Radxa ROCK 5T A Compact Powerhouse Packing Mini-ITX Features into a Small Form Factor

The Radxa ROCK 5T is a highly capable single-board computer (SBC) that brings the features of the larger ROCK 5 ITX mini-ITX motherboard into a compact 110x80mm PCB. Built around the powerful Rockchip RK3588 or RK3588J SoC, this SBC is available in both commercial and industrial-grade variants, making it a versatile solution for a wide range of applications, from embedded systems to high-performance computing.

Key Features and Specifications

SoC – Rockchip RK3588 or RK3588J (industrial grade)
CPU – Octa-core processor with four Cortex-A76 cores @ up to 2.2 GHz (industrial) / 2.4 GHz (commercial), four Cortex-A55 cores @ up to 1.8 GHz
GPU – Arm Mali G610MC4 GPU
VPU –

• 8Kp60 10-bit H.265 / VP9 / AVS2 / AV1 decoder
• 8Kp30 H.264 decoder
• 8Kp30 H.265 / H.264 encoder
  AI Accelerator – 6 TOPS NPU

System Memory – 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 24GB, or 32GB 64-bit LPDDR5

Storage –

• 2x M.2 2280 sockets for NVMe SSD (PCIe 3.0 x2)
• MicroSD card socket
• 4x SATA ports
• Optional onboard 16GB to 128GB eMMC flash
• Optional SPI Flash for Bootloader

Video Output –

• 2x HDMI port, one up to 8Kp60, the other up to 4Kp60
• 1x USB-C with DisplayPort Alt. mode up to 4Kp60
• 1x 4-lane MIPI DSI connectors
• 1x eDP with touch panel support
• Up to four independent displays supported up to 4K + 4K + 4K + 2K resolutions or 8K + 4K + 2K resolutions (3x displays)

Video Input –

• HDMI input up to 4Kp60
• 2x 4-lane MIPI CSI connectors (also configurable as 4x 2-lane MIPI CSI)

Audio –

• 3.5mm headphone jack with microphone input
• Digital microphone via FPC connector
• 3.5mm microphone Jack
• Front audio header
• Optical S/PDIF output

Networking –

• 2x 2.5 Gbps Ethernet RJ45 ports, one with optional PoE support
• WiFi –
• Commercial (RK3588) – Wi-Fi 6 & Bluetooth 5.2 module with two IPEX antenna connectors
• Industrial (RK3588J) – Wi-Fi 6E & Bluetooth 5.3 module with two IPEX antenna connectors
• M.2 E-Key socket for WiFi 6 module
• Cellular – M.2 Key-B 3042 socket and Nano SIM card slot for 4G LTE/5G connectivity

USB –

• 2x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A ports
• 2x USB 2.0 Type-A ports
• 1x USB 3.1 Gen 1 OTG/Host Type-C port
• 2x USB 2.0 via front USB header

Expansion – 40-pin (mostly) Raspberry Pi-compatible GPIO header

Miscellaneous –

• Power and Recovery buttons
• RGB LED for power indicator, system status, and user
• PWM fan connector
• RTC battery connector
• RTC socket (CR1220 battery)
• Front Panel header for Power Button / Reset Button / Status LED

Power Supply –

• 12V DC power barrel jack (55x25mm)
• Standard 24-pin ATX power supply interface
• PoE Header (additional PoE module required)

Dimensions – 110 x 80mm

Temperature Range –

• Commercial (RK3588) – Recommended: 0 to 60°C
• Industrial (RK3588J) – TBD, up to -40 to +85°C

Compliance – FCC/CE

The Radxa ROCK 5T is designed to deliver the functionality of the larger ROCK 5 ITX mini-ITX motherboard in a more compact and efficient form factor. Unlike the ROCK 5 ITX, which is limited to commercial applications, the ROCK 5T is available in both commercial and industrial-grade variants, making it suitable for harsher environments.

Some features of the mini-ITX motherboard, such as the 24-pin ATX connector, front panel header, four SATA connectors, two USB 3.1 Type-A ports, and the M.2 Key-E socket for wireless, have been omitted in the ROCK 5T. However, these changes are offset by the inclusion of soldered-on Wi-Fi 6/6E and Bluetooth 5.x modules, which save space and improve integration.

The ROCK 5T also introduces new features, such as a 24GB RAM option, a 40-pin GPIO header compatible with Raspberry Pi HATs, and an M.2 Key-B socket for cellular connectivity. Additionally, the RTC battery socket has been replaced with a 2-pin connector, further streamlining the design.

The Radxa ROCK 5T is a feature-packed SBC that combines the capabilities of the larger ROCK 5 ITX motherboard into a more compact form factor. With its powerful Rockchip RK3588 SoC, extensive connectivity options, and support for multiple operating systems, the ROCK 5T is an excellent choice for applications requiring high performance in a small footprint. Whether for industrial use, multimedia applications, or embedded systems, the ROCK 5T delivers exceptional versatility and performance.

The ROCK 5T supports the same software as its predecessors, running on a Debian-based Radxa OS and Android. For more details, visit the documentation website and the productpage. The commercial version of the ROCK 5T SBC is available for purchase on AraceTech at $139.50 for the 16GB RAM variant and $219.50 for the 32GB RAM variant. If you're unfamiliar with the ROCK 5 ITX+, you can find it on AliExpress along with additional information on its productpage.