What Is the Rockchip RK3399?
The Rockchip RK3399 is a 64-bit ARM-based system-on-chip (SoC) designed for embedded computing, industrial control, digital signage, and edge devices. It combines a big.LITTLE CPU configuration with a capable integrated GPU and a dedicated vision/image signal processor, making it a popular choice for ARM-based industrial computers and mini PCs where low power draw and long-term reliability matter more than raw x86 throughput.
Key Specifications
The RK3399 uses a six-core ARM CPU arrangement built around two Cortex-A72 cores (for performance workloads) and four Cortex-A57 cores (for efficiency and background tasks), giving a total of six cores across a dual-cluster design. It is typically paired with LPDDR3 or LPDDR4 memory, eMMC storage, and a Mali-T860 MP4 GPU that supports hardware-accelerated graphics and video decode. Common interfaces include Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, USB 2.0, HDMI, and multiple serial/GPIO headers depending on the board design.
| Feature | Rockchip RK3399 (typical) |
|---|---|
| CPU architecture | 64-bit ARM, big.LITTLE (2× Cortex-A72 + 4× Cortex-A57) |
| Cores | 6 |
| GPU | ARM Mali-T860 MP4 |
| Memory | LPDDR3 / LPDDR4 |
| Storage | eMMC, microSD, SATA (board-dependent) |
| Video | 4K decode, HDMI output |
| Networking | Gigabit Ethernet (board-dependent) |
| Typical OS | Linux (Ubuntu, Debian), Android, embedded Linux |
Use Cases and Applications
Because the RK3399 balances performance with low power consumption, it appears in fanless industrial PCs, kiosk and digital signage players, point-of-sale terminals, IoT gateways, and vision-based edge devices. Its ARM architecture also suits applications that need a compact, energy-efficient footprint, such as remote monitoring nodes or thin-client-style endpoints running Linux or Android. Boards built around the RK3399 are often chosen where a stable, long-lifecycle ARM platform is preferred over a general-purpose x86 PC.
Choosing Between ARM and x86
The RK3399 is an ARM SoC, so it runs ARM-compiled operating systems and software rather than standard x86 Windows applications. This makes it well suited to Linux- and Android-based embedded workloads, while x86 platforms remain the natural fit for Windows 11, legacy industrial software, and heavier multitasking. Many deployments use ARM SoCs like the RK3399 for lightweight edge roles and x86 industrial PCs for control-room, HMI, and application-heavy tasks.
Thinvent's Products Featuring This Technology
Thinvent builds ARM-based and x86 industrial computing products for global deployments. For ARM-class, energy-efficient edge and embedded workloads, Thinvent's ARM-based mini PCs and industrial computers deliver fanless operation and long-lifecycle support, while the Intel-based IPC series (such as the i3-1215U powered IPC3) covers Windows 11 Pro, Ubuntu, and embedded Linux workloads that require x86 compatibility. If you are evaluating an RK3399-class ARM platform or comparing it with an x86 industrial PC, Thinvent's range offers options across both architectures.
