This sub-chip and motherboardThe Boot ROM size of the Rockchip RK3588 chip is 32KB.The internal Boot ROM space of RK3588 is 32KB.The Boot ROM here is mainly used to store boot code and some basic initialization programs, playing a critical role during device startup, responsible for guiding the system to load a more complete operating system and applications from external storage devices (such as SPI interface, eMMC interface, SD/MMC interface, etc.).As a high-performance application processor launched by Rockchip, the internal storage structure of RK3588 is mainly divided into the following parts, and it is necessary to clearly distinguish the relevant concepts:
1. Internal Storage Types and Capacities
(1) Boot ROM (Boot Read-Only Memory)
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Function: Stores the initial boot code necessary for chip startup (firmly embedded in the chip).
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Capacity: Typically 64KB~128KB (specific values are subject to Rockchip’s official data manual).
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This ROM stores the most basic boot loader (such as Mask ROM), responsible for initializing basic hardware (clock, DDR controller, etc.), and loading the next stage boot program (such as U-Boot) from external storage media (such as SPI Flash, eMMC).
(2) OTP (One-Time Programmable) Memory
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Function: Used to store unique identifiers for the chip (such as ID), security keys, and other immutable data.
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Capacity: Typically 1KB~4KB, depending on the chip model and configuration.
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Users cannot directly use this for program or data storage.
2. External Storage Dependencies
As an application processor (AP), RK3588 does not integrate large-capacity user-programmable ROM, and needs to run the system and store data through external storage devices:
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RAM: Supports LPDDR4/LPDDR4x/LPDDR5, with flexible capacity configurations (typically 4GB~32GB).
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Non-volatile Storage: Relies on external storage media such as SPI NOR/NAND Flash, eMMC, UFS, NVMe SSD.
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For example: System firmware (such as Uboot, Kernel) is usually stored in eMMC or SPI Flash.
3. Common Confusion Points Analysis
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Misconception: Confusing RAM capacity with ROM.
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Correction: RAM is the running memory (such as 8GB LPDDR5), data is lost after power off; ROM (such as eMMC) is used for persistent storage of the system and user data.
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Development Advice:
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If you need to expand storage space, it should be achieved through external eMMC (typically 16GB~256GB) or SSD, rather than relying on the very small capacity of the internal Boot ROM.
4. Official Documentation Reference
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Boot ROM Detailed Description: Refer to the “Chapter 4: Boot Process” in the “RK3588 TRM (Technical Reference Manual)” which clearly states the functions and capacity limitations of the Boot ROM.
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OTP Configuration: See the section “Secure Boot & OTP Configuration” in the document, which explains the purpose and access methods of the secure storage area.
Summary
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The internal non-volatile storage capacity available to users of RK3588 is extremely small (only Boot ROM and OTP), and actual development needs to rely on external storage media.
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If you need to store systems or applications, please design external solutions such as eMMC, SPI Flash, or SSD.