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Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC vs Radxa ROCK 5B+: Comparison
What is the difference between Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC and Radxa ROCK 5B+?
Onboard storage is the dividing line, Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC Up to 128GB eMMC against Radxa ROCK 5B+ 2 GB. On memory there is little in it, 4GB to 16GB LPDDR4 on the Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC versus Up to 32GB on the Radxa ROCK 5B+. They differ on soc model too, Octa-core on the Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC versus Rockchip RK3588, octa-core on the Radxa ROCK 5B+. Video decode is not the same on both, Hardware-accelerated 8K on the Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC versus Up to 8K at 60 fps on the Radxa ROCK 5B+.
Which should you buy, Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC or Radxa ROCK 5B+?
it is not the pick for buyers who want the smallest or cheapest RK3588S board available. The same goes for Linux enthusiasts who want easier OS installation via UEFI boot on RK3588S hardware. 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. Avoid it 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 Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC (7.5/10): the original RK3588S design, still notable for UEFI boot support that makes standard Linux installs far easier. 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
- Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC
- Firefly
- Radxa ROCK 5B+
- Radxa
Model Number
- Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC
- ROC-RK3588S-PC
- Radxa ROCK 5B+
- Radxa ROCK 5B+
Memory
- Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC
- 4GB to 16GB LPDDR4
- Radxa ROCK 5B+
- Up to 32GBBest
SoC Model
- Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC
- Octa-core (4x Cortex-A76 + 4x Cortex-A55)
- Radxa ROCK 5B+
- Rockchip RK3588, octa-core (4x 2.2-2.4GHz performance + 4x efficiency cores)
Onboard Storage
- Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC
- Up to 128GB eMMC
- Radxa ROCK 5B+
- 2 GB
Video Decode
- Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC
- Hardware-accelerated 8K
- Radxa ROCK 5B+
- Up to 8K at 60 fps
Which one should you pick?
Choose Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC 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 4GB to 16GB LPDDR4).
Price comparison
| Retailer | Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC | Radxa ROCK 5B+ |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $219.00 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
Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC
7.5 / 10 Expert Rating
The original RK3588S design, still notable for UEFI boot support that makes standard Linux installs far easier.
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.