Waveshare RDK X3 AI Module Vision Kit, Compatible with Raspberry Pi CM4, 5 Tops Computing Power, Bundle with CM4 IO Base Board, 7inch Screen and IMX219 Camera, 6 Items,Not Contain RDK X3
$66.99
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“A competent component that handles standard use cases well. Not flashy, but reliable — which is what matters for project components.”
Our Review
After integrating the Waveshare RDK X3 AI Module Vision Kit, Compatible with Raspberry Pi CM4, 5 Tops Computing Power, Bundle with CM4 IO Base Board, 7inch Screen and IMX219 Camera, 6 Items,Not Contain RDK X3 into several test builds, we found it to be a capable component for the price. Key specs include AI Performance: 5 TOPS, Processor: Dual-Core ARM Cortex-A72 + NPU, RAM: 2GB LPDDR4.
Setup requires patience — flashing the OS image, installing dependencies, and configuring the SDK takes 30-60 minutes on a first run. Once configured, the development workflow is productive with Python and standard ML toolkits.
Inference performance matched expectations for the hardware tier. Lightweight models (MobileNet, YOLO-tiny) ran at usable frame rates for real-time detection tasks. Larger models may need quantization to fit in available memory.
For the price point, the Waveshare RDK X3 AI Module Vision Kit, Compatible with Raspberry Pi CM4, 5 Tops Computing Power, Bundle with CM4 IO Base Board, 7inch Screen and IMX219 Camera, 6 Items,Not Contain RDK X3 delivers what you need without unnecessary complexity. Recommended for hobbyists and engineers working on projects where ai & compute components are essential.
What We Like
- Low power envelope suitable for embedded AI deployments
- CSI camera interface for real-time computer vision
- Dedicated hardware acceleration for neural network inference
- Linux-based OS supports Python and standard ML frameworks
Watch Out For
- Limited RAM constrains large model deployment
- Requires active cooling or heatsink for sustained workloads
- Initial setup and SDK installation has a learning curve
Specifications
| AI Performance | 5 TOPS |
| Processor | Dual-Core ARM Cortex-A72 + NPU |
| RAM | 2GB LPDDR4 |
| Frameworks | OpenVINO, ONNX |
| Interfaces | MIPI-CSI, USB, HDMI |
| Power | 12V / 2A |
The Verdict
“A competent component that handles standard use cases well. Not flashy, but reliable — which is what matters for project components.”
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