In this section, we’ll go over the features of the Orange Pi RK3399, including the SBC’s attached ports, chips, and other hardware.

Ports

The Orange Pi RK3399 has numerous ports, including common ones such as an HDMI and less common ones like the SPDIF port. In this sub-section, we’ll be going over just the main ones, but you can also look at the diagram on the Orange Pi website to see all of them.

In comparison to the popular Raspberry Pi 3, the RK3399 has significantly more ports than the Raspberry Pi 3. While both SBCs have a Micro SD slot, the Orange Pi also has a SIM card slot, unlike many other SBCs.

Besides those more unique features, the Orange Pi RK3399 boasts a bunch of other ports, including four USB 2.0 ports and one USB 3.0 Type-C port. It also has a lot of other miscellaneous ports, including camera, audio, display, and HDMI. Like many other SBCs (including the Raspberry Pi 3), the RK3399 is equipped with a 40-pin expansion header.

Chips

This SBC has many chips. The first being the four RAM chips (2 GB/4 GB DDR3) on the RK3399. The DDR3 RAM is a unique feature for this computer, as most of the SBCs made around this same time have DDR4 memory.

On a less cynical note, the Orange Pi RK3399 has a 16 GB eMMC flash, which is four times the amount found on the Raspberry Pi 3! There is also the integrated Wi-Fi plus BT combo module for a better wireless connection.

The computer also has an ARM Mali-T860 MP4 quad-core GPU for excellent graphics and is entirely compatible with OpenGL ES 1.1, 2.0, 3.0, and 3.1, OpenVG 1.1, OpenCL, and DX1. The SBC’s GPU also supports AFBC.

Finally, we can’t forget the main chip, the Rockchip RK3399. This chip is commonly found in SBCs, even other Orange Pi ones, and is the powerhouse of this computer. It’s a 64-bit ARM with both a dual (A72) and a quad cortex (A53). The core can use up to a 2.0 GHz frequency and also has a separate Neon compressor.

Other Hardware

The Orange Pi RK3399 has even more hardware, though, such as a speaker and microphone. There are also several buttons, including a power on and off, volume + and -, multiple reset, recovery, menu, and return. All of these features aren’t found on a Raspberry Pi 3.

The RK3399 also comes with a Wi-Fi antenna. You’ll find five sensors, including a Hall effect sensor (magnet sensor) and a light sensor on this computer. For comparison, the Raspberry Pi 3 doesn’t have any included sensors, so the RK3399 is excelling in this area.

On the face of it, the Orange Pi RK3399 can look a bit messy, but that’s just because it’s jam-packed with great features. The board is part of a newer generation of SBCs that are more compact without sacrificing any features.

A Few Shortcomings

On the downside, the Orange Pi RK3399 gave up some computing power and speed in return for more features. As mentioned, the RK3399 has the older DDR3 RAM with the same processor used in previous versions. The Pi does have 2 GB/4 GB of DDR3 RAM, but this doesn’t make up for the fact that the SBC still uses an out-of-date type of RAM.

The board, despite having an excellent Wi-Fi module, still uses 1×1 Ethernet, which is an older version. Although many newer computers use 1×1, it seems a little strange that a 2019 SBC model would have a dual-band Wi-Fi module without a 2×2 Ethernet chip.

To Summarize

The Orange Pi RK3399 is very capable and has many features that gear towards hobbyist’s DIY projects. This SBC is one to reckon with, but it’s not without its drawbacks, such as the DDR3 RAM. The ports are also very cramped, and there might be space issues if you were to use every port on the board.

Purchasing will, in the end, depend on what you want to use this SBC for. If you need an OctoPrint server or want to build a small DIY project such as a speaker, this board has got your back and is more than capable. However, if you’re going to use this SBC for a small tablet or computer, the results might be sub-par due to the board’s small amount of computing power (2 GB/4 GB DDR3).

Like any other SBC, it’s important to look at the Orange Pi’s specs to ensure it can handle how you plan to use it. So, here they are:

• CPU: Dual-core Cortex-A72 and quad-core Cortex-A53
• GPU: ARM quad-core GPU
• Onboard flash: 16 GB high-speed eMMC
• RAM: 2 GB/4 GB DDR3
• Connectivity: 2.4/5 GHz dual-band Wi-Fi, 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
• Serial interfaces: 13 MP camera, speaker for audio output, on-board microphone
• Sensors: G-sensor, gyroscope, Hall effect sensor, light sensor, compass (five in total)
• Ports: Four USB 2.0 ports, an audio port, two camera ports, an Ethernet port, two HDMI ports, a USB Type-C port, 40 pin headers, a TF card slot, a SIM card slot
• Power: Dual 7.4 V battery; USB Type-C 5 V/3 A
• Dimensions and weight: 99 × 129 mm; 48 g

Check out LinxGizmos’ page all about the Orange Pi RK3399 to learn more about the SBC.

Want to find an Orange Pi RK3399? Here are the main distributors:

Orange Pi RK3399

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