Pine64 Quartz64 Model-a Specs, Feature: Single-Board for Mini PC Is Larger Than Raspberry Pi 4

Sieeka Khan, Tech Times 16 February 2021, 02:02 pm

Pine64 has revealed their new Quartz64 model-A mini PC. Based on performance, the early testing of the Quartz64 showed that it is around 15 to 25% slower than the RockPro64 in computational tasks, with its 4 cortex A55 cores that is clocked at 1.8Ghz.

Pine64 Quartz64

The Quartz64 model-A mini PC can be equipped with LPDDR4 memory options from 2GB up to 8GB, depending on the needs of the user and it will also support 16GB to 128GB eMMC modules too, as well as a microSD card for removable storage and a SATA 2.0 port for external storage connectivity.

Unfortunately, Pine64 has not released the price of the Quartz64 nor did it state if it will be available worldwide, according to Tom's Hardware.

The reason behind the Quartz64 is to eventually supersede the previous products PINE A64 and ROCK64, instead of the higher-end ROCKPro64.

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According to Pine64, the Quartz64 model-A is a showcase headway made on the PinePhone keyboard. It is the first RISC-V single board computer and Pine64 has plans for making LoRaWAN a staple of the Pine64 ecosystem.

Pine64 added that the Quartz64 model-A is the first installment in their Quartz-line of next generation single board computers or SBCs. For those who wish to study the datasheets and the schematics of the Quartz64, a Wiki page is already available.

The photos of the Quartz64 depict a prototype device and some modifications to the hardware that may prove necessary prior to the SBC's release.

Any changes made will be minor and only implemented remedy issues identified by the developers will be set.

Although it is just a sample, the production units will look indistinguishable from it. With the board's new layout that is now finalized, more details will be shared in the future.

What is Pine64?

Pine64 is an organization that creates, manufactures and releases single-board computers. They also have notebook computers, smartphones, laptops and more.

Currently, Pine64 offers single-board computers such as PINE A64 (+), PINE A64-LTS, ROCK64, ROCKPro64 and PINE H64 ver. B. They also have laptops like PINEBOOK and PINEBOOK PRO, phones like PINEPHONE and PINETAB and smartwatches like PINETIME.

Pine64 also has compute modules like SOPINE, BASEBOARD, SoEdge and SoEdge Baseboard. They also offer clusters like CLUSTERBOARD, IP cameras like CUBE, soldering irons like Pinecil, power supplies like PinePower and PinePower Desktop, and Internet on Things like Pinenut.

The latest product, the Quartz64 model-A is massive, it is larger than a Raspberry Pi 4. It measures around 5.2 x 3.1 x 0.7 inches or 133 x 80 x 19mm, it also offers a lot of space for more features and it has a port layout that takes advantage of all the extra space.

Around the perimeter are the usual selection of two USB 3.0 and two 2.0 ports, Micro SD, Gigabit Ethernet, and a full-size HDMI port capable of 4k60 video output.

The wireless connectivity is given through an optional WiFi and Bluetooth expansion, but the Quartz64 wiki indicates that this will be made into the model-B. The power comes through a DC barrel jack requiring a 5V 3A power supply.