Under The Hood (Hardware)
CPU architecture
The device is powered by the state-of-the-art Amlogic S928X-K chipset, which boasts a powerful pentra-core (5 Cores) processor at its core. This cutting-edge CPU architecture consists of two clusters, each designed to optimize performance.
The first cluster features a large Arm Cortex-A76 core that operates at a frequency range of 100-1896MHz, while the second cluster is composed of four Arm Cortex-A55 cores in a big. LITTLE configuration, operating at a frequency range of 100-2016 MHz. This intelligent design ensures seamless multitasking and unrivaled processing power.
The new chipset features cutting-edge 12 nm technology, offering significant improvements in thermal performance compared to previous versions. Our tests showed excellent thermal performance even when the device was subjected to heavy, demanding tasks, with temperatures starting at around 47 °C up to about 56 °C.
CPU-Z – System and Hardware info.
What about the GPU?
The Arm Mali-G57 MC2 is an impressive mid-range graphics processing unit (GPU) that is integrated into the device’s SoC. It comprises 2 compute units and 32 shaders, allowing it to support up to 2 displays simultaneously. This remarkable GPU is built on the advanced Mali-G Series architecture, which was released in Q2/2020 and utilizes cutting-edge 7 nm technology.
This GPU is commonly integrated into processors such as the MediaTek Dimensity 700 and MediaTek Helio G96, as well as comparable chipsets like Amlogic. What sets this GPU apart is its remarkably high frequency rate of 950/1000 MHz. It is widely acknowledged for its exceptional performance and efficiency, making it an excellent choice for Android set-top boxes.
Connectivity
This device provides multiple connectivity options, including a high-speed wired RJ45 Gigabit LAN port and support for Wi-Fi 4/5/6 wireless connectivity. At a distance of approximately 1 meter from our router unit, we achieved a good link speed of 1200Mbps (Downstream & upstream) and a consistently high throughput of over 870Mbps from our lightning-fast 1 GB fiber internet plan provided by our ISP.
Conducting Wi-Fi 6 speed tests using Fast.com and iPerf mobile applications.
Interfaces and ports
USB Ports
The SK1 has two USB ports on its rear side. One is a USB 3.0 OTG port, and the other is a USB v2.0 port. Adding a third port that supports USB 3.0 would greatly improve the device’s functionality and would be less limiting for users. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to connect multiple devices but are running out of available ports, a USB splitter can be the perfect solution.
Other useful interfaces (from left to right)
In addition to the USB ports, you have a 1GbE LAN port, an HDMI 2.1a Type-A port capable of outputting video at a maximum resolution of 4K/8K, an Optical S/PDIF port, and lastly, a 3.5 mm R/L audio output.
