EmbedFire LubanCat 4 card computer, also known as LubanCat 4, is a feature-packed Rockchip RK3588S Single Board Computer (SBC) launched by Yehuo Electronic. This compact board measuring 85x56mm offers a wide range of functionalities, including Ethernet, USB, mini PCIe, HDMI 2.1, SIM card slot, microSD card holder, and more.

EmbedFire LubanCat 4 Specifications:

• SoC: Rockchip RK3588S
  • CPU: Octa-core processor with 4x Cortex-A76 cores up to 2.2-2.4 GHz and 4x Cortex-A55 cores up to 1.8 GHz
  • GPU: Arm Mali-G610 GPU with support for OpenGL ES 3.2, OpenCL 2.2, and Vulkan 1.2
  • VPU: 8Kp60 video decoder and 8Kp30 video encoder
  • AI Accelerator: 6 TOPS NPU
• System Memory: 4/8/16GB LPDDR4X
• Storage: Options include no eMMC/32/64/128GB, microSD card socket
• Video Output: Mini HDMI 2.1, 2x MIPI DSI connectors, USB Type-C interface supporting DP protocol
• Networking: Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 port, optional WiFi or cellular mini PCIe module
• USB Ports: 3x USB 2.0 Type-A interfaces, 1x USB 3.0 Type-A interface, 1x USB 3.0 Type-C interface
• Expansion: Mini PCIe interface, 40-pin Raspberry Pi-compatible GPIO header
• Misc: RTC battery connection socket, 5V fan header for cooling
• Power Supply: 5V/4A DC input via USB Type-C
• Dimensions: 85 x 56 mm

The board supports various operating systems including Android 13, Debian, Ubuntu, and ROS, all available on their GitHub repository. However, there is limited documentation available for the board at the moment.

The EmbedFire LubanCat 4 SBC is available for purchase on AliExpress with prices starting at around $110 for the 4GB RAM version without eMMC. This board offers a Raspberry Pi-sized solution powered by the robust Rockchip RK3588S SoC, making it a compelling choice for developers and enthusiasts looking to explore various projects in the server, Linux, DevOps, and home lab environments.

Source: CNX Software – Embedded Systems News.

Prusa3D has announced the release of the Original Prusa MK3.5 upgrade kit, which is already shipping to customers. This major upgrade brings many useful features from the MK4 to the MK3S+, making it a cost-effective way to get the MK4’s features on your MK3S/+.

One of the biggest changes in the MK3.5 is the hardware-based support for Input Shaper and Pressure Advance, which promises a massive speed boost. Thanks to the 32-bit embedded xBuddy platform, the MK3.5 is claimed to be up to two times faster than the MK3S+.

The upgrade process should be straightforward and estimated to take around 2 hours to install. The MK3.5 also comes with a full-color LCD panel, allowing for print file preview, easier configuration and navigation. It also has built-in support for remote printer management via Prusa Connect. The MK3.5 can easily connect to an existing network via ethernet cable or Wi-Fi, allowing for remote printer management and the ability to send print files directly to the printer.

The Original Prusa MK3.5 upgrade kit is now available in the Prusa3D e-shop. It includes everything needed to give your MK3S+ a major refresh. Prusa3D also offers bigger upgrades, such as the MK3.9 Upgrade and a full MK3 to MK4 upgrade.

The TerraMaster D5 Hybrid is a USB enclosure that supports up to two hard drives and three NVMe SSDs, providing a combined total of up to 68TB of storage.

The D5 Hybrid has space for two 3.5 or 2.5-inch hard drives with storage capacities of up to 22TB each, as well as three M.2 2280 slots for NVMe SSDs of up to 8TB each. This allows users to take advantage of the higher data transfer speeds of SSDs for “hot” storage that requires frequent access, while using the hard drives for archival or “cold” storage of less frequently used data.

It’s important to note that the data transfer speeds are limited by the USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) connections supported by the enclosure, which means that the maximum transfer speed will be 980MB/s regardless of the SSDs used.

The enclosure supports RAID 0 for maximum storage capacity, but it does not offer any redundancy. It also supports RAID 1 mirroring for redundant data, JBOD, or single disk modes.

The D5 Hybrid measures 222 x 154 x 119mm and contains acoustic materials to reduce noise. The package includes a 40W power supply, and the company states that a fully loaded enclosure with hard drives and SSDs will consume up to 30 watts under heavy load or 10 watts while idle.

The TerraMaster D5 Hybrid is currently available for purchase for $220 from TerraMaster

Source: Liliputing.

The Waveshare PCIe To M.2 adapter is an affordable PCIe to M.2 HAT+ module designed specifically for the Raspberry Pi 5.

It supports PCIe Gen2 and Gen3 SSDs and is compatible with standard SSD sizes of 2230/2242. The adapter features status indicator LEDs, a power monitoring chip, an EEPROM, and a cooling fan vent to manage temperatures during heavy use. This adapter is not the first of its kind for the Raspberry Pi 5, as other options like the PineBerry Pi’s HatDrive and the Pimoroni NVMe Base have been previously explored. The Waveshare PCIe To M.2 adapter shares a similar form factor with Waveshare’s PoE HAT(F), which uses the new HAT+ standard to provide 24W of power to the Raspberry Pi 5.

The adapter’s specifications include compatibility with Raspberry Pi 5 SBC, M.2 SSD interface compatibility, a compact form factor, status indicator LEDs, an EEPROM, and a power monitoring chip.

The package includes the PCIe To M.2 HAT, a double-row 20-pin header, a 16-pin cable, and a set of standoffs for mounting. The product dimensions are 65.00 x 56.50 mm.

The Waveshare PCIe To M.2 adapter is available for purchase for $8.99 on the company’s online store, and it’s also availble on other online stores.

Source: CNX Software – Embedded Systems News.

Waveshare has released the PoE HAT(F), an 802.3af/at-compliant 24W Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) board designed for the Raspberry Pi 5. This HAT also includes a cooling solution for the SBC, featuring an embedded fan, a heatsink, and two thermal pads.

The Waveshare PoE HAT(F) features the following specifications:

• Connection: 40-pin Raspberry Pi GPIO header and 4-pin PoE header
• PoE (Power Over Ethernet):
  • IEEE 802.3af/at compliant
  • Input voltage: 37V-57V DC input
  • Output:
    • 2-pin header: 12V/2A max
    • GPIO header: 5V/4.5A max
• Fully isolated switched-mode power supply (SMPS)
• MP8759GD buck converter chip
• Cooling: Fan, metal heatsink, and thermal pads for heat dissipation
• Dimensions: 70 x 56.5 mm

The Waveshare PoE Hat(F) is currently available for purchase on Amazon, AliExpress, and on Waveshare’s online store.

Source: CNX Software – Embedded Systems News.

AYANEO, a company known for making handheld gaming PCs, has announced the AYANEO AM02, a small computer with a retro console design. The PC takes inspiration from the NES and SNES, featuring a boxy shape and color scheme reminiscent of classic gaming consoles. AYANEO recently unveiled the design and has now provided details about the hardware in preparation for an upcoming Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign.

The AYANEO AM02 is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS processor, a 35-54 watt CPU with 8 AMD Zen 4 CPU cores, 16 threads, and clock speeds up to 5.1 GHz. Although typically used in gaming laptops paired with discrete GPUs, the AM02 features an integrated Radeon 780M GPU, boasting 12 RDNA 3 GPU cores with speeds up to 2.7 GHz.

Source: Liliputing.