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Jul 08, 2023

Sipeed unveils RISC

Sipeed has unveiled three new hardware platforms based on the LM4A RISC-V system-on-module found in their LicheePi 4A SBC, namely the Lichee Cluster 4A cluster for native RISC-V compilation, the

Sipeed has unveiled three new hardware platforms based on the LM4A RISC-V system-on-module found in their LicheePi 4A SBC, namely the Lichee Cluster 4A cluster for native RISC-V compilation, the Lichee Pad 4A 10.1-inch tablet running Android 13 or Debian, and the Lichee Console 4A a portable Linux console with a small 7-inch display and a built-in keyboard.

As a quick reminder, the Sipeed LM4A SoM is based on the Alibaba T-Head TH1520 quad-core RISC-V processor @ 1.8 to 2.5 GHz that has just gotten some support in Linux 6.5, comes with up to 16GB RAM and up to 64 GB eMMC flash, integrates two Gigabit Ethernet PHY, and exposes all I/Os through a 260-pin SO-DIMM connector. We’ve previously noticed the TH1520 module delivers performance similar to the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 and even more when using a customized toolchain.

All new Sipeed hardware platforms feature an LM4A module, but the Lichee Cluster 4A supports up to seven RISC-V system-on-modules and the following interfaces:

The cluster runs Debian with distcc + Zabbix pre-installed for demonstration. A Linux 6.4 kernel build takes 64 minutes on one module, and 15 minutes with seven modules.

Pine64’s PineTab-V RISC-V tablet based on the StarFive JH7110 SoC is getting some competition with the Lichee Pad 4A tablet equipped with a more powerful TH1520 RISC-V SoC. But note that none of them can be considered consumer tablets, and they are sold as “development kits” or “Android development platforms”.

Lichee Pad 4A specifications:

Sipeed provides Android 13 and Debian support for the RISC-V tablet/Android development platform.

The final product – the Lichee Console 4A – is a portable Linux terminal with a keyboard and a 7-inch display.

Lichee Console 4A specifications:

Sipeed says the Linux console supports Debian or PolyOS, and can run VS Code.

None of the three platforms above shows up in the Wiki for LM4A, so it’s unclear where to download the images. There’s a preview Yocto SDK that has not been updated in four months.

Maybe we just need to be patient, as none of the new RISC-V devices are currently selling. They’ll all be sold on the Sipeed Aliexpress store starting with the Lichee Cluster 4A scheduled to launch next week, and the Lichee Pad 4A and Lichee Console 4A will become available in September or October. Sipped mentions a $299 price tag in the Twitter/X announcement, but it’s unclear for which device it is… The RISC-V tablet and console can be “pre-ordered” on Sipeed website by paying $10 for a $20 coupon code to be redeemed once the products are launched on Aliexpress.

Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.

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