modern laptop based on Linux OS. What kind of device is this?

It looks like the RISC-V architecture is gradually growing in popularity. This is not surprising, given that it is free and there is no need to pay licensing fees to anyone. There are also more and more devices based on new chips. The other day a laptop appeared with the extremely original name Laptop II, it was released by the DC-ROMA brand. Details are under the cut.

What kind of device is this?

It is based on the SpacemiT RISC-V K1 processor. This is a modern chip with independent architecture. The Key Stone K1 X60 SoC contains eight 64-bit cores, an unnamed GPU with support for OpenCL 3.0, OpenGL ES3.2, Vulkan 1.2, supports PCIe 2.1 and consumes 3-5 W. The manufacturer itself compares its solution with Arm Cortex-A55 cores, saying that RISC-V is capable of providing 130% higher single-core performance in AI tasks with approximately 60-80% lower power consumption. Performance in AI tasks here, by the way, is stated to be 2 TOPS, which is quite modest. The clock frequency of the processor cores is 2 GHz.

The laptop comes with Ubuntu, one of the most popular Linux distributions in the world. As for the model, this is already the second device from DC-ROMA. The first was simply called Laptop, was based on the StarFive JH7110 chip, supported Debian Linux and OpenKylin systems, and was also the only mobile PC in the world at that time with a processor based on such an architecture. It will be released in 2022.

The second model has 16 GB of RAM versus 8 GB of its predecessor. According to the company, this laptop is twice as powerful as the previous model. Its body is metal, its weight is 1.37 kg, and its dimensions are 323 × 209 × 17 mm. The screen diagonal is 14 inches. The matrix is ordinary – IPS with viewing angles of 178 degrees vertically and horizontally with a base refresh rate of 60 Hz. Supported resolution is Full HD or 1,920 × 1,080 pixels.

An SSD with a capacity of up to 1 TB is used as a drive, depending on the model itself. A positive point is the presence of interfaces I2C, GPIO, GND, RX, TX, 3.3 V. In addition, the laptop received two USB-C ports, two full-size USB-A 3.0, a headphone input and a slot for microSD memory cards.

Are there any other models with RISC-V?

Yes, and quite a lot at that. Nowadays such devices are no longer uncommon.

MuseBook

It is designed for hardware developers, programmers and DIY enthusiasts. At the same time, its price is very affordable – only $300. Of course, this device is not suitable for working with “heavy” content, but that was not the goal.

As far as one can judge, the developers sought to make their device similar to a MacBook, because even the model name is somewhat similar. But that's where the similarities end.

The laptop has a 14.1-inch display with a resolution of 1,920 × 1,080 and a screen refresh rate of 60 Hz. The keyboard is familiar to many, but the Windows button has been replaced with an analogue with the RISC-V logo. It is still unknown what function is attached to it, because it was not added in vain.

The weight of the device is 1.3 kg, thickness – 18 mm. There is a slot for microSD memory cards, two USB-C ports, two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, a headphone connector, and an 8-pin connector with support for interfaces such as I2C, UART, PWM, GPIO.

Here is a complete list of device characteristics:

SoC: SpacemiT K1 8-core X60 RISC-V chip with RVA22
RAM: up to 16GB 32bit LPDDR4-2400MT, 32bit LPDDR4X-2666MT
memory: 32GB eMMC there are also models with a capacity of 128GB. There is also an M.2 socket (PCIe 2.1 2x) for NVMe SSD up to 1TB and a slot for MicroSD memory cards
display: 14.1-inch IPS screen with a resolution of 1,920 × 1,080, 60Hz
net: RTL8852BE-based Wi-Fi 6 module
nutrition: USB PD 3.1 Type-C port
dimensions: 322.6 × 209.2 × 17.8 mm
weight: 1.36 kg
OS: Bianbu OS from Debian, Ubuntu, Linux supported
Browser Chromium

ROMA

This is the world's first laptop based on RISC-V architecture, which was released exactly a year ago. True, very few copies were produced – only about 1,000. Moreover, to purchase it was necessary to contact the manufacturer, clarifying the price and specifications of the device.

As for the characteristics, the device is based on the Alibaba T-Head TH1520 processor with four 64-bit Xuantie C910 cores, which operate at a frequency of 2.5 GHz. It also has a neural processor with up to 4 TOPS performance and an Imagination graphics chip.

Its screen is twice as large as the previous model – 14.1 inches with a resolution of 1,920 × 1,080 pixels. The developers also provided 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of permanent memory. The equipment also includes a backlit keyboard, an SD card reader, HDMI, USB-C, USB-A and Ethernet ports, Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth adapters, and a webcam with 1080p resolution.

Laptop Lichee Console 4A

At first glance, the laptop looks like a smaller model of one of the Lenovo devices. But in fact, this is the development of an independent company that decided to release a device for developers. This laptop has a screen with a diagonal of only 7 inches, in addition, it has 16 GB of RAM and an LM4A TH1520 processor. It’s probably better to immediately announce the price – it’s $300, which is not that much. True, this is only the pre-order cost; how much the device will cost after going on sale is still unclear. But it's unlikely to be much more.

Despite its small size, the device's capabilities are quite good. In particular, it is compatible with LPDDR4X RAM, a 128 GB SSD is installed, and it is also possible to connect an external NGFF SSD. The display is 7-inch with a resolution of 1,280 × 800. There is an HDMI port that allows you to connect an external monitor. By the way, the laptop’s own screen is touch-sensitive and capacitive. For conferences, you can use a 2 megapixel camera.

Here is the full list of Lichee Console 4A specifications:

SOM: LM4A (TH1520, 4 × C910)
RAM: 16GB LPDDR4X
inner memory: 128GB eMMC + external NGFF SSD
display: 7 inches, 1 280 × 800, miniHDMI included
input: Capacitive Touch, RedPoint 72-keyboard
camera: 2MP front camera
audio: 3.5mm
net: Wi-Fi 6 + BT5.4, optional – 1 × GbE
ports and connectors: 1 × USB3.0 Type-A, 1 × USB3.0 Type-C, 1 × USB2.0 Type-A, 1 × MicroSD
battery: 3,000 mAh@7.6V
dimensions and weight: 18 × 14 × 2 cm, 650 g