The ODROID-H-series is going 10 GbE

Imagine you have a Single-Board Computer with onboard 10 GbE networking, being low cost and low power consumption, allowing 24×7 usage without ballooning the energy monthly bills to unsustainable amounts.

Imagine this very same SBC provides you with 4, yes 4 M.2 slots, 3 being PCIe Gen 3 x2 lanes, 1 being PCIe Gen 3 x1 lane, allowing user customization with NVMe SSDs or PCIe to 6Gbs SATA or additional NICs or WiFi 6e or 7 or AI accelerators or custom cards (e.g. sensors.)

The team at Hardkernel imagined it and decided to make it a reality!

Introducing the ODROID-H5

Hardkernel is introducing the ODROID-H5, which includes a complete reconfiguration of the 9 High-Speed IO (HSIO) lanes, plus a dedicated USB 3.1 Gen 2 10 Gbps lane provided by the processor.

The points discussed below highlight the key evolutions of the new ODROID-H5 series compared to its predecessor, the ODROID-H4:

1. Efficiency-focused CPU: The N300 operates as a high-efficiency variant of the N305, specifically engineered for reduced power consumption and thermal output. This optimization results in a multi-threaded performance profile approximately 10–15% lower than the N305, making it an ideal choice for 24×7 low-power operation (TDP at 7W instead of 15W for the N305).
2. Onboard 10 GbE Networking: Experience a massive leap in bandwidth with out-of-the-box 10 GbE connectivity, offering a significant upgrade over standard 2.5 GbE solutions.
3. Unprecedented M.2 Expandability: While the H4 provided a single M.2 slot (x4 lanes), the H5 delivers 3 x M.2 slots (x2 lanes) plus 1 x M.2 slot (x1 lane) natively. This design nearly doubles the total available lanes (7 vs. 4) and eliminates the need for external splitter cards, allowing for rich customization with NVMe, NICs, and AI accelerators.

As the team at Hardkernel introduces the H5 series,  they remain committed to the H4 series for as long as critical upstream components, such as Intel CPU models, remain available for production. Unfortunately, the global CPU supply chain has been extremely volatile lately, which has caused regrettable disruptions in their ability to maintain H4 stock. They are doing our best to navigate these supply issues to resume production as soon as possible.

Comparison Table

Note 1: See INTEL Ark comparison table at https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/compare.html?productIds=231806,231805,233090

Note 2: The INTEL Ark pages state the Max Memory Size to be 16GB. However it has been well documented by many users that 32GB, 48GB and 64GB SO-DIMMs work okay with the INTEL processors N CPU. Of course, we have also confirmed the normal operation of the 32GB, 48GB, and 64GB RAM modules.

Note 3: The ODROID M.2 10GbE Card product page is at  https://www.hardkernel.com/shop/10gbe-m-2-card-type-1/  See also Wiki page at https://wiki.odroid.com/accessory/connectivity/m.2_to_10gbe_adapter

Note 4: The ODROID M.2 6-port SATA Card product page is at https://www.hardkernel.com/shop/6-port-sata-m-2-card-type-1/ . See also Wiki page at: https://wiki.odroid.com/accessory/connectivity/m.2_to_sata6_adapter

Note 5: See 3rd party solution as discussed for the ODROID M2. It applies easily to the H5.  https://wiki.odroid.com/odroid-m1s/application_note/m.2_wifi_bt

Leveraging the onboard (a.k.a. out of the box) 10GbE vs. 2.5GbE

The technologies listed below significantly profit from the four times increased speed:

– File transfer using SMB.
– Distributed file systems.
– Distributed databases.
– VM server over 10GbE (e.g. Proxmox).
– Data Lab clusters over 10 GbE.
– Distributed AI/HPC processing over 10 GbE.
– Distributed sensors & commands requiring more than 1 or 2.5 GbE bandwidth.

Benefits of 3 x M.2 slots x2 lanes + 1 x M.2 slot x1 lane vs. 1 x M.2 slot x4 lanes out of the box

The H5 offers 7 x HSIO lanes on 4 x M.2 slots instead of 4 x HSIO lanes on 1 M.2 slot, almost double. The CPU offers 9 HSIO lanes, after taking 2 lanes for the 10 GbE onboard NIC, we decided to federate the 7 remaining lanes into M.2 slots, leaving the user, meaning you, to decide how these lanes will be used. In doing so, the ODROID H5 is now the most versatile model of the H-series.

Example:

Here is a possible configuration with optional PCIe peripherals: 

– One x2 3rd Party NVMe drive
– One x2 ODROID M.2 10 GbE card (you then have 2 x 10 GbE NIC!)
– One x1 3rd Party NPU AI accelerator
– One x2 ODROID 6-Port SATA M.2 Card 

This configuration would enable distributed AI/HPC processing over 10GbE.

The photos shown below reflect this example configuration.

Iperf3 Network Benchmarking

During our 60-second throughput evaluation, the board maintained a consistent bitrate of close to 9.5 Gbits/sec. Furthermore, the H5 demonstrated exceptional thermal and link stability, showing zero performance degradation or connectivity issues during a rigorous 18-hour Iperf stress test.

The team has finally realized a vision for a truly cost-effective and eco-friendly 10 Gbps network storage solution, engineered to deliver high-speed data handling with remarkably low power overhead.
Even when actively connected to a 10 GbE network, the H5 maintains an impressive idle power profile of approximately 3W, while remaining fully capable of saturating the link with real-world transmission speeds of 1+ GB/s.

N97 vs N305 vs N300

Check out the table below detailing the PassMark benchmark results, providing a clear performance comparison across the N97, N305, and N300 processors. While these are synthetic benchmarks, we ensured a level playing field by running them on three distinct boards within an identical Ubuntu 26.04 + Linux kernel 7.0 environment, making this data perfectly suited for evaluating relative performance gaps.

In terms of raw computational throughput, while single-thread ratings remain comparable, the N300 yields a CPU Mark score approximately 10% lower than the N305, reflecting its performance profile in multi-threaded environments. This delta is a logical consequence of the hardware specifications, as the N300’s sustained multi-core frequency is engineered to be roughly 10% lower than that of its N305 counterpart.

Regarding power management, the Power-Limit-4 (PL4) is set to Disabled by default. It is important to note that our latest BIOS releases come with Unlimited Performance Mode (UP) enabled out of the box. For more information about the UP mode, see the annex Unlimited Performance Mode at the bottom of this document.

To quantify the performance delta between the N300 and N305 within a more pragmatic framework, our team executed a series of rigorous evaluations utilizing various modules from the Phoronix Test Suite, including:

• Data compression algorithms
• Cryptographic processing
• Imaging and rendering tasks
• Python scripting performance
• Video encoding throughput
• Vulkan-based compute workloads

The results indicate a performance variance of less than 5%. Consequently, we believe this marginal difference would be virtually imperceptible to users during real-world computing operations.

While the generous onboard heatsink makes fanless operation technically feasible, we strongly advocate for the installation of an active cooling solution to preserve the peak performance of the H5 board’s 8-core architecture during sustained loads.

For optimal thermal management, the official slim 92x92x15mm 12V PWM cooling fan—or an equivalent third-party alternative—should be mounted beneath the venting apertures of our official chassis. We have validated the third-party cooling solutions for compatibility listed below:

• Noctua NF-A9x14 PWM (14mm thickness)
• Thermalright TL-9015 (15mm thickness)

The ODROID-H5 retains the industry-standard 12V PWM 4-pin connector utilized in the H4 series, ensuring that users can easily integrate a wide variety of readily available third-party slim cooling fans into their builds.

Triple-Head 4K Monitor Support

Experience the versatility of connecting up to three 4K/60Hz monitors to the H5 board, perfect for both immersive entertainment and high-productivity workflows. Leveraging advanced hardware virtualization, users can seamlessly run Linux and Windows environments simultaneously with flawless performance.

The images shown below demonstrate the multi-display capabilities of the new ODROID-H5:

Picture 1: Simultaneous 4K playback of three different YouTube videos using Chrome on the Ubuntu desktop, showcasing smooth multi-threaded media handling.

Picture 2: An ultra-wide WebGL Aquarium demo running on Ubuntu Chromium across all displays, achieving a massive combined resolution of approximately 11520 x 2160.

Picture 3: A demonstration of hardware virtualization (VT-x) in action: the left monitor displays the Ubuntu Desktop host, the center runs Windows 11 as a guest, and the right runs  .

• A. CPU (Intel N300 )
• B. 1 x DDR5 SO-DIMM slots (Single channel memory support)
• C. 1 x M.2 Slot PCIe 3.0 x 2 (Label M2_SSD1)
• D. 1 x M.2 Slot PCIe 3.0 x 1 (Label M2_SSD4)
• E. 1 x M.2 Slot PCIe 3.0 x 2 (Label M2_SSD3)
• F.  1 x M.2 Slot PCIe 3.0 x 2 (Label M2_SSD2)
• G. 1 x eMMC (Embedded Multimedia-Card) Socket
• H. 1 x DC Power Jack
• I.  3 x USB 2.0
• J. 1 x RJ45 Ethernet Ports (10/100/1000/2500/10000)
• K. 1x USB 2.0 and 1 x USB 3.0
• L. 1 x DisplayPort 1.2
• M. 1 x HDMI 2.0
• N. 1 x DisplayPort 1.2
• O. 1 x Peripheral Expansion Header (24-pin)
• P.  1 x Active Cooling Fan Connector (4-pin)
• Q. 1 x RTC/CMOS Backup Battery Connector (2-pin)
• R. 1 x Power Switch
• S. 1 x Reset Switch
• T. 4 x System LED Indicators

Specifications

Power Consumption Characteristics

Power Consumption Characteristics with Desktop GUI

Using our specialized ODROID-PowerMate, the team conducted a series of precise evaluations to quantify the ODROID-H5 energy profile during active use cases. To simulate a real-world workstation environment, our test bench included a high-speed M.2 NVMe SSD, a 4K HDMI display, a stable 1GbE Ethernet link (a 1GbE network switch connected to the H5 onboard 10GbE), and a standard USB input device.

When applying heavy computing loads to all 8 CPU cores and 32 GPU execution units, the maximum system peak power is expected to rise to approximately 25W in UP mode. The data table and analytical chart shown below provide a comprehensive breakdown of the power consumption metrics observed during our rigorous testing.

Idle Power Characteristics for Headless Server

For servers with prolonged periods of inactivity, minimizing idle power consumption is essential to reduce operational energy costs and support a sustainable global environment.

The team at Hardkernel remains dedicated to refining the low-power efficiency of the H-series. Efficiency is our guiding principle during the hardware design phase, especially when selecting critical power conversion components.

Consequently, the new H5 model maintains an impressive idle profile of approximately 2W. Recognizing the high level of community interest in these metrics, we have performed comprehensive, in-depth evaluations across the model range.

Our methodology began by resetting all BIOS parameters to factory defaults and booting into an Ubuntu 26.04 + Linux kernel 7.0 environment. Upon verifying a CPU C10 (pc10) state occupancy exceeding 96%, we logged power consumption at one-second intervals for 60 seconds using the ODROID-PowerMate. The average values are detailed in the comparison table below.

Subsequent tests involved disconnecting the HDMI cable to observe the power delta. We also evaluated the system with Unlimited Performance Mode enabled; our data confirmed that this setting has a negligible impact on idle energy draw.

Significant efficiency gains were achieved by adjusting the PCIe ASPM (Active State Power Management) from “Disabled” to “Auto,” dropping idle consumption below 3W. While “Disabled” remains the default to ensure compatibility with certain unstable NVMe/PCIe devices, users are encouraged to activate this feature based on their specific hardware configuration.

Furthermore, with the Ethernet cable removed, the H5 board demonstrates a remarkable idle floor of just 2.2W. While this scenario is unique to standalone applications like robotics or drones, it highlights the architectural efficiency of the board.

The H5 provides a powerful, eco-friendly solution for anyone looking to deploy a 24/7 low-power server that is both cost-effective and environmentally responsible.

Notes

• The PL4 setting was measured in the default Unlimited Performance Mode.
• Measurements were taken with all PCIe ASPM settings changed to Auto.
• A 1GbE switch connected to the onboard 10GbE NIC.
• In this test, Ubuntu Desktop OS was used, and we think that power consumption could have been slightly reduced if Ubuntu Server OS had been used.

Comprehensive Idle Power Metrics 

The data table shown below provides an analytical breakdown of the ODROID-H5 energy profile relative to varying Ethernet link speeds.

• Our evaluation spanned five distinct bandwidth tiers—100Mbps, 1Gbps, 2.5Gbps, 5Gbps, and 10Gbps—revealing a logical and measurable correlation between negotiated link speed and the system’s idle power floor.
• Notably, by disconnecting peripheral input devices such as the USB keyboard, we observed an even further reduction in energy draw compared to the baseline metrics documented in our previous tests.

The Genesis of the ODROID-H5

Network Evolution: 2.5GbE vs. 10GbE

For years, the adoption of 10GbE networking remained a luxury for home labs and SOHO environments, often sidelined by prohibitive deployment and maintenance costs. However, the landscape has shifted; the infrastructure for high-speed connectivity is now more accessible than ever, with affordable switches and adapters becoming the new standard.

While legacy 10GbE NIC were notorious for high power draw and excessive thermal output, the ODROID-H5 leverages the cutting-edge RTL8127 controller. This results in an eco-friendly SBC that delivers massive bandwidth without the burden of unsustainable energy bills.

It was time to embrace a new tier of performance: experience networking speeds 10x faster than 1GbE and 4x faster than 2.5GbE solutions.

A Paradigm Shift in M.2 Expandability

The ODROID-H4 series offered a single M.2 slot utilizing four PCIe 3.0 lanes; the H5 series redefined this architecture with 3 x M.2 slots (x2 lanes) plus 1 x M.2 slot (x1 lane). This allows for the simultaneous installation of up to four NGFF PCIe devices natively, eliminating the need for external M.2 splitter cards.

This expanded slot array offers unprecedented flexibility. Users can now architect high-density configurations featuring multiple NVMe storage pools, AI NPU accelerators, additional NICs, WiFi modules, LTE/5G connectivity, or even external GPUs.

Architectural Nuances & Refinements

We have maintained the core features that define the H-series DNA, including in-band ECC support, dual flash BIOS, the versatile 24-pin IO header, and the standard PWM cooling fan connector, all within the familiar board form factor.

The previous dual 2.5GbE configuration has evolved into a single, high-performance 10GbE network port. For those requiring dual connectivity, our 10GbE M.2 Card provides an elegant expansion path.

As the industry moves away from SATA storage, we have removed the traditional SATA ports found on the H4 Plus/Ultra models to prioritize M.2 density. For power users with legacy HDD or SATA SSD,, we recommend our optional 6-Port SATA M.2 Card.

In addition, infrequently used analog and optical audio ports were removed to simplify I/O and reduce the board height, as well as the BOM. Note that you can get the audio from the HDMI port.

Status Report: ODROID-H4 Series

The Hardkernel team apologizes for the recent H4 series stock shortage. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused. The global semiconductor market remains highly unstable, and as major manufacturers focus on producing enterprise AI components, it is having a severe impact on the supply and pricing of general-purpose CPUs and memory chips.

We are prepared to immediately resume H4 series production as soon as CPU supplies are secured, but we have not yet received a definitive supply schedule from our suppliers. Additionally, we must inform you that securing the parts required for future H5 production is also facing significant difficulties.

Despite these supply chain issues, we remain committed to the H series. We will make every direct and indirect effort to resolve these issues.

Annex

Unlimited Performance Mode

Starting with the Core 10th generation Intel introduced Power Limit 4 (PL4) and made it user configurable via the BIOS. What is it? PL4 is the SoC’s maximum power limit at the package level. No matter what the CPU is actually doing, it will not pass this limit. The interesting side of the story is that as a user you can set it to 0, which means no limit.

Fortunately, Intel carried it with the Alder Lake-N processors.

The ODROID-H5 BIOS allows you to set this limit to 0. This is what we call Unlimited Performance mode. The default value is 30,000 corresponding to the Balanced mode, meaning around a SoC’s maximum power limit of 17W for the N300 of the H5.

Using the Unlimited Performance mode (annotated UP) with the ODROID-H5 enables the CPU to turbo boost indefinitely: 2.3 GHz all cores and 3.8 GHz for one core.

As you may expect the CPU will get hot quickly (in a matter of minutes) and get close to his T Junction (Tj) temperature which will trigger its emergency shutdown as thermal protection. But the CPU will not reach Tj because it will automatically throttle down when it is about 5 degrees Celsius away from Tj (we tested this multiple times). As soon as the CPU thermally throttles down you start losing the increased performance you were aiming at while still consuming more power compared to the Balanced mode. Not ideal.

In order to prevent thermal throttling when using the Unlimited Performance mode, the solution is simple: active cooling with a fan.

We designed the H5 heat sink to make it very efficient: (a) you do not need a fan in Balanced mode (b) it has a high rate of thermal exchange when coupled with a fan.

Using a fan will decrease the maximal CPU temperature by about 25 to 30 degrees Celsius depending on factors such as the ambient temperature. It it difficult for us to give you precise temperature values because what one witnesses depends on many factors: as already mentioned the ambient temperature, the CPU BGA soldering thickness error, the heat sink assembly tolerance, the type of thermal paste and quantity applied, the cooling fan speed RPM error margin (which can be as high as 5 to 10%). All of these factors can result in a 10+ degrees Celsius difference between one setting and another.

The important point is that with active cooling you get the increased performance you aim at while the CPU stays just comfortably warm while turbo boosting indefinitely, way below temperatures close to Tj. In other words the fan active cooling brings you the best of both worlds. This is what we witnessed and validated while performing many tests in different locations.

Last point: in Unlimited Performance mode, the CPU (and the fan) use more power than they do in Balanced mode, easily reaching 25 watt with the ODROID-H5. However this happens only when the CPU is indeed turbo boosting. When idle, the system will use the same power as in Balanced mode. If your goal is to minimize energy consumption, use Balanced mode. If your goal is to maximize performance use Unlimited Performance mode and again use active cooling with a fan to avoid the CPU to be constantly throttling down.

For learning how to change PL4 in the BIOS, as well as change the fan settings, please refer to the related Wiki page.