March 8, 2016 at 18:39Alternatives to the Raspberry Pi
When it comes to single-board computers, it is probably the Raspberry Pi that comes to mind first. Moreover, the third “raspberry” has recently been released, which is faster and more powerful than previous versions. Tiny computers of this line, originally intended for training in computer science, can do a lot of interesting things. This “machine” can become a solar-powered weather station, the governing center of the “smart home”, a game console for lovers of 8-bit classics and even the heart of radio-controlled models. It all depends on the imagination, desire and directness of the hands.
But despite all its features and advantages, the Raspberry Pi is certainly imperfect. There are other models on the single-board computer market. Below is a selection of RPi alternatives that deserve attention.
The offer from the South Korean company Hardkernel, which in terms of functionality and price is similar to RPi, is only more powerful. The ODROID-C2 also has 4 USB 2.0 ports and an HDMI micro USB OTG port. The cost is $ 5 higher than the second and third RPi.
The system runs on a 64-bit SoC Amlogic S905 processor with four ARM Cortex-A53 cores whose clock frequency is 2 GHz (4x ~ 4600 DMIPS). Supports 2 GB third generation SDRAM. ODROID-C2 is equipped with an ARM Mali 450 MP3 GPU graphics accelerator with a clock frequency of 750 MHz. The board also has an IR receiver, eMMC slot. This mini PC can run on Ubuntu 16.04 and Android 5.1.
Pine A64 Plus is a cheap single-board 64-bit computer. Powered by an Allwinner A64 processor with four Cortex-A53 cores and a clock frequency of 1.2 GHz. Maybe life is equipped with 1 GB or 2 GB of DDR3 RAM. In total there are 2x USB 2.0 ports.
The announced price is $ 19 for 1 GB of RAM and $ 29 for 2 GB of RAM.
Next in line is a single-board BeagleBone Black worth $ 45. And this is a good alternative for those who lack RPi resources.
The new model is modernized by the Sitara AM335X processor based on two ARM Cortex-A8 cores with a clock frequency of 1 GHz. The computer is running preinstalled Angström Linux, but other OSs (Ubuntu, Android) can also be installed on SBC. GPU - SGX530. The motherboard has 512 MB of DDR3 RAM at 800 MHz, in addition there is a soldered flash memory of 2 GB and two USB 2.0 connectors. Also on board there is micro HDMI.
Banana Pi is a high-end SBC for $ 50. Despite being similar to RPi, the device is not its clone. At the heart of the system is a dual-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor with a clock frequency of 1 GHz. RAM is 1 GB DDR3.
Banana Pi is quite roomy. The computer board has 2 USB 2.0 connectors, an Internet output and a SATA 2.0 connector. Available memory: maximum up to 64 GB via SD card and up to 2 TB via SATA port.
Intel's $ 45 single-board computer, which offers Arduino support and the ability to boot without external memory. The board runs on a 32-bit Quark SoC X1000 processor with a clock frequency of up to 400 MHz. In size, it is slightly larger than “raspberries”.
It contains 256 MB of DDR3, which of course is inferior to RPi models, but its 100 Mb network interface card, as well as the ability to integrate with Arduino, make it convenient for working with the electronic industry and robotics.
NummingBoard is similar to RPi. It runs on a 1 GHz dual-core i.MX6 Cortex-A9 processor and contains a GC2000 GPU with 1 GB of RAM installed. Support for Android and Linux is top-notch. The basic version configuration also includes: 10/100 Mbit / s network cards, two USB 2.0 ports, a micro SD card slot, HDMI and SPDIF connectors, as well as UART, GPIO and SPI interfaces.
HummingBoard comes with Android 4.4 KitKat. The price of a computer is $ 75 - $ 100.
Intel has released a single-board Minnowboard Max, powered by an Atom E3845 processor with a frequency of 1.46 GHz and 1 GB DDR2 RAM. Connection methods on the board include 2 USB 2.0 ports, SATA-2, and a gigabit network card.
The cost of a computer is $ 99.
A computer with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor at 1 GHz and with 1 GB of RAM. Udoo costs $ 115 and is a microcomputer capable of running Android as well as various Linux operating systems.
Udoo Dual is less powerful than RPi or BeagleBone, but its ability to support Android is a good alternative. With such additional features as a network card, HDMI, Wi-Fi, micro SD and multi USB port - the microcomputer is fully equipped.
Single-board computer based on OMAP4460 SoC, consists of a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor with a frequency of 1.2 GHz. PowerVR SGX540 GPU at 384 MHz. RAM is 1 GB (DDR2 SDRAM). The board also has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 10/100 network output and 2 USB 2.0 ports.
A feature of PandaBoard is the ability of the GPU to support 1080p format when using the HDMI interface. For sound, 3.5 mm audio jacks are used. For data storage SD cards are used. Supported SDHC up to 32 GB. The computer works with Android (Linaro), Ubuntu (Linaro), RISC OS 5, QNX Neutrino 6.5.0, OpenBSD.
There is a computer PandaBoard ES $ 184.
The market for single-board computers is constantly evolving and replenishing. Products like Pine A64 Plus and Odroid-C2 provide more features than Raspberry. At the same time, other single-board computers, like Banana Pi and Udoo Dual, although inferior to RPi 3 in power, can be considered as an alternative in their configuration.
But despite all its features and advantages, the Raspberry Pi is certainly imperfect. There are other models on the single-board computer market. Below is a selection of RPi alternatives that deserve attention.
ODROID-C2
The offer from the South Korean company Hardkernel, which in terms of functionality and price is similar to RPi, is only more powerful. The ODROID-C2 also has 4 USB 2.0 ports and an HDMI micro USB OTG port. The cost is $ 5 higher than the second and third RPi.
The system runs on a 64-bit SoC Amlogic S905 processor with four ARM Cortex-A53 cores whose clock frequency is 2 GHz (4x ~ 4600 DMIPS). Supports 2 GB third generation SDRAM. ODROID-C2 is equipped with an ARM Mali 450 MP3 GPU graphics accelerator with a clock frequency of 750 MHz. The board also has an IR receiver, eMMC slot. This mini PC can run on Ubuntu 16.04 and Android 5.1.
Pine a64 plus
Pine A64 Plus is a cheap single-board 64-bit computer. Powered by an Allwinner A64 processor with four Cortex-A53 cores and a clock frequency of 1.2 GHz. Maybe life is equipped with 1 GB or 2 GB of DDR3 RAM. In total there are 2x USB 2.0 ports.
The announced price is $ 19 for 1 GB of RAM and $ 29 for 2 GB of RAM.
BeagleBone Black
Next in line is a single-board BeagleBone Black worth $ 45. And this is a good alternative for those who lack RPi resources.
The new model is modernized by the Sitara AM335X processor based on two ARM Cortex-A8 cores with a clock frequency of 1 GHz. The computer is running preinstalled Angström Linux, but other OSs (Ubuntu, Android) can also be installed on SBC. GPU - SGX530. The motherboard has 512 MB of DDR3 RAM at 800 MHz, in addition there is a soldered flash memory of 2 GB and two USB 2.0 connectors. Also on board there is micro HDMI.
Banana pi
Banana Pi is a high-end SBC for $ 50. Despite being similar to RPi, the device is not its clone. At the heart of the system is a dual-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor with a clock frequency of 1 GHz. RAM is 1 GB DDR3.
Banana Pi is quite roomy. The computer board has 2 USB 2.0 connectors, an Internet output and a SATA 2.0 connector. Available memory: maximum up to 64 GB via SD card and up to 2 TB via SATA port.
Intel Galileo Gen2
Intel's $ 45 single-board computer, which offers Arduino support and the ability to boot without external memory. The board runs on a 32-bit Quark SoC X1000 processor with a clock frequency of up to 400 MHz. In size, it is slightly larger than “raspberries”.
It contains 256 MB of DDR3, which of course is inferior to RPi models, but its 100 Mb network interface card, as well as the ability to integrate with Arduino, make it convenient for working with the electronic industry and robotics.
Hummingboard
NummingBoard is similar to RPi. It runs on a 1 GHz dual-core i.MX6 Cortex-A9 processor and contains a GC2000 GPU with 1 GB of RAM installed. Support for Android and Linux is top-notch. The basic version configuration also includes: 10/100 Mbit / s network cards, two USB 2.0 ports, a micro SD card slot, HDMI and SPDIF connectors, as well as UART, GPIO and SPI interfaces.
HummingBoard comes with Android 4.4 KitKat. The price of a computer is $ 75 - $ 100.
Minnowboard max
Intel has released a single-board Minnowboard Max, powered by an Atom E3845 processor with a frequency of 1.46 GHz and 1 GB DDR2 RAM. Connection methods on the board include 2 USB 2.0 ports, SATA-2, and a gigabit network card.
The cost of a computer is $ 99.
Udoo dual
A computer with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor at 1 GHz and with 1 GB of RAM. Udoo costs $ 115 and is a microcomputer capable of running Android as well as various Linux operating systems.
Udoo Dual is less powerful than RPi or BeagleBone, but its ability to support Android is a good alternative. With such additional features as a network card, HDMI, Wi-Fi, micro SD and multi USB port - the microcomputer is fully equipped.
Pandaboard ES
Single-board computer based on OMAP4460 SoC, consists of a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor with a frequency of 1.2 GHz. PowerVR SGX540 GPU at 384 MHz. RAM is 1 GB (DDR2 SDRAM). The board also has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 10/100 network output and 2 USB 2.0 ports.
A feature of PandaBoard is the ability of the GPU to support 1080p format when using the HDMI interface. For sound, 3.5 mm audio jacks are used. For data storage SD cards are used. Supported SDHC up to 32 GB. The computer works with Android (Linaro), Ubuntu (Linaro), RISC OS 5, QNX Neutrino 6.5.0, OpenBSD.
There is a computer PandaBoard ES $ 184.
The market for single-board computers is constantly evolving and replenishing. Products like Pine A64 Plus and Odroid-C2 provide more features than Raspberry. At the same time, other single-board computers, like Banana Pi and Udoo Dual, although inferior to RPi 3 in power, can be considered as an alternative in their configuration.