As expected, Hardkernel has introduced a new development board built around Samsung’s Exynos 5410 octa-core processor. It’s called the ODROID-XU, and it’s available for purchase for $149 during the month of August. After that the price goes up to $169.

ODROID-XU

Like other dev boards, the ODROID-XU is basically a single-board computer with a series of exposed connectors and expansion pins that let developers use it as a platform for testing hardware and software projects.

You could buy this sort of device to use as a standard Android or Linux computer. But it’s really aimed at developers, hobbyists, and professionals looking to build new projects or test existing software to see how it performs on this type of hardware.

That said, the ODROID-XU would make a pretty slick computer. Not only does it have the same processor core as Samsung’s Galaxy S4 smartphone, it also has 2GB of RAM, a microSD card slot and eMMC connector for storage, a microHDMI port, 2 USB 3.0 ports, 4 USB 2.0 ports, and Ethernet support.

xu_02

It also sports expansion pins, a serial console, and other bits that you’ll need for debugging or hooking up hardware.

The basic package comes with a plastic case and a cooling fan.

Samsung’s Exynos 5410 chip is an 8-core processor with 4 ARM Cortex-A15 cores paired with 4 ARM Cortex-A7 cores and PowerVR  SGX544MP3 graphics. At any given time, only one set of CPU cores or the other is actually active.

Samsung recently introduced a faster Exynos 5420 chip with ARM Mali-T628 graphics, but it’s likely the Hardkernel ODROID-XU was in development before that newer chip was available.

xu_04

via CNX-Software and Imagination

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24 replies on “Hardkernel ODROID-XU octa-core dev board available for $149 and up”

  1. I got a defective one (defective the first time I tried to use it). Defective so if they’d just plugged it in they wouldn’t have shipped it. Hardkernel insists that I pay to ship it back, they will not ship another until they receive it and it is up to them to determine whether the board is bad. Depending on where you live and how big a hurry you’re in, you might be dealing with something that has virtually little or no warranty.

  2. I liked the look of this board and had high hopes, however the 5410 suffers from CCI-400 bug (can’t use 8 cores and lower power offload not possible). Also, the 5410 uses PowerVR 🙁 I hope that they release an updated XU with the 5420. Still think HW accel video decode will be a problem for a while under linux. More likely ok with android.

  3. If I was looking for an octa board I would definitely wait for the 5420.

    This has the 5410 which will never have any kind of decent video/3D support in Linux (PowerVR).

    Also, this cannot utilize all 8 cores at the same time as the 5420 so this is actually only a quad.

  4. “Samsung recently introduced a faster Exynos 5420
    chip with ARM Mali-T628 graphics, but it’s likely the Hardkernel
    ODROID-XU was in development before that newer chip was available.”

    Now that would be interesting, as the GPU would provide OpenGL ES 3.0 and OpenCL support.

  5. PowerVR will never release the source so Linux support is going to be crappy.

  6. Such a beefy SoC and not even native support for gigabit Ethernet or S-ata.
    Someone’s been drinking the wrong kool-aid again.

  7. I’ve heard rumors that this SOC had over heating issues. Seeing that fan only confirms those rumors in my mind. If I was to take a wild guess , I’d say the sub par performance of this SOC in the Galaxy S4 was due to thermal throttling .

    With that fan, you should see better performance if my guess above is correct.

    1. This Exynos 5410 has a higher clock that the unit fitted 2 the SG4, hence the fan on the odroid and hence the thermal throttling on the SG4, your statement and “wild guess” shows u should just fuck off

      1. So you agree what he said , then tell him to F off. You sir are an A grade idiot.

  8. I’ve been waiting for this one, but I was wanting it to have SATA so I could use it in a homebrew media player/PVR. Really annoyed now. Then again, my cubieboard 2 has been better than I expected so I’ll stay with that for now.

  9. This board uses WAY TOO MUCH power and underpeforms compared to the competition.

      1. But Linux support isn’t that great as far as HW 3D acceleration. I wonder if they will support Opengl 2.1 like the spec sheet says that would be great.

        1. I’ve tried 3D GPU accel at the beginning of the year running Ubuntu in ODROID-X. It worked very well.

          The main issue (for me) is the lack of hardware video decoding. Some people have also complained that Hardkernel is not interested in added support to mainline kernel.

          1. What can you do with the HW 3D accel on the Odroid-X? It took FOREVER for them to even get 3D accel on there.

  10. Ahahahah..This board SUCKS ASS and there’s no Linux Support DON”T BUY!!!!!!

      1. The last Odroid-X board I had sucked ass and had limited Linux support. Besides the SoC is already Outdated to all hell.

          1. Jml or jml12 aka Jimmy Lee

            He trolls around the forums, hes an Intel fanboi for the most part and he actually trolls just about everything.

            This 149$ board kills 199$ Intel board.

          2. Wrong I am not an Intel fanboi I don’t like them anymore than I like AMD. I like neither AMD nor Intel they both suck. It sure does kill the $199 Intel board but most current gen ARM boards would kill the Intel board.

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