DeepComputing unveils limited-edition RISC-V motherboard, it can be used to make cheap modular computers

[Alfonso Maruccia]

RISC-V Inside: DeepComputing recently announced the DC-ROMA RISC-V mainboard, a limited-edition platform providing a unique way to experiment with the RISC-V instruction set. The Chinese company designed the new device for industry and business customers interested in making modular computer platforms. DeepComputing has partnered with Framework and Cooler Master to provide cases to accommodate the new motherboards.

Some Chinese and Hong Kong ventures have deeply invested in the RISC-V open standard chip architecture. DeepComputing, founded in 2022 by self-declared RISC-V enthusiasts, is now exploring the DIY way with a new motherboard for modular devices. The company says that the DC-ROMA RISC-V mainboard offers "premium" RISC-V hardware, which means it uses a StarFive JH7110 SoC with SiFive U74 cores clocked at up to 1.5 GHz. It also supports an integrated Imagination GPU.

Basic specs include 8GB of memory and a 64GB SD card. However, the board has several tiers so customers can opt for more capable models. The cheapest tier is $200, which includes two USB-C expansion cards and a Framework or Cooler Master case and is enough to build a fully functional Linux mini-PC. There's also an expensive $1,000 "Enterprise" tier with additional ports and expansion cards.

The DC-ROMA RISC-V Mainboard is a limited initiative designed to give enterprise customers a taste of the RISC-V technology, DeepComputing confirmed. The company plans to start mass manufacturing new models of the motherboard in 2025, thus providing an upgrade path to early adopters. The Chinese venture is open to "valuable feedback," although they will only listen to customers who are paying for the aforementioned value-added services.

The board is a limited initiative designed to give enterprise customers a taste of RISC-V technology, DeepComputing confirmed. The company plans to start mass manufacturing new models of the motherboard in 2025, thus providing an upgrade path to early adopters. The is asking for "valuable feedback," although they are only open to customers paying for the bundled value-added packages.

DeepComputing has been making new computing hardware based on the RISC-V instruction set for quite some time. Earlier this year, the company built the first RISC-V laptop designed to run Ubuntu Linux using the same JH7110 SoC as the DC-ROMA RISC-V Mainboard. The DC-Roma RISC-V Pad II tablet, announced a few months ago, employs the K1 SoC developed by the Chinese company SpacemiT.

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DeepComputing unveils limited-edition RISC-V motherboard, it can be used to make cheap modular computers

 

[WhiteLeaff]

Ridiculous, everything from the price to the product... $1000 for a thing that's less effective than a Raspberry 4.

StarFive VisionFive 2 Quad-Core RISC-V Performance Benchmarks - Phoronix

www.phoronix.com

 

[DanteSmith]

Ridiculous, everything from the price to the product... $1000 for a thing that's less effective than a Raspberry 4.

StarFive VisionFive 2 Quad-Core RISC-V Performance Benchmarks - Phoronix

www.phoronix.com

Risc-V hasn't shown any reason to exist yet, honestly.

 

[Axeia]

Risc-V hasn't shown any reason to exist yet, honestly.

Hah, only if you look at these overpriced small production run things.

It's used for for co processor tasks in low power devices like SSDs. But also for example on the ESP32-S3 when it's in sleep mode. Talking about the ESP chips, the ESP-C3 (and C6) use RISC-V for the main chip as well if you need a WiFi and Bluetooth capable hobbyist board. They also show that it doesn't have to be expensive as you can get them for $2-4 bucks.

It's just for desktop/laptop/smartphone use where noone has bothered to make a high end one yet. I'm kinda hoping Qualcomm gets fed up with ARM and vets big on Risc-V. They have enough expertise and resources to make it work. If ARM keeps pulling dumb stuff when it comes to licensing then Qualcomm will have the incentive as well.

 

[yRaz]

Hah, only if you look at these overpriced small production run things.

It's used for for co processor tasks in low power devices like SSDs. But also for example on the ESP32-S3 when it's in sleep mode. Talking about the ESP chips, the ESP-C3 (and C6) use RISC-V for the main chip as well if you need a WiFi and Bluetooth capable hobbyist board. They also show that it doesn't have to be expensive as you can get them for $2-4 bucks.

It's just for desktop/laptop/smartphone use where noone has bothered to make a high end one yet. I'm kinda hoping Qualcomm gets fed up with ARM and vets big on Risc-V. They have enough expertise and resources to make it work. If ARM keeps pulling dumb stuff when it comes to licensing then Qualcomm will have the incentive as well.

also doesn't help that there isn't really standard on what instructions need to be in a RISC-V chip. The RISC-V community can't even decided what a RISC-V chip is so all the ones we see in use today are more like ASICs that just happen to use instructions from the RISC-V opensource project.