Radxa ROCK 5B
- SoC:
- Rockchip RK3588
- RAM:
- 16GB LPDDR4X
- NPU:
- 6 TOPS
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Manufacturer: Radxa Last updated: 2026-09-22
Where to buy
- Radxa StoreGo to store
Radxa ROCK 5B (RK3588, 16GB) Review
Radxa ROCK 5B single-board computer with Rockchip RK3588 8-core SoC, up to 16GB LPDDR4X, PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slot, 6 TOPS NPU, dual 8K-capable video outputs, Raspberry Pi form factor.
One of the earliest RK3588 boards to reach the enthusiast market, the ROCK 5B has strong mainline Linux kernel support from Radxa and a large community, and lacks onboard WiFi in its base configuration (added via M.2 E-key module).
Overview
Radxa maintains active Debian and Ubuntu images for the ROCK 5B, and its PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slot supports both NVMe SSDs and compatible AI accelerator cards, making it a flexible base for edge compute projects.
Specifications
Identity
| Brand | Radxa |
|---|---|
| Model Number | ROCK 5B |
| Release Year | 2022 |
Processor
| SoC Model | Rockchip RK3588 |
|---|---|
| CPU Cores | 8 cores |
Graphics and AI
| NPU Present | Yes |
|---|---|
| AI Performance | 6 TOPS |
Memory
| RAM Capacity | 16 GB |
|---|---|
| RAM Type | LPDDR4X |
| RAM Configurable | No |
Storage
| microSD Slot | Yes |
|---|---|
| M.2 Slot | M.2 M-key 2280 |
| PCIe Interface | PCIe 3.0 x4 |
Networking
| Ethernet Speed | 2.5GbE |
|---|---|
| WiFi Standard | None |
Connectivity
| USB 3.x Ports | 2 ports |
|---|---|
| USB-C Ports | 1 ports |
Display
| Video Outputs | 2 outputs |
|---|---|
| Max Display Resolution | 8K30 |
| Video Connector Type | Mixed |
Expansion
| Camera Interface | Dual MIPI CSI |
|---|---|
| GPIO Compatibility | Raspberry Pi 40-pin |
Power
| Power Input | USB-C PD |
|---|
Physical and software
| Board Form Factor | Raspberry Pi Standard |
|---|---|
| Software Ecosystem | Armbian |
| CPU Architecture | ARM big.LITTLE |
|---|---|
| Memory | 16 GB |
| Price | 119 USD |
| Use Case | AI / Machine Learning |
Expert Review
Reviewed by Burooj Alam. Rated by us, not by users.
Best for
- Developers wanting strong mainline Linux support on RK3588 hardware
Not for
- Buyers wanting WiFi out of the box
FAQs
What are the key specifications of the Radxa ROCK 5B (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3588/Octa-Core Cortex-A76+A55/Up to 16GB LPDDR4X/6 TOPS NPU)?
The Radxa ROCK 5B (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3588/Octa-Core Cortex-A76+A55/Up to 16GB LPDDR4X/6 TOPS NPU) is a single board computer from Radxa. Key specs: Processor Rockchip RK3588, Quad Cortex-A76 @ 2.4GHz + Quad Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz, CPU Architecture ARM, GPU Mali-G610 MP4, Memory 16, Storage Type NVMe/M.2.
Will the Radxa ROCK 5B (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3588/Octa-Core Cortex-A76+A55/Up to 16GB LPDDR4X/6 TOPS NPU) work with my current setup?
The Radxa ROCK 5B (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3588/Octa-Core Cortex-A76+A55/Up to 16GB LPDDR4X/6 TOPS NPU) lists Processor is Rockchip RK3588, Quad Cortex-A76 @ 2.4GHz + Quad Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz. Check that against the hardware you already own before buying, since this is the field that most often decides whether a part fits.
Who is the Radxa ROCK 5B (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3588/Octa-Core Cortex-A76+A55/Up to 16GB LPDDR4X/6 TOPS NPU) best suited to?
It suits compact nas builds using the m.2 nvme slot, edge ai/vision projects using the 6 tops npu, 8k-capable media center or desktop linux use.
What are the drawbacks of the Radxa ROCK 5B (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3588/Octa-Core Cortex-A76+A55/Up to 16GB LPDDR4X/6 TOPS NPU)?
It is a poor fit for projects needing more than 16gb ram (see orange pi 5 plus), absolute beginners wanting raspberry pi-level documentation, battery-powered or ultra-low-power designs.