- Maybe you missed it? Orange Pi 5 Review.
- OrangePi 4A: An Exclusive Preview of Specifications, Features, and Pricing.
OrangePi 4A: A more robust and affordable RISC-V single-board computer.
Following the previous OrangePi RV release, a new OrangePi 4A SBC (Single Board Computer) is launched, powered by the robust Allwinner T527 octa-core Cortex-A55 processor, complemented by a HiFi4 DSP and a multicore RISC-V processor, making it ideally suited for industrial-grade applications. It features an impressive 2TOPS NPU for advanced AI acceleration, with options for either 2GB or 4GB of LPDDR4/4X RAM. This device excels in video performance, capable of H.265 and H.264 video decoding at 4K@60fps and H.264 encoding at 4K@25fps. Furthermore, it offers a diverse range of connectivity options, including Gigabit Ethernet, PCIe 2.0, USB 2.0, MIPI-CSI, MIPI-DSI, and a flexible 40-pin expansion interface, fully compatible with operating systems such as Ubuntu, Debian, and Android 13.
OrangePi 4A Specifications
| Processor | T527, 8-core ARM [email protected] HIFI4 Audio DSP@600MHz RISC-V@200MHz GPU:G57 MC1 VPU:H.265 4K@60fps decoding, H.264 4K@60fps decoding, H.264 4K@25fps encoding NPU:2TOPS |
| Memory | LPDDR4/4X: 2GB/4GB (optional) |
| Storage | eMMC module (optional): (optional)：16GB/32GB/64GB/128GB (optional) SPI flash：128Mb(default)、256Mb (optional) M.2 M-KEY socket：PCIe2.0 NVMe SSD uSD card slot：supports up to 128GB uSD card |
| Wi-Fi + Bluetooth | Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 2-in-1 module Wi-Fi 5.0+BT 5.0, BLE |
| Ethernet | 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet |
| Display | 1* HDMI TX 2.0 interface up to 4K@60fps 1* 4-lane MIPI-DSI 1* eDP1.3 |
| Camera | 1* 2-lane MIPI-CSI camera interface 1* 4-lane MIPI-CSI camera interface |
| USB | 1*USB Type-A 2.0 3*USB Type-A 2.0 HOST 1*USB 2.0 HOST, reserved for customer expansion |
| ADC | Reserved 4Pin connector, can access 2-lane ADC, maximum input 1.8V |
| Audio | 3.5mm headphone jack audio input/output |
| Buttons | 1* BOOT，1*RESET，1 *PWR ON |
| RTC | 2Pin spare battery connector (Pitch=1.27mm) |
| 40Pin | 40Pin function expansion interface supports the following interface types: GPIO、UART、I2C、SPI、PWM |
| Debug | 3Pin debug serial port |
| Power supply | Type-C 5V 5A DC Input |
| Supported OS | Ubuntu、Debian、Android13 |
| PCB | 89mm*56mm*1.6mm |
| Weight | 52g |
Examining Board Design and Layout
The OrangePi 4A, as depicted in the photo below, provides an impressive array of interfaces for seamless connectivity. Orange Pi has also incorporated four USB 2.0 host ports. Is this a dealbreaker? Likely not for a single-board computer powered by an 8-core processor. Additionally, the company has equipped the board with an M.2 2280 socket for installing NVMe SSD cards, offering significant expansion potential. There’s also an eMMC socket available for various detachable eMMC chips; however, in most scenarios, a high-speed read/write SD card will suffice.
Powered by an Allwinner T527 SoC (System on chip)
The Allwinner T527 boasts a sophisticated hybrid architecture that integrates both ARM and RISC-V cores. It is equipped with an octa-core ARM Cortex-A55 CPU capable of reaching speeds of up to 1.8 GHz, alongside an E906 RISC-V core operating at up to 200 MHz. This powerful combination not only delivers exceptional performance but also offers remarkable versatility, making it an ideal choice for a wide range of industrial and commercial applications.
Perfectly suited for audio-related applications.
The board features a HiFi4 Audio DSP, a cutting-edge Digital Signal Processor (DSP) specifically engineered for exceptional audio, voice, and speech processing applications. Here are some key features and advantages of the HiFi4 Audio DSP:
Key Features
- Performance: Operates up to 600 MHz for high processing power in demanding DSP applications.
- Architecture: Supports 32-bit fixed and floating-point operations for complex audio processing.
- Applications: Ideal for multichannel audio processing, digital assistant front-end processing, neural network ASR, and wake word detection.
- Codec Support: Handles the latest object-based codecs for TVs, STBs, and soundbars efficiently.
- Safety: Compliant with ISO 26262 standards for automotive safety.
Advantages
- High DSP Performance: Doubles HiFi 3z DSP performance for intensive tasks like FFT and FIR filters.
- Neural Network Capabilities: Combines high DSP and neural network performance, ideal for reliable far-field voice assistants.
- Software Compatibility: Compatible with 300+ HIFI-optimized audio codecs and enhancement software.
- Power Efficiency: Power-efficient design provides high performance for battery-powered devices.
The HiFi4 Audio DSP is perfectly designed for use in smart speakers, home entertainment systems, automotive infotainment, and various other audio-rich settings.
Applications Across Multiple Industries
The OrangePi 4A provides a versatile platform ideal for a wide range of applications. It is adaptable for uses such as industrial control, commercial displays, retail payment systems, educational purposes, robotics, vehicle terminals, visual co-driving, edge computing, and power distribution management, among others.
Price and Available
Orange Pi presents two variants with the following pricing: the 2GB RAM edition is anticipated to retail for around $35, while the 4GB RAM model is expected to be priced at $40. These prices do not include shipping costs, yet they remain remarkably affordable considering the specifications and value for the Buck they offer. Regarding availability, this information is quite recent. In the meantime, feel free to explore the Official Orange Pi store on AliExpress.
