UP Xtreme ARL: Raspberry Pi-sized SBC with Intel Core Ultra and Windows 11

Aaeon’s new UP Xtreme ARL arrives as a decisive answer to the question many hobbyists and embedded developers have been asking: what if a Raspberry Pi–sized board used a modern Intel Core Ultra CPU, offered up to 64 GB of LPDDR5, and shipped with first-party Windows 11 support out of the box? The short version: it’s orders of magnitude more powerful than a Raspberry Pi 5 while preserving a familiar SBC form factor and a 40‑pin expansion header — but that power comes with trade‑offs in price, power, and use‑case suitability that every buyer should weigh carefully. (notebookcheck.net, aaeon.com)

Background / Overview​

AAEON’s UP Xtreme ARL is a compact single‑board computer (SBC) built around Intel’s Arrow Lake “Core Ultra” 200‑series mobile processors. The board is offered in several SKUs that use the Intel Core Ultra 5 225H, Core Ultra 7 255H, or Core Ultra 7 265H, and AAEON quotes peak AI capability figures of up to 97 TOPS when configured with the 265H SKU — a number that includes combined NPU/GPU INT8 inference throughput. The board ships with soldered LPDDR5 memory (non‑user‑replaceable) up to 64 GB, dual M.2 2280 NVMe slots, an onboard SATA interface for 2.5‑inch drives, and a broad I/O array including two HDMI 2.1 and one DisplayPort 2.1 output for multi‑monitor setups. AAEON lists direct Windows 11 LTSC support alongside modern Linux releases such as Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and Yocto 5+. (aaeon.com, cnx-software.com)
Notebookcheck’s coverage of the announcement underlines the marketing comparison to the Raspberry Pi 5 — citing near‑identical 40‑pin header placement — while noting the much larger performance and AI capability envelope. However, Notebookcheck also notes AAEON has not published pricing at announcement time, which signals this product is targeted at developers, industrial customers, and system integrators rather than the budget‑minded maker market. (notebookcheck.net)

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What’s in the box: hardware at a glance​

Key system specs (representative SKUs)​

• CPUs: Intel Core Ultra 5 225H, Core Ultra 7 255H, Core Ultra 7 265H (mobile Arrow Lake H-series). (aaeon.com, intel.com)
• Memory: Onboard LPDDR5 (dual‑channel), up to 64 GB, soldered and non‑expandable. (aaeon.com)
• Storage:
• 2× M.2 2280 M‑Key (PCIe NVMe, Gen4 capable)
• 1× SATA III 6 Gbps for 2.5‑inch HDD/SSD. (aaeon.com)
• Video & display:
• 2× HDMI 2.1, 1× DisplayPort 2.1, plus DP 1.4 via USB‑C (depending on SKU). (aaeon.com)
• Expansion & I/O:
• 40‑pin GPIO header, M.2 E‑Key (2230) and B‑Key (3052) slots, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type‑A, USB‑C, dual Ethernet (2.5GbE + 1GbE), RS‑232/422/485 header, MIPI‑CSI camera FPC connector. (aaeon.com, cnx-software.com)
• Power & mechanical:
• 9–36 V DC input (lockable), ATX/AT style supply options, dimensions ≈ 122.5 × 120.35 mm (approx. 4.82" × 4.74"). Operating temperature and active cooling modes specified by AAEON. (aaeon.com)

AI performance and what “97 TOPS” means​

AAEON and third‑party coverage attribute up to 97 TOPS of AI throughput to the most powerful ARL SKU. This figure is a composite metric: it aggregates INT8 inference capability across the SoC’s NPU (Intel AI Boost) and the integrated Arc GPU’s INT8 throughput. In practice, measured model latency and throughput will vary dramatically with model architecture, precision (INT8, FP16), batch sizes, runtime stack (DirectML, TensorFlow‑DirectML, ONNX Runtime with Intel accelerations), and driver maturity. Independent analysis of Intel’s Core Ultra product brief confirms the platform integrates both Arc GPU and an NPU component, which together explain high combined TOPS claims. Treat vendor TOPS as directional performance guidance rather than a guaranteed application result. (cnx-software.com, intel.com)

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How the UP Xtreme ARL compares to a Raspberry Pi 5​

Physical and market positioning​

• Size: The UP Xtreme ARL is larger than the Raspberry Pi 5’s credit‑card footprint (Raspberry Pi 5 ≈ 85 × 56 mm vs ARL ≈ 122.5 × 120.35 mm). The ARL remains a compact SBC but shifts the design envelope to support full laptop‑class SoCs and more robust thermal/ power delivery. (raspberrypi.com, aaeon.com)
• Performance tier: The Raspberry Pi 5 uses an ARM Cortex‑A76 SoC (designed for low power, low price). The UP Xtreme ARL uses Intel Core Ultra H‑series mobile processors, delivering multi‑core CPU performance and integrated Arc graphics that are measured in a different class entirely. This is not an “apples‑to‑apples” upgrade — it’s a categorical leap. (raspberrypi.com, aaeon.com)
• Target audience:
• Raspberry Pi 5: education, hobbyist projects, low‑cost edge deployments, prototyping.
• UP Xtreme ARL: industrial automation, robotics, embedded PC deployments, edge AI inference where x86 software stacks, Windows 11, and higher CPU/GPU throughput are required. (notebookcheck.net, cnx-software.com)

GPIO and “Raspberry Pi compatibility” — a careful read​

Notebookcheck’s article highlights that the ARL’s 40‑pin GPIO header is almost the same as the Raspberry Pi’s header, and earlier UP Xtreme boards have explicitly provided Raspberry Pi‑compatible HAT connectors. There is precedent: the UP Xtreme family historically supported a HAT‑style pinout and community projects documented that compatibility. However, physical header matching does not automatically guarantee electrical, voltage, or software compatibility for every HAT or add‑on. Board vendors sometimes remap pins, use alternate functions by default, or provide only a subset of the Raspberry Pi’s functions; software drivers and device tree overlays that Raspberry Pi HATs expect may not be present on an Intel‑based SBC without additional kernel support. Use caution when assuming HAT compatibility — verify electrical levels, pin assignments, and driver support for specific expansion boards. (notebookcheck.net, github-wiki-see.page)

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Practical strengths: where the UP Xtreme ARL shines​

• Raw compute and multitasking — The Core Ultra H‑series CPU and Intel Arc integrated GPU deliver far greater single‑thread and multithread throughput than typical ARM SBCs, making the board suitable for server‑class tasks, virtualization light workloads, and desktop‑class Windows applications. (aaeon.com, intel.com)
• Edge AI with a familiar stack — For teams that need x86 Windows or Linux toolchains and want to run PC‑native inference frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch via ONNX, DirectML), the ARL’s Intel AI Boost + Arc GPU provides a path to low‑latency local inference without the hassle of ARM cross‑compilation or emulation. That matters for robotics, AMR systems, and line‑of‑sight inference in industrial settings. (cnx-software.com)
• I/O breadth and expandability — Dual M.2 2280 NVMe, SATA support, multiple modern display outputs (HDMI 2.1 / DP2.1), and dual Ethernet (2.5 Gb + 1 Gb) let this board sit at the heart of compact workstations, digital signage players, or small‑form industrial PCs. (aaeon.com)
• Native Windows 11 support — AAEON lists Windows 11 LTSC as a supported OS, meaning organizations that standardize on Windows images and drivers can deploy these boards without the ARM→x86 portability complications that Raspberry Pi users face when running Windows on ARM. For environments that require Windows‑only tooling or vendor‑certified stacks, this is a real advantage. (aaeon.com, notebookcheck.net)

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Risks, trade‑offs, and caveats​

1) Cost and procurement​

This is not a budget SBC. AAEON’s UP line targets commercial and industrial buyers; Notebookcheck notes no pricing details at launch — historically UP Xtreme boards carry a significantly higher price than hobbyist SBCs. Expect a premium compared with a Raspberry Pi 5, especially for fully populated 64 GB SKUs. If cost is the primary driver, a Pi remains the better option. (notebookcheck.net, aaeon.com)

2) Power consumption and thermal management​

The ARL SKUs are mobile H‑series chips designed with base powers around 28 W and variable turbo budgets; published system‑level power ranges reported by third parties are tens of watts (CNX Software reported estimates like 57.6–86.4 W typical system consumption in some configurations). This implies active cooling and a robust power supply are mandatory for sustained heavy workloads — not a passive, battery‑powered Pi project. Plan for fans, heatsinks, and a capable DC supply. (cnx-software.com, aaeon.com)

3) Software maturity and driver stack for AI​

Vendor TOPS combine different hardware engines. Real‑world model throughput depends on:

• framework and runtime (ONNX Runtime, DirectML, OpenVINO/Intel tooling),
• driver/firmware maturity for the integrated Arc GPU and NPU,
• supported precisions (INT8, FP16),
• memory bandwidth and thermal headroom.

Benchmarks from independent labs will be required to validate vendor TOPS claims for specific models and use cases; until then, treat TOPS as potential capability rather than guaranteed application throughput. (cnx-software.com, intel.com)

4) GPIO and HAT compatibility caveats​

A 40‑pin header does not automatically equal 1:1 HAT compatibility in practice. GPIO default functions, pull resistors, voltage domains, and kernel drivers may differ. The UP Xtreme family has historically accommodated Raspberry Pi‑style HATs, but each accessory should be validated for voltage and driver support before connecting in production. Use level shifters or isolation when in doubt. (github-wiki-see.page, notebookcheck.net)

5) Weight, enclosure, and deployment constraints​

This board’s extra size for heatsinking, connectors, and a lockable DC jack means it’s less convenient for ultra‑small embedded enclosures. If your project requires sub‑credit‑card size, battery operation, or ultra‑low power, the UP Xtreme ARL is the wrong tool. (aaeon.com)

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Real‑world use cases where ARL makes sense​

• Industrial robotics and AMR (autonomous mobile robots) that require low‑latency on‑device inference and native x86 drivers for sensors and PLC interfaces. (cnx-software.com)
• Compact Windows 11–based kiosks, digital signage, or multi‑monitor point‑of‑sale systems that benefit from NVMe speed and modern display outputs. (aaeon.com)
• Edge inference gateways that must run PC‑native models without ARM cross‑compilation, or that rely on vendor Windows software. (cnx-software.com)
• Development and prototyping for teams that will scale solutions to industrial form factors and require a small fleet of identical, rugged x86 SBCs with long‑life and industrial power options. (aaeon.com)

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Deployment checklist and recommendations​

• Confirm the exact SKU: choose between 225H / 255H / 265H based on your compute and AI needs; only the highest SKU advertises the 97 TOPS composite figure. (aaeon.com, cnx-software.com)
• Plan power and cooling: allocate an appropriate DC supply (9–36 V support means flexibility) and ensure an active cooling solution for sustained heavy loads. (aaeon.com)
• Validate expansion compatibility: test each Raspberry Pi HAT or GPIO device in a controlled environment before deploying to a field unit; check for required kernel drivers or device tree overlays. (github-wiki-see.page, notebookcheck.net)
• Test AI models on the target stack: use representative workloads and the actual runtime (DirectML, ONNX Runtime with Intel accelerations, or Intel’s Edge AI tooling) to benchmark latency and throughput. Don’t rely solely on vendor TOPS for production capacity planning. (cnx-software.com, intel.com)
• Factor total cost of ownership: add cooling, power supplies, SSDs, and potential industrial enclosures to the unit price when comparing to alternatives. (notebookcheck.net)

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Software and OS: Windows 11 vs Linux​

AAEON lists Windows 11 LTSC / Windows 10 LTSC as supported OS images alongside Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and Yocto 5+. This is important: unlike Raspberry Pi 5 users who attempting to run Windows 11 must target ARM builds or use community ports and firmware workarounds, the UP Xtreme ARL is an x86 platform and runs standard Windows 11 natively with vendor driver support — a distinct deployment advantage in organizations that standardize on Windows tooling. That said, enterprise Windows images often require vendor drivers for the integrated GPU, NPU, and Ethernet controllers; confirm driver availability and update cadence with AAEON for your chosen OS. (aaeon.com, notebookcheck.net)
For context, many Raspberry Pi users use community guides to run Windows 11 ARM on the Pi 5 with custom UEFI and WoR (Windows on Raspberry) tools — a workable hobbyist path but one that comes with driver and performance caveats. Community how‑tos show the complexity and tradeoffs of running Windows on ARM-based SBCs and illustrate why a native x86 Windows board can be easier to deploy in production.

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Final analysis — who should buy an UP Xtreme ARL?​

Purchase intent should be driven by use case:

• Buy this board if:
• You need x86 Windows 11 or Linux on a compact SBC with laptop‑class CPUs and integrated Arc graphics.
• Your workload benefits from on‑device inference and you want to use common PC inference runtimes without dealing with ARM toolchain issues.
• You’re designing industrial or commercial products where per‑unit cost is justified by capabilities, manageability, and vendor support. (aaeon.com, cnx-software.com)
• Don’t buy this board if:
• You’re building low‑cost hobby projects, battery‑powered makerspace builds, or simple GPIO experiments where the Raspberry Pi 5 remains more cost‑effective and energy efficient. (raspberrypi.com)
• You need sub‑card‑size form factors, passive cooling, or the lowest possible total cost. (aaeon.com)

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Bottom line​

The UP Xtreme ARL positions AAEON firmly in the “industrial, high‑performance SBC” category: it brings laptop‑class Intel Core Ultra H‑series CPUs, serious integrated GPU/NPU AI capabilities, and native Windows 11 support into a compact developer board. That combination will be compelling for robotics, edge inference, and industrial applications where x86 compatibility, multi‑display outputs, and NVMe storage are important. At the same time, the ARL is not a Raspberry Pi 5 replacement for hobbyists; it’s a different tool for different jobs: bigger, hotter, and far more powerful — and likely far costlier. Buyers should validate HAT/ GPIO compatibility on a per‑accessory basis, benchmark their exact models on the shipped runtime stack, and budget for the power and cooling requirements that come with laptop‑class silicon. (aaeon.com, cnx-software.com, notebookcheck.net)

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If your priority is low‑cost tinkering, the Raspberry Pi 5 remains the better pick; if you require industrial Windows support, NVMe storage, multi‑monitor output, and local x86 AI inference, the UP Xtreme ARL now offers a credible, professionally supported option — provided your project budget and thermal envelope can absorb what this board demands. (notebookcheck.net, aaeon.com)

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Source: Notebookcheck Raspberry Pi 5 SBC alternative offers massive performance thanks to Intel Core Ultra 7, up to 64GB RAM and Windows 11 support