Emuelec Supported Platforms -

This is an experimental branch that adds support for Rockchip and Allwinner devices. Warning: This branch is bleeding edge. Do not use it for a permanent arcade cabinet.

Newly added (as of 2025):

If you own a Rockchip device, you must download the ng (Next Gen) image, not the standard Amlogic image.

Chips: Amlogic S805, S905X
Example devices: MXQ Pro 4K, Tanix TX3 Mini (early)

Knowing your chip is not enough. EmuELEC uses Device Tree Blobs (DTB) to map the hardware. You must select the correct DTB for your specific board revision. emuelec supported platforms

Here is a practical workflow to find your platform:

Real-world example: You bought a "T95 Plus" claiming to be 4GB RAM. AIDA64 shows "S905X." You are in the gxl family. You would download EmuELEC-Amlogic-gxl.arm-4.6.img.gz. Inside the device_trees folder, you would rename a file like gxl_p212_2g.dtb to dtb.img on your SD card.

To save you money, here is a list of hardware that is incompatible with EmuELEC, despite looking similar to supported boxes.

EmuELEC started on set-top boxes, but the developer community loves SBCs. Here is the official status for popular boards. This is an experimental branch that adds support

| Board | SoC | EmuELEC Support | Notes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Odroid-N2 / N2+ | Amlogic S922X | Perfect | The developer's reference board. Everything works. | | Odroid-C4 | Amlogic S905X3 | Perfect | Requires external heatsink. Best budget SBC. | | Raspberry Pi 4 / 5 | Broadcom BCM2711 | Not Supported | Use RetroPie or Recalbox. EmuELEC is for Amlogic only. | | Khadas VIM3 | Amlogic A311D | Perfect | Overkill for retro games. Great for PS2 experiments. | | Orange Pi 5 | Rockchip RK3588 | NG Branch only | Works but Wi-Fi/BT are buggy. | | Libre Computer "Le Potato" | Amlogic S905X | Perfect | The cheapest official option ($35). |

Important Note on Raspberry Pi: Users frequently ask, "Does EmuELEC run on Raspberry Pi?" The answer is no. The Pi uses a VideoCore GPU, not an Amlogic Mali GPU. The binary drivers are incompatible. Do not attempt to flash an EmuELEC image to a Pi SD card.

For many, the true test of an emulation OS is how it handles arcade cabinets. EmuELEC supports a wide swathe of FinalBurn Alpha (FBA) and MAME cores.

From the pixel-perfect ports of Ms. Pac-Man to the late-90s fighting games of the Neo Geo, EmuELEC provides a robust arcade experience. Users can utilize the AdvanceMAME emulator for older cabinets or FBNeo for a more modern, consolidated arcade library. If you own a Rockchip device, you must

If you are reading this to purchase a new device for EmuELEC, here is your TL;DR shopping list:

Final Pro Tip: Always download the img.gz file from the official GitHub releases page (https://github.com/EmuELEC/EmuELEC/releases). Never trust "pre-configured" images from YouTube videos; they often include malware or broken DTB files.

By matching the correct SoC family to the right device tree, you turn a $30 disposable Android box into a retro gaming console that rivals a $200 dedicated machine. Happy emulating.

| Budget | Recommended Box | Chip | RAM | EmuELEC Version | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Low ($25–35) | X96 Max+ | S905X3 | 2/4GB | v5.x – latest | | Mid ($40–60) | HK1 Box | S905X3 | 4GB | v5.x – latest | | High ($80+) | Odroid N2+ | S922X | 4GB | v6.x (best) | | Avoid | Any S805 / RK3328 | – | – | No support |