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A Comparative Analysis between RK3588 and RK3576 Chips: Unveiling the Technological Distinctions

In the field of AIoT, Rockchip’s RK3588 and RK3576 are both highly anticipated processors. The following will compare them in detail from multiple aspects.

RK3588 datasheet

RK3576 datasheet

1. CPU performance

RK3576: adopts quad-core Cortex-A72 and quad-core Cortex-A53 architecture, Cortex-A72 has 1M8 unified L2 cache, Cortex-A53 has 512KB unified L2 cache, and is equipped with ARM cortex M0 for user applications.

RK3588: has quad-core ARM Cortex-A75 and quad-core ARM Cortex-A55 processors. Each Cortex-A76 core has 64KB L1 instruction cache, 64KB L1 data cache and 512KB L2 cache; each Cortex-A55 core has 32KB L1 instruction cache, 32KB L1 data cache and 128KB L2 cache, and the large and small core clusters share 3MB L3 cache, and there is an MCU for low-power control.

Performance comparison

From the core architecture point of view, the Cortex-A75 and Cortex-A55 cores of RK3588 are more advanced in cache configuration, especially the sharing mechanism of L3 cache may give it an advantage in multi-core collaboration and data reading. The Cortex-A72 and Cortex-A53 architectures of RK3576 are relatively old, but the existence of ARM cortex M0 may have a unique role in some specific user application scenarios.

2. GPU Performance

RK3576: uses ARM Mali G52 MC3, supports OpenGL ES 1.1, 2.0 and 3.2, OpenCL 2.1, Vulkan 1.2.

RK3588: equipped with ARM Mali - G610MC4, supports OpenGL ES 1.1, 2.0 and 3.2, OpenCL 2.2, Vulkan 1.2, etc., and embeds 4 shader cores and shared layered tilers.

Performance Comparison

The GPU of RK3588 is similar to RK3576 in terms of supported graphics standards, but has a higher OpenCL version (2.2 vs. 2.1), and its unique shader core and layered tiler structure may make it superior in graphics processing capabilities and better able to cope with complex graphics rendering tasks.

3. NPU performance

RK3576: has a computing power of 6 TOPS*@INT8, supports int4/int8/int16/FP16/BF16/TF32 operations, and supports deep learning frameworks such as TensorFlow, Caffe, Tflite, Pytorch, Onnx NN, Android NN, etc.

RK3588: also has a computing power of 6 TOPS @int8, and also supports multiple data types and deep learning frameworks, which is basically the same as RK3576.

Performance comparison

In terms of NPU computing power and support for deep learning frameworks, the two perform equally and can meet the needs of common artificial intelligence tasks, such as speech recognition, image recognition, etc.

4. Memory support

RK3576: supports 32-bit LPDDR4/LPDDR4X/LPDDR5, and also supports eMMC5.1, SDIO3.0 and SFC and UFS v2.0.

RK3588: supports 54-bit LPDDR4/LPDDR4x/LPDDR5, supports eMMC5.1 with HS400, SDIO3.0 with HS200, and also supports NMe and SFC.

Performance comparison

RK3588 has a wider memory bit width (54-bit vs. 32-bit), which may have an advantage in memory data transfer speed. At the same time, its high-speed mode support for eMMC and SDIO may also make it perform better in the read and write performance of storage devices.

V. Multimedia performance

RK3576: In terms of video decoding, it supports H.265 HEVC Main10 L5.1 yuv444 up to 4K 120fps, H.264 AVC High10 L5.1 yuv422 up to 4K 60fps and other formats; in terms of video encoding, it supports 4K@60fps H.264/H.265 video encoders.

RK3588: It has stronger video decoding capabilities and supports H.265/H.264/VP9/AVI/AVS2 video decoders, up to 8K@60fps, such as H.264 AVC/MVC Main10 L5.0 up to 8K@30fps, VP9 Profile0/2 L6.1 up to 8K@60fps, etc.; in terms of video encoding, it also supports 8K@30fps H.264/H.265 video encoders and other formats of 4K@60fps.

Performance comparison

RK3588 is significantly better than RK3576 in video decoding format support and resolution, and can meet the needs of higher-definition video playback. In terms of video encoding, RK3588 also has certain advantages, especially in 8K video encoding.

VI. Video Input Capability

RK3576: 16M Pixel ISP with HDR and 3DNR, three-way MIPI CSI-2 with 4-channel interface and 16-bit DVP interface, up to 150MHz.

RK3588: 48M Pixel ISP with HDR and 3DNR, multiple MIPI CSI-2 and DVP interface combinations (such as 4×4lanes or 4×2lanes + 2×4lanes), HDMI 2.0 input can reach 4K@60fps.

Performance Comparison

RK3588 has a higher pixel ISP resolution (48M vs. 16M), and may be better in the flexibility of the video input interface, and can adapt to more different video input sources and scenarios.

VII. Display Capability

RK3576: Supports multiple displays up to (4K@120 + 2.5K@60 + 2K@60), with multiple interfaces such as HDMI v2.1/ eDP v1.3 combination interface, MIPI DSI 4-channel, DP v1.4 and USB 3.0 combination (Type-C) interface.

RK3588: Its display engine supports up to 8K, with dual HDMI2.1/eDP V1.4 combination interface, dual MIPI-DSI TX 4-channel and dual DP v1.3 embedded USB 3.1 with audio and HDCP2.x.

Performance Comparison

RK3588 supports higher display resolution (8K vs. 4K in the highest combination display), and may be more advanced in the versions and related features of HDMI and DP interfaces, and can provide better display effects.

8. Audio Interface

RK3576: has 5 SAI interfaces, supports I2S/thM/PCM mode, SPDIF TX and SPDIF RX, PDMO/PDM1 with 8 channels, dual 2-channel and dual 4-channel ASRC, and digital audio codec with 2 channels.

RK3588: has 12S0/12S1 with 8 channels, 12S2/12S3 with 2 channels, SPDIF0/SPDIF1, PDMO/PDM1 with 8 channels, digital audio codec with 2 channels and VAD (Voice Activity Detection).

Performance Comparison

Both have rich audio interfaces, but RK3588 has added VAD function, which may have better intelligence and pertinence in audio processing.

IX. High-speed interface

RK3576: has PCIe2.1/SATA3 combination interface (with one data channel), PCIe2.1/SATA3/USB3.0 combination interface (with one data channel) and two RGMII interfaces.

RK3588: has dual-port USB3.1 (with typeC and DP), dual-port USB2.0 OTG and dual-port USB2.0 host, PCIe 3.0 (with multiple channel configurations), three-port PCIe 2.0/SATA 3.0 and dual RGMII interfaces.

Performance comparison

RK3588 is more advanced in USB interface, has dual-port USB3.1 and supports more functions, while the configuration of PCIe interface is more flexible and diverse, and may have better scalability and performance in high-speed data transmission and device connection.

10. Security

RK3576: It has ARM TrustZone security extension, secure boot and JTAG, as well as key ladders and multiple encryption algorithms (such as RSA 4096, AES 256, SHA-512…), and supports HDCP 2.x for HDMI and DP/eDP.

RK3588: It has ARM Trustzone security extension and secure boot, and also supports HDCP 2.x for HDMI and DP/eDP.

Performance comparison

RK3576 has a more detailed security configuration. In addition to basic secure boot and TrustZone extension, it also has key ladders and richer encryption algorithm support.

11. SDK support

RK3576: Supports Linux and Android.

RK3588: Supports Linux 5.10 and Android 12.

Performance comparison

RK3588 is more advanced in Linux version (Linux 5.10 vs. an unspecified version of Linux), and the Android version is also higher (Android 12 vs. an unspecified version of Android), which may have certain advantages in software development and system compatibility.

12. Package and other features

Package information

RK3576: The package information is FCCSP698L (16.1x17.2mm, pitch: 0.6mm).

RK3588: The package is FCBGA108BL Body. 23mm x 23mm, and the ball pitch is 0.55mm.

Performance comparison

The two have different packaging forms, sizes and ball pitches, which may affect the layout and welding process of the chip on the circuit board, as well as heat dissipation and other performance.

RK3588 and RK3576 are different in many aspects. RK3588 has stronger overall performance, especially in video encoding and decoding, display, memory support and high-speed interface, and is suitable for high-end application scenarios with high performance requirements. Although RK3576 is slightly inferior in some performance indicators, it has a higher cost-effectiveness while maintaining certain performance.

13. rk3588 development board vs rk3576 development board

ArmSoM-Sige7 RK3588 development board

ArmSoM-Sige7 uses Rockchip’s latest flagship RK3588, an eight-core 64-bit processor with a maximum main frequency of 2.4GHz, 6 TOPS NPU, and supports up to 32GB RAM.

rk3588 development board

ArmSoM-Sige5 RK3576 development board

ArmSoM-Sige5 adopts the second-generation 8nm high-performance AIOT platform Rockchip RK3576, 6 TOPS computing power NPU, supports up to 16GB large memory, supports 4K video encoding and decoding, provides dual Gigabit network ports, WiFi 6 & BT5 and other rich interfaces, multiple video outputs, compatible with multiple operating systems, suitable for ARM-based PCs, edge computing devices, personal mobile Internet devices and other digital multimedia applications.

rk3576 development board

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