ROCK 3C Development Board RK3566 Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1TOPS NPU WiFi6 BT5.4 Gigabit Ethernet

ROCK 3C Development Board Product Overview

The ROCK 3C is a high-cost-performance mini single-board computer from Radxa, powered by the Rockchip RK3566 quad-core Cortex-A55 processor (64-bit), featuring a Mali-G52-2EE GPU and an NPU with up to 1TOPS@INT8. Onboard WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4, Gigabit Ethernet (PoE optional), HDMI 4K@60fps output, MIPI DSI display interface, MIPI CSI camera interface, USB 3.0, and M.2 NVMe SSD slot. Measuring just 85×56mm and supporting mainstream Linux distributions, it is ideal for IoT gateways, edge computing, desktop applications, media centers, and DIY projects.

ROCK 3C Development Board Core Features

RK3566 Quad-Core Processor： Rockchip RK3566, quad-core ARM Cortex-A55 architecture, up to 1.8GHz, balancing high performance and low power consumption

1TOPS NPU： Neural Processing Unit with up to 1TOPS@INT8, supporting TensorFlow, Caffe, ONNX AI frameworks for edge computing and AI inference

Mali-G52-2EE GPU： Supports OpenGL ES 3.2, Vulkan 1.1, and OpenCL 2.0 for smooth graphics rendering

4K@60fps Video Codec： H.265/H.264/VP9 decoding up to 4K@60fps, H.264/H.265 encoding up to 1080p@30fps

Onboard WiFi 6 + Bluetooth 5.4： Latest wireless standards for high-speed, low-latency connectivity, onboard ceramic antenna

Gigabit Ethernet (PoE optional)： Gigabit Ethernet port with PoE support (requires PoE HAT)

M.2 NVMe SSD Slot： 1x M.2 M-key connector with PCIe 2.1 x2 lanes for high-speed NVMe SSD expansion

Flexible Video I/O： 1x HDMI 2.0 (4K@60fps output), 1x 15-Pin FPC (2-lane MIPI DSI), 1x 15-Pin FPC (2-lane MIPI CSI)

Rich Peripheral Interfaces： 2x USB 2.0 HOST, 1x USB 3.0 HOST, 1x USB 2.0 OTG/HOST, microSD slot, eMMC connector, 40-Pin GPIO, headphone jack, fan header

Multiple Storage Options： LPDDR4 memory, eMMC module (via connector), MicroSD card, on-board SPI Flash

ROCK 3C Development Board Applications

IoT gateways and edge computing, AI projects, mini desktop computer, media center and 4K player, maker DIY projects, industrial control and automation, smart home server

ROCK 3C Development Board Key Advantages

High Value RK3566 Platform： ROCK 3C offers exceptional value in the Rockchip RK3566 platform with powerful quad-core A55 performance at an affordable price

1TOPS NPU for Edge AI： Built-in NPU runs lightweight AI models locally without cloud computing for face detection, object recognition, voice assistants

WiFi 6 + Gigabit Dual Network： WiFi 6 for high-speed wireless, Gigabit Ethernet for wired stability

M.2 NVMe High-Speed Storage： PCIe 2.1 x2 interface for NVMe SSDs, dramatically improving read/write speeds

4K@60fps Hardware Decoding： H.265/H.264 4K@60fps hardware decoding for smooth high-bitrate 4K video playback

Compact Mini Size： 85×56mm ultra-small footprint, slightly larger than a credit card

Rich OS Support： Official Debian, Ubuntu, Android 12, plus Armbian, Arch Linux ARM, and more

Excellent Expansion： 40-Pin GPIO compatible with Raspberry Pi pinout for existing shields and peripherals

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FAQ:

1. What is the ROCK 3C and its key specifications?
   The ROCK 3C is a compact single‑board computer (SBC) from Radxa, built around the Rockchip RK3566 SoC. It features a quad‑core ARM Cortex‑A55 processor (up to 1.8 GHz), an ARM Mali‑G52 GPU, and a 1 TOPS (INT8) NPU for AI acceleration. Memory options include 2 GB, 4 GB, or 8 GB LPDDR4/LPDDR4X. The board provides on‑board Wi‑Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.4, Gigabit Ethernet (with PoE support via an optional HAT), HDMI 2.0 up to 4Kp60, M.2 M‑Key for NVMe SSDs, microSD and eMMC storage, USB 3.0, and a 40‑pin GPIO header.

2. What processor is inside the ROCK 3C and how powerful is it?
   The ROCK 3C is powered by the Rockchip RK3566, a 22 nm SoC with four ARM Cortex‑A55 cores clocked up to 1.8 GHz. This efficient quad‑core design delivers solid mid‑range performance for general computing, multitasking, and network applications. The integrated Mali‑G52 GPU handles modern graphics APIs (OpenGL ES 3.2, Vulkan 1.1) and supports smooth desktop and video playback experiences.

3. How does the ROCK 3C compare to the Raspberry Pi 5?
   The ROCK 3C and Raspberry Pi 5 target slightly different segments. The Pi 5 uses a Cortex‑A76 chip (2.4 GHz) offering roughly 2–3× the single‑thread performance of the ROCK 3C's Cortex‑A55. However, the ROCK 3C counters with an integrated 1 TOPS NPU (absent on the Pi 5), on‑board Wi‑Fi 6 and BT 5.4 (the Pi 5 has Wi‑Fi 5), and a full‑speed M.2 M‑Key slot for NVMe SSDs — the Pi 5 requires an additional HAT for M.2. The ROCK 3C is a compelling choice for AI‑edge projects, low‑power servers, and applications where the NPU and modern wireless connectivity are prioritised over raw CPU power.

4. What is the NPU used for and what AI frameworks does it support?
   The built‑in 1 TOPS (INT8) Neural Processing Unit accelerates deep‑learning inference directly on the board. It is compatible with mainstream frameworks converted to the RKNN format, including TensorFlow, TensorFlow Lite, PyTorch, ONNX, and Caffe. Common use cases include object detection, image classification, face recognition, and speech processing. The NPU offloads these tasks from the CPU, enabling real‑time AI at very low power consumption.

5. What wireless connectivity does the ROCK 3C offer?
   The board includes an on‑board Wi‑Fi 6 (802.11ax) module supporting 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, along with Bluetooth 5.4. This provides faster wireless speeds, lower latency, and improved coexistence compared to older Wi‑Fi standards. The wireless module is soldered directly on the PCB, so no additional adapter is needed. For wired networking, Gigabit Ethernet is available, with PoE support possible via an optional add‑on HAT.

6. What display outputs and maximum resolutions does the ROCK 3C support?
   It features an HDMI 2.0 port capable of 4Kp60 output. Additionally, it provides MIPI‑DSI and eDP interfaces for embedded displays, though these require specific adapter cables or panels. The GPU can drive a single 4K display smoothly, making the board suitable for digital signage, kiosks, and media centres.

7. What storage and expansion interfaces are available on the ROCK 3C?
   Storage options are flexible: a microSD card slot, an eMMC module socket (for high‑performance soldered‑down storage), and an M.2 M‑Key slot that supports NVMe SSDs (PCIe 2.0 x1, up to ~500 MB/s). The M.2 slot allows you to boot from an NVMe drive for a fast and responsive system. Expansion includes a 40‑pin GPIO header (UART, SPI, I2C, PWM), USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports, and a RTC battery connector.

8. What operating systems are officially supported on the ROCK 3C?
   Radxa provides Debian and Ubuntu (typically server and desktop images) tailored for the ROCK 3C. Community‑driven builds of Armbian and Android are also available. The OS images can be downloaded from the Radxa official website and flashed to a microSD card or eMMC module. The board follows the standard 40‑pin GPIO layout and is compatible with many existing accessories and libraries for the Rockchip ecosystem.

9. What is the power supply requirement for the ROCK 3C?
   The board is powered via a USB Type‑C port and requires a 5 V/3 A (minimum) power adapter. A quality USB‑C PD charger is recommended for stable operation, especially when using power‑hungry peripherals like an NVMe SSD or external hard drives. The Type‑C port also supports USB 2.0 OTG functionality.

10. What are the most typical applications for the ROCK 3C?
    With its NPU, Wi‑Fi 6, and M.2 NVMe support, the ROCK 3C excels in AI edge computing (object detection, smart cameras), home media servers, network‑attached storage (NAS), IoT gateways, lightweight desktop replacements, and educational/development platforms. It is an excellent middle ground between ultra‑low‑cost SBCs and the more expensive, high‑performance boards.