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The Radxa X4 is a credit card-sized single-board computer with a Intel N100 quad-core processor, support for up to 16GB of RAM, and an M.2 connector with support for PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe SSDs or other expansion cards.

First introduced in July, the Radxa X4 is now available for purchase with prices starting at around $60 at ALLNETCHINA when you order a model with 4GB of RAM and no storage. Select configurations are also available from ARACE.

At first glance, the little computer looks a lot like a Raspberry Pi Model B. Both computers feature 40-pin GPIO headers and a mix of USB, Ethernet, HDMI, and audio jacks.

But while Raspberry Pi's computers have ARM-based chips and rely on microSD cards or expansion boards with M.2 slots for storage, the Radxa X4 has an M.2 2232 connector and optional support for an eMMC flash storage module. Unlike most similarly-sized single-board PCs, the Radxa X4 doesn't seem to have a microSD card reader at all.

The X4 also supports faster wired network connections thanks to a 2.5 GbE Ethernet jack.  The the USB ports are faster too, with some ports supporting data transfer speeds up to 10 Gbps. And the Intel N100 processor is a 6-watt quad-core processor that should offer better CPU and graphics performance than the BCM2712 used in the Raspberry Pi 5. There's also broader support for a wide range of operating systems since the Intel N100 is an x86_64 chip.

Here's a run-down of some key specs for the Radxa X4:

Radxa X4 Specs Processor Intel N1004-cores / 4-threads up to 3.4 GHzIntel UHD graphics w/24EU up to 750 MHz6W TDP MCU Raspberry Pi RP2040 Cortex-M0+ dual-core microcontroller RAM 4GB, 8GB, or 16GBLPDDR5-4800 Storage M.2 2230 (PCIe 3.0 x4)eMMC module (optional)SPIL Flash for BIOS Ports 1 x 2.5 GbE LAN (PoE support through optional HAT)2 x micro HDMI 2.01 x 3.5mm audio combo3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (10 Gbps)1 x USB 2.0 Type-A (480 Mbps)1 x USB Type-C (for 12V/2A or higher power supply) Expansion 40-pin GPIO header (compatible with most Raspberry Pi HATs)Fan headerRTC battery header Wireless WiFi 5 + BT 5.0 (for models with 4GB RAM)WiFi 6 + BT 5.2 (for models with 8GB RAM or more) Dimensions 85 x 56mm3.35″ x 2.2″

Radxa says the inclusion of an RP2040 microcontroller is for "enhanced peripheral control," but there's also a boot selection switch that lets you put the RP2040 into USB mass storage mode for firmware uploads.

via CNX Software and Radxa Forum

This article was first published July 19, 2024 and most recently updated September 29, 2024 with information about pricing and availability. 

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