From IVI to Instrument Cluster: The Rockchip Automotive SoC Family

Domestic SoCs Enter the Cockpit — PX Series & RK3588 Automotive Variants: What Can They Really Do?

Introduction: Domestic SoCs Enter the Automotive Cockpit

If you have purchased a domestically produced car in the last two years, the SoC behind the center display may no longer be the Qualcomm SA8155P.

Rockchip's PX series (PX = Platform for X, the automotive-grade platform line) and the automotive variants of the RK3xxx family are moving into vehicle cockpits — from entry-level 1080p instrument clusters to premium 4K multi-display infotainment systems.

This article will help you understand: what automotive-grade chips does Rockchip offer? And how do they stack up against the SA8155P?

PX Series: Automotive-Grade SoCs

Family Evolution

PX3: Entry-Level IVI

Item	Specification
Process	40nm
CPU	2×Cortex-A9
GPU	Mali-400 MP2
Display	1080p
Memory	DDR3/DDR3L
Interface / I/O	USB 2.0, SD, HDMI, LVDS, GMAC
Positioning	Entry-Level IVI

The PX3 is Rockchip's first automotive-grade chip. Based on the consumer-grade RK3066 with automotive certification, built on a 40nm process with a dual-core Cortex-A9, it powers Android 4.x-based IVI systems.

Target applications: aftermarket IVI (retrofit large displays), entry-level OEM instrument clusters.

PX3 SE: Entry-Level Plus

Item	Specification
Process	28nm
CPU	4×Cortex-A7
GPU	Mali-400 MP2
Display	1280×800(WXGA)，HDMI 1.4
Memory	DDR3/DDR3L/LPDDR2
Interface / I/O	USB 2.0 OTG+Host, SD, HDMI, LVDS, CVBS
Positioning	IVI (Entry-Level Plus)

PX3 SE upgrades over the PX3:

• 40nm → 28nm process node, lower power consumption

• 2×Cortex-A9 → 4×Cortex-A7, improved multi-core performance

• Display resolution downgraded from 1080p to WXGA (1280×800), but adds CVBS input (compatible with legacy backup cameras)

PX30 / PX30-S: Smart Vehicle Display

Item	PX30	PX30-S
Process	28nm	28nm
CPU	4×Cortex-A35	4×A35
GPU	Mali-G31-2EE	Mali-G31
Display	1080p@60	1080p@60
Memory	DDR3/3L/DDR4/LPDDR2/LPDDR3 (32bit)	DDR3/3L/DDR4/LPDDR2/LPDDR3/LPDDR4 (32bit)
Interface / I/O	USB 2.0, MIPI DSI/CSI, LVDS, HDMI, GMAC	USB 2.0, MIPI DSI/CSI, LVDS, HDMI, GMAC
Positioning	Automotive / Smart Display	PX30 Automotive Variant

The PX30's key upgrade is the jump from Cortex-A7 to Cortex-A35 (ARMv8-A 64-bit), with the GPU upgraded from Mali-400 to Mali-G31 (supporting OpenGL ES 3.2 and Vulkan 1.0).

The PX30-S is a vehicle-specific variant of the PX30, adding LVDS display output (supporting LVDS RGB 24/18-bit, up to 1280×800 resolution), making it better suited for automotive instrument clusters and in-vehicle display connections.

PX5: Premium In-Vehicle Infotainment

Item	Specification
Process	28nm
CPU	8×Cortex-A53(big.LITTLE:4+4)
GPU	PowerVR Rogue(GC6110)
Display	4K@60(HDMI)
Memory	DDR3/DDR3L/LPDDR2/LPDDR3
Interface / I/O	USB 2.0 OTG+Host, SD, eMMC, HDMI 2.0, MIPI DSI, GMAC
Positioning	Premium IVI

The PX5 is the most powerful chip in the PX series. Octa-core Cortex-A53 (big.LITTLE architecture, 4 performance + 4 efficiency cores) + PowerVR Rogue GPU + 4K@60 + HDMI 2.0 — this is Rockchip's solution for "large display + multi-display" cockpits.

Target applications:

• 12-inch+ center infotainment displays

• Multi-display output (center stack + instrument cluster + passenger entertainment display)

• 4K backup camera / 360° surround view

RK3xxx in Automotive: Non-PX Series Applications

The PX series is purpose-built with automotive certification, but Rockchip's consumer-grade SoCs are also widely used in automotive scenarios — through extended temperature qualification or by selecting industrial-grade variants.

RK3399Pro in Smart Cockpits

Item	Specification
CPU	2×A72 + 4×A53
GPU	Mali-T860 MP4
NPU	3 TOPS
Display	HDMI 2.0 + DP 1.2
Memory	Dual-Channel DDR3 / LPDDR4
Positioning	Smart Cockpit / ADAS

The RK3399Pro features a 3 TOPS NPU, enabling the following in-cabin functions:

• Driver Monitoring System (DMS)

• Occupant detection

• Gesture recognition

• Basic ADAS (Lane Departure Warning)

RK3588 Automotive Variants

Chip	Description
RK3588J	Industrial-grade wide-temp (-40°C to +85°C), full I/O set
RK3588M	Automotive-grade (In-Vehicle Cockpit / Infotainment)

The RK3588J's wide-temperature characteristics allow it to be used directly in automotive scenarios — while it may lack formal AEC-Q100 certification, its temperature range meets automotive requirements (-40°C to +85°C).

What the RK3588J can do:

• Multi-display cockpit (2× HDMI TX + DP + eDP + MIPI DSI)

• 360° surround view (4× MIPI CSI)

• NVR + dashcam recording (4K encoding + SATA storage)

• In-vehicle AI (6 TOPS NPU for face recognition + gestures + DMS)

Comparison with Qualcomm SA8155P

Comparison Item	RK3588	Qualcomm 8155	PX5
Process	8nm	7nm	28nm
CPU	4×A76+4×A55	4×A76+4×A55	8×A53
GPU	Mali-G610 MP4	Adreno 640	PowerVR Rogue(GC6110)
NPU	6 TOPS	~4 TOPS	--
Video Decode	8K@60(H.265/VP9)	8K@30(H.265)	4K@60
Video Encode	8K@30(H.264/H.265)	4K@30(H.265)	1080p@60(H.264)
Memory	Quad-Channel LPDDR5	LPDDR5	DDR3/LPDDR3
Automotive Cert.	Wide-Temp (J variant)	AEC-Q100	AEC-Q100
Typical Price	$40-60	$100+	$20-30
Positioning	Value Flagship	Premium Flagship	Entry / Mid-Range

RK3588 vs SA8155P:

• CPU specs are nearly identical (both 4× A76 + 4× A55)

• NPU performance: RK3588 is higher (6 TOPS vs ~4 TOPS)

• Video decode: RK3588 is stronger (8K@60 vs 8K@30)

• SA8155P has full automotive certification and a mature automotive software ecosystem

• RK3588 costs only half the price of the SA8155P

In a nutshell: the RK3588 is close to the SA8155P in hardware specs, but the gaps lie in automotive certification and automotive-grade software ecosystem maturity.

Automotive SoC Selection Guide

Application Scenario	Recommended Chip	Rationale
Entry Aftermarket IVI	PX3	Lowest cost, mature solution
Entry OEM Instrument Cluster	PX3 SE	28nm, CVBS rear-view camera compatibility
Smart Vehicle Display	PX30	Cortex-A35 + Mali-G31, 64-bit
Premium Multi-Display Cockpit	PX5	8× A53, 4K@60
Smart Cockpit + AI	RK3399Pro	3 TOPS NPU, DMS / Gesture
Flagship Multi-Display + AI	RK3588J	8nm, 6 TOPS NPU, 8K, wide-temp
360° Surround View	RK3588J	4× MIPI CSI + 4K encoding

Trends

Three key trends for Rockchip's automotive chips:

1. From PX to RK3xxx: The PX series refreshes slowly; customers are increasingly adopting the RK3588J directly for automotive designs

2. From displays to AI: Cockpits are no longer just "big screen + entertainment"—they now encompass DMS + gesture + voice + ADAS, making the NPU a must-have

3. Domestic substitution: With the SA8155P's high cost and long lead times, the RK3588 is increasingly being evaluated by automakers as a cost-effective alternative

Summary

Series	Positioning	Representative Chip
PX3 / PX3 SE	Entry IVI	$5-15
PX30	Smart Vehicle Display	$10-20
PX5	Premium IVI	$20-30
RK3588J/M	Flagship Cockpit	$40-60

ONE MORE THING

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