La Open RISC-V ISA little by little he is gaining ground on his journey towards conquest, towards the fight against Arm, which is his objective. An ISA with immense potential and that aims to be what Linux was for the software sector. About this, we have good news, because there are more and more products that are based on this architecture, and more and more possibilities for makers and professionals to start creating their projects and develop the ecosystem.
In this article I will show you some of the latest hardware news based on RISC-V… Both chips with IP cores based on RISC-V, as well as softcores, FPGAs, SBCs, motherboards with SoCs of this family, and much more.
At For more information about the RISC-V ISA, you can read these other related articles that we have been publishing on the blog, in addition to the new ones that will come.
Raspberry Pi Pico 2: New Generation of Microcontrollers
Raspberry Pi Pico 2 It is a development board based on the new Raspberry Pi RP2350 microcontroller. This chip offers two core options: dual-core RISC-V or dual-core Cortex-M33. You can get it for approximately 5 euros.
Features:
- Processor: Dual-core RISC-V and Cortex-M33 at 150 MHz.
- Conference proceedings: 520 KB of SRAM and 4 MB of flash.
- Connectivity: USB, GPIO, SPI, I2C, PWM, ADC.
- Safety: It includes features like Trustzone, Secure boot and SHA-256.
El RP2350 is an evolution of the RP2040 with greater performance, memory and security options. In addition, it offers flexibility in the choice of the processor core. However, Raspberry Pi Pico 2 maintains compatibility with the existing ecosystem, but adds new possibilities thanks to powerful hardware and security features. Its launch is scheduled for the end of 2024.
Geniatech XPI-7110: A powerful and versatile RISC-V SBC
If you're looking for something more powerful, like a Raspberry Pi based on a RISC-V chip, rather than the usual Arm, then you're also in luck, as this other hardware has now been released. He Geniatech XPI-7110 is a new development board based on the StarFive JH7110 RISC-V processor. With a similar size to the Raspberry Pi 3, it offers:
- Great power: RISC-V quad-core processor, GPU for graphics and video, and up to 8GB of RAM.
- Connectivity: Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, multiple USB ports, HDMI and connectors for cameras and displays.
- Flexibility: GPIOs compatible with Raspberry Pi, microSD slot and support for various operating systems (Linux, Android).
- Robustness- Designed for commercial and industrial use, with an estimated useful life of 10 years.
In summary, the XPI-7110 is an excellent choice for those looking for a powerful and versatile development platform based on the RISC-V architecture, with a compact size and wide compatibility. A new product that joins the increasingly long list, such as the Milk-V Mars, the PineTab-V, Pine64 Star64 SBC, Milk-V Meles SBC, or those from SiFive and other companies. Fundamental products to test and start developing under the RISC-V platform and fully compatible with Linux…
Efinix Introduces Topaz: Low-Power RISC-V FPGAs for Mass Production
On the other hand, another novelty in recent weeks based on RISC-V is this other device. In this case it is a SoC with FPGA to be able to develop your own circuits. I am referring to Efinix Topaz, a new family of FPGAs Low-power with integrated RISC-V processors intended for high-volume applications. In this case it stands out for:
- Low energy consumption: Optimized for efficiency while maintaining performance.
- RISC-V cores (Optional)- Up to four integrated RISC-V cores for software execution.
- High speed interfaces- Support for PCIe Gen3, MIPI, LPDDR4 and 12,5Gbps data transfer.
- Configurable memory: Up to 19,22 Mbits of integrated memory with flexible options.
- Multiple package options- Available in various sizes to suit different needs.
- Long useful life: Efinix guarantees supply until at least 2037, which guarantees its availability for applications that need greater technological stability, such as industrial ones, for example for industrial robotics with artificial vision, industrial 3D printers, and other control systems.
Compared to Efinix's previous family of Titanium SoCs, the new Topaz offers fewer features for a smaller size and lower power consumption. Additionally, Topaz targets high-volume, cost-sensitive applications. However, it must be said that specific pricing and availability information is not yet available, but you can find more information on the product page and in the Efinix press release.
Milk-V Jupiter RISC-V Motherboard for Mini-ITX
The motherboard should also be highlighted. Milk-V Jupiter RISC-V Mini-ITX and compatible with Linux distros, which can run quite smoothly. Regarding the hardware of this motherboard, we can highlight:
- Model: Milk-V Jupiter RISC-V
- Form factor: Mini-ITX
- SoC: Spacemit X60 SoC (eight cores, 1,8 GHz)
- GPU: PowerVR B-Series BXE-2-32 (integrated)
- RAM: 15,5 GB (available for Linux), although it actually has 16GB installed. Unfortunately it comes integrated, it is LPDDR and you cannot add a module.
- Storage: 2GB NVMe M.256 SSD (not included)
- Network: two Gigabit Ethernet ports, and Wi-Fi 6 wireless connectivity
- Ports: HDMI port, USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, PCIe slot (for external graphics cards, compatible with the usual GPUs used for x86, such as Radeon or GeForce...)
Certainly one great board to install in your computer and start using RISC-V, and see what this architecture is capable of doing. Additionally, whether you are a Linux kernel or software package developer, you will like to work natively in RISC-V and compile without the need for cross-compilation, creating native binaries from a true RISC-V platform…
There are already many projects around RISC-V for makers and developers, joining all of these to the ASUS Tinker V, SiFive Freedom Metal, HiFive Unleashed, StarFive VisionFive 2, Pine64 PinePhone Pro, and even laptops that we have talked about in this same page...And this does not stop here, new products will continue to come out, better and better, more and more numerous. RISC-V will conquer both embedded electronics and IoT in general, as well as mobile devices, PCs, and even the server and HPC sector...