Hardkernel has quietly launched new fashions in its ODROID-H household of x86 single-board computer systems (SBCs), incrementing it to the ODROID-H4 collection — and with a top-end mannequin, the ODROID-H4 Extremely, providing an eight-core Intel Core i3 N305 “Alder Lake-N” processor with a clock velocity as much as 3.8GHz
“Hardkernel is introducing the ODROID-H4, H4+, and H4 Extremely, which is provided with greater efficiency and richer interfaces,” the corporate explains of its new boards. “We additionally applied little particulars following the ODROID-H3 suggestions we obtain from all of our customers — this implies you. The ODROID H4 collection doubles down on versatility by including the low price H4, with stripped down {hardware}, on one aspect of the H4+, and the 8-core H4 Extremely flagship on the opposite aspect of the H4+.”
Hardkernel’s new ODROID-H4 household of x86 single-board computer systems comes with a significant efficiency enhance over the -H3 vary. (📷: Hardkernel)
The newest ODROID-H fashions, delivered to our consideration by CNX Software program, begin with the ODROID-H4 and an Intel Processor N97 quad-core chip working at as much as 3.6GHz burst and with an Intel UHD Graphics built-in GPU (iGPU) with 24 execution models and a 1,200MHz burst frequency. The ODROID-H4+ retains the identical CPU, however provides 4 SATA-III ports lacking from its non-plus sibling. The ODROID-H4 Extremely, in the meantime, strikes to the extra highly effective Intel Core i3 N305 — boosting the utmost single-core clock velocity to three.8GHz whereas doubling the core rely to eight and rising the iGPU execution models to 32 at a quicker 1,250MHz.
The brand new ODROID-H4 follows on from the collection’ reboot in 2022, after Hardkernel’s determination to discontinue the vary after the ODROID-H4. The ODROID-H3 and higher-performance ODROID-H3 Plus introduced with them a selection of Intel Celeron N5105 or Pentium Silver N6005 “Jasper Lake” processors and help for as much as 64GB of DDR4 reminiscence. The brand new fashions are constructed on newer “Alder Lake-N” chips, with enhancements together with a shift from DDR5 to quicker DDR5 reminiscence and help for Intel’s Superior Vector Extensions 2 (AVX2) directions.
Different enhancements within the new boards in comparison with the sooner ODROID-H3 and -H3+ embrace a doubling of DisplayPort outputs to 2, together with one HDMI output, a doubling of SATA ports on all however the entry-level ODROID-H4 mannequin, and a rise in efficiency of round 36 % relying on workload — rising to 83 % for the ODROID-H4 Extremely. The trade-off, although, is a bigger footprint, that means the brand new boards aren’t appropriate with circumstances designed for older ODROID-H fashions — with Hardkernel planning its personal case design impressed by Nintendo’s GameCube console.
All fashions within the ODROID-H4 vary embrace two USB 2.0 and two USB 3.0 ports, an eMMC slot, an analog audio jack, both a single 2.5-gig-Ethernet within the ODROID-H4 or two within the -H4+ and -H4 Extremely fashions, enlargement enter/output (IO) ports with two I2C buses, three extra USB 2.0 ports, one UART bus, HDMI-CEC, and exterior energy button connectivity, and 4 PCI Specific Gen. 3 lanes uncovered on an M.2 slot designed primarily to be used with Non-Unstable Reminiscence Specific (NVMe) storage.
The transfer to Intel’s “Alder Lake-N” chips provides DDR5 help and AVX2 extensions, although limits RAM to 48GB of DDR5. (📷: Hardkernel)
There’s one regression in comparison with the older fashions, although: the place the ODROID-H3 household supported as much as 64GB of DDR4 reminiscence throughout two SODIMM slots, the brand new ODROID-H4 boards are restricted to 48GB of DDR5 whole.
The brand new ODROID-H4, ODROID-H4+, and ODROID-H4 Extremely are actually accessible to order on the Hardkernel retailer, priced at $99, $139, and $220 respectively.
