CSA96 Rockchip Android 4K TV Box Review
We have seen a couple Rockchip RK3399 TV boxes being released and some of them got some really bad reviews, however today we have the CSA96 Rockchip RK3399 hexa core Android 6.0 4K TV box. In this review we will be testing most of its core hardware, and we also have some benchmark scores and gameplay demonstration. Also to the end of review you have my final comments and recommendations.
Powerful Hardware
Let’s start with the CPU or some might say CPUs. The CSA96 sports the Rockchip RK3399 hexa core (6X) CPU running up to 2.0GHz (true 2.0GHz) unlike other TV boxes that claim to run 2.0 GHz and only max at 1.5GHz. The RK3399 comprises of two cores, the quad core Cortex A53, and the dual core Cortex A72, for a total of six cores. This CPU makes this box ideal for demanding tasks and 3D gaming.
When it comes to memory, the CSA96 comes with 4GB of DDR3 RAM and 32GB of internal storage. This is great because in recent times apps and games have increased in size by 100% and Android games are now cumming in the GB size and require more space and RAM to run efficiently. With 32GB internal and 4GB RAM the CSA96 has the right stuff for any demanding app or game. It would have been the ideal situation if they used DDR4 RAM and 64GB of internal storage. I guess that would have affected the price of the box.
If the CSA96 is classified as a high end TV box then that must be reflected by a good GPU. The CSA96 display is powered by ARM Mali T860 quad core (4X) running up to 650Mhz. This it the highest rated GPU currently being used in a TV box, and is used in all RK3399 TV boxes.
The wireless connectivity is consistent with most modern boxes, it has support for 802.11ac dual band 2.4GHz + 5.8GHz WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0. You also have wired connection with Ethernet LAN speed of up to 1000M
Product Listing
Black or Silver Color can be selected on product page
High end IO Ports
The CSA96 comes with latest in USB connections. It comes with 1 USB 20, 1 USB 3.0, and 1 USB type C also acts as you OTG port. These ports provide the latest in USB connectivity which allows you to connect large TB hard-drives that wasn’t possible before, and achieve the highest data transfer speeds possible. Other ports include 1 SD card slot, 1 optical audio port, 1 RJ45 Ethernet LAN port, and 1 HDMI 2.0 port.
UI and OS
The CSA96 runs on a Rooted version of Android 6.0 operating system which is OK, but for such good hardware Android 7.1 would be better. However, this can be achieved via a firmware update. The User interface is quite different to other launchers I’ve used it comes with custom settings area and large buttons and slide screens. It has a purple theme color and it has a navigation bar at the bottom, and a status bar at the top for easy navigating, multitasking, and closing apps.
The operating system comes with a few social media apps, two streaming apps Netflix and Kodi, and the rest is core system apps. After installing my own streaming apps, third party addons on Kodi, benchmarking apps and a couple games, I was very pleased with my findings.
Benchmarks and Performance
Streaming free movies and TV shows was a breeze, I was able to watch free HD streams top movies and TV series from various sources. 4K videos ran without any problems as high as 400mbps at 60fps in formats of ts, mkv, mpeg4.
Gaming on the CSA96 was also very good. I was able to play Injustice-2 mobile version which is a very difficult game to run on older hardware, and it ran smoothly on this device.
Benchmark scores
Antutu – 78036
GeekBench4 – 1370 single-core / 2629 multi-core
IceStorm Extreme – 10313
RAM Copy – 9600.83 MB/s
Internal Storage – Read – 139 MB/s Write 78 MB/s
SD Card – Read 25 MB/s Write 17 MB/s
Conclusion
I am very pleased with the performance of this device, t I like the bench mark scores they are some of the highest scores I’ve had on my site. Everything ran well on this box, I have no complains. The box does not overheat or freeze up or shut down on you. If I was to make any negative remarks about this box, I wouldn’t call it negative, it more of a tech junkie thing where we always look for the highest hardware with little regard for price, so I would like DDR4 instead of DDR3, 64GB of internal storage instead of 32GB, and Android 7.1 instead of Android 6.0. Be mindful these and not cons but it would have been the BOMB to have this box maxed out on everything.
Hallo,
dieser Test hat mir sehr geholfen und ich habe mir diese Box gekauft 😉
Habe sie auch gleich getestet und siehe da, alles passte 😉
Nun meine Frage zwecks Firmware 6.0 auf 7.1.2
Ich konnte nur diese Version finden RIKOMAGIC MK39 TV BOX FIRMWARE LADEN ANDROID NOUGAT 7.1.2
würde die auch funktionieren auf der csa 96 Box ???
Danke im voraus für Ihr Feedback
Mfg MrBROWNY ;-))
I have a firmware for the CSA96 I will post the link for you.
Can you please send a firmware for CSA96 to me? I mean the upgrade from android 6.1 to 7.1.2 please.
This is a universal firmware will work on various brands with same box eg. Models R99 / CSA96 / QINTAIX Q39 / R-TV BOX K99
Note! on download page wait for the 42 sec timer to countdown and then click slow download button.
Download here 1.2GB file size – https://quickfileshare.org/bxy/R99_17_03_2018_7.1.2.img
Download Page – https://www.entertainmentbox.com/how-to-upgrade-the-r99-tv-box-from-android-6-1-to-android-7-1-2/
Firmware posting – http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-support/rockchip-based-tv-players/rk3399-devices/712262-htc-t077-v2-r99-csa96-qintaix-q39-r-tv-box-k99-android-7-1-2
Thank you very much 🙂
Is the system going to be stable after upgrading to 7.1.2 ?
Yes I tried it and I didn’t have any noticeable issues. I didn’t use for very long though since I always have to be moving on to the next box.
Do you know if the latest Android 8.1 has been released for CSA96 or R99 ?
Hi, do you know if the newest Android 8.1 has been released for CSA96 tv box?
DO YOU HAVE THE UPGRADE OF ANDROID 7.1.2 SEND ME IF YOU HAVE AND WEATHER YOU HAVE FILES TO INSTALL IT ON THE BOX …ENTERTAINMENT BOX HAVE BUT CAN’T INSTALL KODI 17.6 OR LAI HAVE TO USE EBOX KODI
HSOUZA1265@AOL.COM
The Android 7.1 firmware for the CSA96 is a universal firmware that can be ued on the R99, H96 Max, the Yundoo Y8, and the CSA96. It’s called the firefly firmware. You might be lucky to get it now Android 8.1 enjoy.
http://en.t-firefly.com/doc/download/3.html
Has the android 8.1 firmware been tested on the rk99 or csa96 boxes? thanks