Summary of KOBOL LAUNCHES PRE-ORDER FOR THE HELIOS64 NAS
The Helios64 is a new open HW/SW NAS system by Kobol, upgrading from the Helios4 with a 64-bit Rockchip RK3399 SoC. It offers 4GB LPDDR4 RAM, 16GB eMMC, and a MicroSD slot. Key features include a 2.5Gbps LAN port, five SATA III interfaces (one M.2 SSD capable), a built-in UPS, dual DC inputs, and extensive I/O like USB 3.0, USB Type-C, GPIO, and fan controls. Available as a Nano-ITX SBC or a complete 5-drive enclosure with hot-plug trays.
Parts used in the Helios64:
- Rockchip RK3399 SOC
- 4GB LPDDR4 RAM
- 16GB eMMC 5.1
- MicroSD slot
- 2.5Gbs LAN port
- Built-in UPS with optional battery
- Five SATA III interfaces
- M.2 slot for SSD
- 3x USB 3.0 host ports
- USB Type-C port
- GPIO and special-purpose I/Os
- Dual DC inputs Power Supply
- Dual 80mm PWM fans
- Hot-plug tray system for five 3.5-inch HDDs
Kobol, the Singapore based manufacturer of Helios4 is set to launch pre-orders for its latest open HW/SW NAS system called the Helios64. The system which was created as an upgrade to the Helios4 NAS system will be available as a Nano-ITX SBC and a complete enclosed system, running the more powerful 64-bit Rockchip RK3399 compared to the Cortex-A9 based Marvell Armada 388 on the Helios4.
One of the major upgrades to the Helios4 is the use of the RK3399 SOC which comes with 2 x 1.8GHz Cortex-A72 cores, 4 x 1.4GHz Cortex-A53 cores, and a Mali-T860 GPU. To rain in utmost performance levels, the board ships with 4GB LPDDR4 RAM along with a 16GB eMMC 5.1, and a MicroSD slot which could be used to further increase the storage.
Asides the upgrade in the SOC used, the new Helios64 comes with a 2.5Gbs LAN port(1 Ethernet port more than Helios4), a UPS, and an additional SATA interface to bring the total number of SATA III interfaces on it to five(5) (compared to the 4 on Helios4), with the possibility of configuring one of them for use with an SSD via an M.2 slot. In addition to the upgraded interfaces, the board also ships with:
- 3x USB 3.0 host ports
- USB Type-C that supports DP for displays or DAS (Direct Attached Storage) modes.
- GPIO and special-purpose I/Os that support I2C, SPI, UART, and 2x PWM fan
- Dual DC inputs Power Supply
- Built-in UPS with optional battery.
The Nano-ITX SBC comes in a 120×120 size that is slightly larger than the Helios4, while the full five drive systems with enclosure comes in a 250 x 222 x 134mm size with an exposed USB 3.0 port, a control panel and an internal space for dual 80mm PWM fans, and five 3.5-inch HDDs via a hot-plug tray system.
Read more: KOBOL LAUNCHES PRE-ORDER FOR THE HELIOS64 NAS
- What is the main processor upgrade in the Helios64 compared to the Helios4?
The Helios64 uses the 64-bit Rockchip RK3399 SOC instead of the Cortex-A9 based Marvell Armada 388 found on the Helios4. - How many SATA III interfaces does the Helios64 have?
The Helios64 comes with five SATA III interfaces, which is one more than the four on the Helios4. - Can the Helios64 support an SSD via an M.2 slot?
Yes, one of the SATA interfaces can be configured for use with an SSD via an M.2 slot. - Does the Helios64 include a built-in UPS?
Yes, the board ships with a built-in UPS that supports an optional battery. - What are the available form factors for the Helios64?
The system is available as a Nano-ITX SBC and as a complete enclosed system. - What display connectivity options does the USB Type-C port support?
The USB Type-C port supports DP for displays or DAS modes. - How much RAM does the Helios64 board ship with?
The board ships with 4GB LPDDR4 RAM.
