ROCK 5B+ gpu model compared
They are built to different briefs, and gpu model shows it, Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 Vivante GC7000UL against Radxa ROCK 5B+ Arm Mali-G610 MC4. There is a split on onboard storage as well, 8GB to 64GB eMMC on the Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 versus 2 GB on the Radxa ROCK 5B+. Memory is closer, 1GB to 4GB LPDDR4 on the Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 versus Up to 32GB on the Radxa ROCK 5B+. Soc model is not the same on both, Quad-Core Cortex-A53 up to 1.5GHz on the Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 versus Rockchip RK3588, octa-core on the Radxa ROCK 5B+. They differ on connectivity too, Gigabit Ethernet, RS485, CAN bus, digital I/O, optional 4G/LTE,... on the Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 versus USB 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI in and out, official... on the Radxa ROCK 5B+.
Which should you buy, Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 or Radxa ROCK 5B+?
The Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 is the one to take for factory floor Modbus/CAN protocol gateways and outdoor or harsh-environment IoT deployments, though it is not built for hobbyist or desktop projects and budget-constrained builds. Take the Radxa ROCK 5B+ for desktop replacement and home NAS builds, the rear M.2 NVMe slot, 2.5GbE, and PoE support combine into a genuinely strong package. It also earns its place with buyers wanting strong general performance without AI as the primary goal, the RK3588's eight-core design delivers real multitasking headroom. It is the wrong buy for buyers whose primary goal is serious AI or machine learning work, the NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano Super is the right choice for that specific need. Our rating of the Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 (7.5/10): A genuinely industrial-grade gateway for automation deployments, priced and built for reliability over raw performance. Our rating of the Radxa ROCK 5B+ (8.5/10): the most thoughtfully designed RK3588 board, with rear M.2 NVMe, 2.5GbE and PoE making it a genuinely strong desktop or NAS base.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- CompuLab
- Radxa ROCK 5B+
- Radxa
Model Number
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- IOT-GATE-iMX8
- Radxa ROCK 5B+
- Radxa ROCK 5B+
Memory
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- 1GB to 4GB LPDDR4
- Radxa ROCK 5B+
- Up to 32GBBest
SoC Model
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- Quad-Core Cortex-A53 up to 1.5GHz
- Radxa ROCK 5B+
- Rockchip RK3588, octa-core (4x 2.2-2.4GHz performance + 4x efficiency cores)
GPU Model
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- Vivante GC7000UL
- Radxa ROCK 5B+
- Arm Mali-G610 MC4
Onboard Storage
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- 8GB to 64GB eMMC
- Radxa ROCK 5B+
- 2 GB
Connectivity
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- Gigabit Ethernet, RS485, CAN bus, digital I/O, optional 4G/LTE, wide 9-36V DC input
- Radxa ROCK 5B+
- USB 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI in and out, official PoE HAT support
Which one should you pick?
Choose Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose Radxa ROCK 5B+ if you want the higher memory (Up to 32GB vs 1GB to 4GB LPDDR4).
Price comparison
| Retailer | Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 | Radxa ROCK 5B+ |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $399.00 View on Consumercarts listing |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
7.5 / 10 Expert Rating
A genuinely industrial-grade gateway for automation deployments, priced and built for reliability over raw performance.
Radxa ROCK 5B+
8.5 / 10 Expert Rating
The most thoughtfully designed RK3588 board, with rear M.2 NVMe, 2.5GbE and PoE making it a genuinely strong desktop or NAS base.