SBC-RK3572 Single Board Computer | Octa-core 4 TOPS Edge AI SBC
Rockchip RK3572 octa-core SBC: 2× A73 + 6× A53, 4 TOPS NPU, 8K decode, HDMI 2.1 4K@60, 4× CAN FD, 12× UART, 40-Pin GPIO — the cost-efficient step between RK3568 and RK3576.
Description
SBC-RK3572 Single Board Computer
A single board computer built on Rockchip’s 2026-generation RK3572: 8nm octa-core (2× A73 + 6× A53), 4 TOPS NPU, 8K decoding, gigabit Ethernet and a 40-pin GPIO header — a cost-efficient step between RK3568 and RK3576.
Key specifications
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| CPU | 2× Cortex-A73 @2.2GHz + 6× Cortex-A53 @2.1GHz |
| NPU | 4 TOPS @INT8 (INT4–BF16 mixed precision) |
| Memory | LPDDR4X (LPDDR5 optional) |
| Display | HDMI 2.1 4K@60 + MIPI DSI, dual-display |
| Camera | 2× MIPI CSI (splittable to 4× 2-lane), 12MP ISP |
| Network | Gigabit RJ45 (PoE-ready) + wireless module |
| USB | USB 3.0 OTG + USB 3.0 Host × 2 + USB 3.0 Host FPC + USB-C power |
| Industrial | 4× CAN FD · 12× UART · RS-485 · DSMC |
| Expansion | 40-pin GPIO · TF slot · PCIe FPC socket |
| Power | <1W typical, fanless design |
Why RK3572
RK3572 sits between RK3568 and RK3576 as a volume edge-AI platform, with an 8nm process delivering rare power efficiency in its class:
- Octa-core big.LITTLE: 2× A73 for burst performance plus 6× A53 for sustained loads — around 60% higher multi-core performance than the all-A55 RK3568.
- 4 TOPS NPU: INT4–BF16 coverage with one-click RKNN deployment; YOLO-class detection runs at real-time frame rates.
- 12MP ISP: dual MIPI CSI splittable to 4× 2-lane — solid hardware foundation for stereo vision and AI-ISP night imaging.
- Industrial pedigree: 4× CAN FD + 12× UART + RS-485 + DSMC bring automotive and industrial buses straight onto the board — rare among SBCs.
- 8K decode + HDMI 2.1: high-quality playback for digital signage, ready out of the box.
RK3572 vs RK3568 vs RK3576 vs RK3588S
| Platform | CPU | NPU | ISP | Decode | CAN FD | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RK3572 | 2× A73 + 6× A53 | 4 TOPS | 12MP | 8K | 4× | Mid-range AI + industrial volume |
| RK3568 | 4× A55 | 1 TOPS | — | 4K@60 | 2× | Traditional industrial gateways |
| RK3576 | 4× A72 + 4× A53 | 6 TOPS | 8MP | 8K@30 | Yes | Upper-mid AI boxes |
| RK3588S | 4× A76 + 4× A55 | 6 TOPS | 8MP | 8K@60 | Yes | Flagship edge computing |
Cross-vendor view: compared with Raspberry Pi 5 (no dedicated NPU, 4× A76, non-industrial supply), SBC-RK3572 adds a 4 TOPS NPU, CAN FD/RS-485 industrial buses and long-term industrial supply — the natural industrial Raspberry Pi alternative. Against Allwinner T527 (8× A55 + 3 TOPS), RK3572 wins on big-core performance and ISP; against MTK Genio 700 (~4 TOPS), RK3572’s industrial interfaces (4× CAN FD) and long-term Linux maintenance suit industry devices better.
Applications
Edge AI computing. 4 TOPS for visual detection, voice recognition and anomaly monitoring, with fanless <1W typical power that fits any cabinet or device.
Machine vision and stereo cameras. Dual MIPI CSI + 12MP ISP for AGV/AMR visual navigation, code reading and 3D structured-light preprocessing.
Industrial control and gateways. 4× CAN FD connects directly to automotive and production-line buses; 12× UART + RS-485 harvest every kind of field device for protocol gateways and PLC bypass monitoring.
Education, makers and prototyping. 40-pin GPIO with full OS support — a cost-efficient base for university embedded-AI courses, maker projects and product prototypes.
Smart terminals and digital signage. HDMI 2.1 4K@60 + 8K decode + dual display: a one-step mainboard for advertising players and self-service terminals.
FAQ
How big is the gap between RK3572 and RK3568?
Multi-core CPU performance rises about 60% (2× A73 big cores), NPU goes 1→4 TOPS, and the platform adds a 12MP ISP, 8K decoding and 4× CAN FD at a similar price point — new projects should choose RK3572 directly.
Can I use it like a Raspberry Pi?
Yes — and it is better suited for industrial use: the 40-pin GPIO works with common expansion ecosystems, while CAN FD/RS-485 and a long-term supply commitment carry prototypes into mass production.
Which OSes are supported?
Debian / Ubuntu / Buildroot and Android (depending on version), with the RKNN toolchain and long-term SDK maintenance.
Power and supply?
Under 1W in typical scenarios, powered over USB-C; the fanless design supports sealed enclosures.
Why Vencreat
- In stock for sampling: SBC units in inventory with factory-direct volume pricing.
- Fully documented: public front/rear interface callout diagrams — zero guesswork from day one.
- Hardware + software: from SBC to custom carrier boards and complete-device ODM, all in one place.
Next step
Share your interfaces, target cost and estimated volume for a configuration review and an OEM/ODM proposal. Samples and documentation: contact us or sales@vencreat.com.
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