The VisionFive2 RISC-V board is designed as a development platform that specifically utilizes the 64-bit RISC-V instruction set architecture which is provided under open-source. This board offers a comprehensive set of features to cater to the diverse needs of developers. It includes General-Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) pins, enabling users to interface with external devices and sensors. The inclusion of USB connectivity provides a convenient interface for data transfer and device interaction.
Moreover, the VisionFive2 board incorporates various connectivity options, allowing developers to experiment with networking capabilities by providing 2x 1GBit ethernet ports. This feature makes it suitable for a wide range of applications, from embedded systems to IoT (Internet of Things) projects. The RISC-V architecture itself is known for its open-source nature, fostering a collaborative and accessible ecosystem for innovation.
Overall, the VisionFive2 RISC-V board stands out as a versatile and capable platform, providing a robust foundation for exploring and implementing projects that leverage the benefits of the RISC-V 64-bit instruction set architecture. This site will provide overall information for this board, specs, tweaks and where to find additional Linux images (like Debian, Ubuntu, SuSe, Arch etc.) or BSD based systems like FreeBSD and OpenBSD.
Hardware
| Processor | StarFive JH7110 64bit |
| CPU | RISC-V SiFive Core=6/7/P200/X200-Series Processor |
| CPU Speed | 1,5Ghz |
| GPU | IMG BXE-4-32 MC1 (OpenCL 3.0, OpenGL ES 3.2, Vulkan 1.2) |
| Memory | LPDDR4 (4GB or 8GB) |
| Storage | TF card slot, flash for Uboot, NVMe support |
| Network | 2x GBit Ethernet (PoE support) |
| Connectivity | 2x USB2.0, 2x USB3.0, M2M Key, 40 pin GPIO, HDMI 2.0 |
| Dimensions | 100mm x 72mm |
Power Consumption
| Idle | 7.3 W |
| Full Load | 13.4 W |
The power consumption as been obtained by a Refoss Smart Plug. The board has no case, no cooling and has only ethernet and a sd card plugged in. Full load is generated by 100% cpu on all cores.
All additional specs can be found on the vendors site describing those in detail.
Images (OS)
In the realm of computing, an operating system (OS) is the essential conductor harmonizing hardware and software interactions within a device. This overview provides a concise exploration of OS fundamentals, offering insights into its role in managing resources, coordinating tasks, and shaping the user experience across various devices.
Warning
The images provided on this platform are intended for general informational purposes only. The creators and administrators of this platform do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of the images for any specific purpose. Users are solely responsible for verifying the suitability and compatibility of the images for their intended purposes. These images are mirrored to avoid slow download speeds out of asia zones.
| Distribution | Version | Download | Creator |
| Alpine | Edge | Download | Milan P. Stanic |
| AltLinux | 20220422 | Download | Official |
| ArchLinux | 20231213 | Download | Alex |
| Armbian | 23.8.1 | Download | Official |
| Debian | 11 | Download | Starfive |
| Deepin | v23 | Download | Community |
| FreeBSD | 14 | Download | gyptazy |
| openEuler | 23.09-V1 | Download | Official |
| openKylin | 1.0.1 | Download | Official |
| Slackware | Experimental | Download | Official |
| Ubuntu | 23.04 | Download | Official |
| OpenSuse | Tumbleweed | Download | Official |
You can also browse the directory to find all images on cdn.gyptazy.ch/files/riscv/visionfive/sd_images/.
Software
Linux:
Debian
* irssi
* matrix-synapse
* openssl 3.0.11
* screen
* snac 2.4.5 (ActivityPub server)
* tor 0.4.8.10
* unixbench
* screen
* Geekbench 5
* Geekbench 6
* unixbench
Ubuntu
* matrix-synapse
* snac 2.4.7-dev (ActivityPub server)
* unixbench
* Geekbench 5
* Geekbench 6
* unixbench
Generic
* Geekbench 5
* Geekbench 6
* unixbench
BSD:
FreeBSD
* snac 2.4.6 (ActivityPub server)
Patches
Linux:
* RTS Kernel
* sfctemp for hwmon
Benchmarks
Tests have been performed on Debian GNU/Linux bookworm/sid with Linux 5.15.0-starfive riscv64 kernel. The system is not cooled in any way (even no heatpipe) and ran about 75°C during the benchmark tests. VisionFive2 compatible risc64 build of geekbench and other benchmarking tools can be found here.
| Tool | Benchmark | Information |
| Geekbench 6 | Single Core 74 | Multi Core 219 | result |
| Geekbench 5 | Single Core 78 | Multi Core 276 | result |
Additional benchmarks can also be found in phoronix's review.
Recommendation
Ubuntu has emerged as a front-runner in providing cutting-edge support for the RISC-V architecture, particularly on the VisionFive2 board. The commitment to delivering the newest packages sets Ubuntu apart, allowing developers to leverage the full potential of the RISC-V hardware. Unlike some competitors, Ubuntu doesn't just promise support for RISC-V; it delivers with the availability of packages dating back to the 24.04 release. This ensures that developers working on the VisionFive2 board (and also other ones like the LicheePi 4a or the Milk-V) have access to the latest tools and updates, fostering an environment of innovation and efficiency. You can find all the details in my Ubuntu review.
Projects using this board
This section should provide an overview of public users and projects that have adopted to this board on a daily base. This can be all kinds of projects, services or server systems that are not only used for development.
| User | Devices | Description |
| gyptazy | 4 | Using as authoritative names- & ntp server. |
| Luxy | 1 | Monitoring system for remote processes. |
| Anonymous | 1 | Build server for risc64. |
If you like to be added here, feel free to contact me.
Links
* Chat: #riscv64:bsd.cafe (Matrix)
* Benchmark review
* Benchmark review (compared to RaspberryPi 3 & 4)
* Collection for all VisionFive 2 Compatible OS updates (20230719)
* VF2 on OpenSuse Tumbleweed * RISCV64 on BSD Cafe