Availability of Rockchip processors - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Pearo
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 03, 2025, 10:29:44 am
content: I am starting a new project at the moment, and Rockchip processors tick a lot of boxes. However when I look at all the typical sales channels they do not sell rockchip processors. We manufacture in china, so I am guessing that our contract manufactures could obtain Rockchip stuff, but the lack of availability on the open market leaves me concerned.Just wondering if there is any other OEM's that use Rockchip and what your experience is?

author: SMTech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2025, 02:06:24 pm
content: I really don't think your issue is limited to Rockchip. Take any manufacturer of processors and they will list a huge range of models, you will probably find most stockists for that manufacturer list only a fraction of them and stock even less. There will be bunch of reasons for that, ranging a designated distributor having dedicated product support to regional demand. If you talk to your official regional supplier they can tell you what's what and maybe even liaise with your factory, pass on any agreed pricing etc (which may or may not be a good thing I suppose).

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2025, 09:27:15 pm
content: LCSC has a few:https://www.lcsc.com/category/11329.html?brand=11528Which specific part are you looking at?Rigol uses the RK3399

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2025, 10:22:56 pm
content: That is unfortunately very common in chips targeted for the "mass market". Take for example DMM chips such as the HY3131 or FS790x or stuff from broadcomm. Or for that sake, Intel or AMD processors that are designed to be soldered on the PCB (laptops, gaming consoles, industrial SBC's).Allwinner seems to be a bit of an exception here. They are sold in small quantities by Olimex (who have also open sourced their complete SBC designs. But it's also quite possible that other small niche shops sell some processors in small quantities, but those shops may be difficult to find.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2025, 02:44:15 am
content: Quote from: Doctorandus_P on September 07, 2025, 10:22:56 pmI remember an article written by Olimex about how they had to place like a 100,000 piece order so they could use and stock some processor like this.https://www.olimex.com/Products/OLinuXino/open-source-hardwareQuote

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2025, 05:42:07 am
content: An easier way to get your hands on the Chinese SOCs are these people:https://www.myirtech.com/They don't sell individual chips, but they do sell SOM modules with those chips. However these modules are available as small 'QFN' shaped boards that solder directly into your PCB, allowing you to go reasonably compact with your product. In a lot of cases you would want to be using a SOM anyway since that saves you from the complicated DDR memory routing and fancy tiny vias under BGAs (that make prototype boards VERY expensive).The other thing they do is that upon buying one of these they help you exfiltrate the top secret documentation and software to make these work. Since with a lot of these chinese SOMs even if you can buy the chip doesn't mean you can make it work as all the documentation is under strict NDAs.

author: loki42
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2025, 12:34:41 pm
content: We've used rockchip in the past. The documentation and performance is pretty good. Easier to navigate than allwinner. I'd chat with a few of the chip vendors and see how their not public options look too. Qualcomm, AMD (xylinx) have some good options if you can get pricing from them. Some have annoying MOQs though. Sometimes the chip MOQ is fine but the bios / chipset or power chip (PMU) you need has annoying conditions so keep an eye on that.

author: Pearo
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 08, 2025, 10:49:39 pm
content: I just had a look at PCBWay as an option to do a few quick prototypes. Their pricing for Rockchip processors is a little higher than I though, although still quite cheap. I might go back and revisit some of the other options I had. IT might be worth spending an extra few bucks for availability and support given I am still below my price point at this stage.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2025, 11:42:23 pm
content: Quote from: Pearo on September 08, 2025, 10:49:39 pmWhat was the process for this? Did you just tell PCBWay to find the Rockchip parts wherever they can and they sorted it out?

author: Nominal Animal
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 09, 2025, 03:31:02 am
content: Quote from: loki42 on September 08, 2025, 12:34:41 pmDid you do the Non-Disclosure Agreement to get the full Technical Reference Manual?

author: loki42
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 09, 2025, 01:23:47 pm
content: Quote from: Nominal Animal on September 09, 2025, 03:31:02 amI've got the full technical reference manual, also for Intel / Qualcomm. The reference designs are much easier to deal with from Qualcomm but the paperwork was a bit annoying. Intel was the most confusing to deal with. AMD was very friendly and sent people out to my little factory to chat. They pushed Xylinx style parts very hard though and 90% of my statements were "that's nice how about Ryzen." We're small volume, <5000 units a year.

author: Pearo
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 15, 2025, 06:31:22 am
content: Quote from: Smokey on September 08, 2025, 11:42:23 pmSorry, I mean JLCPCB. I just looked at their online library. I have never used JLPCB or PCBWay for assembly, although I am about to give them a try for some prototype boards soon.

author: wemme
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2025, 02:36:47 am
content: Hello,I use Rockchip in a product.You can get them via LCSC/JLCPCB but the proper reseller is rutronik.comMOQ is usually 1520 parts.Regards