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Pi vs BeagleBone-Black

Former Member

So, just over a year on from the initial availability of the R-Pi and the new BeagleBone Black is upon us.  They've obviously taken a leaf out of the RPF's playbook and produced a cost reduced version at a price only marginally above the Pi.

 

I find it interesting that the compromises are very different, for example there's a proper PMIC and the ethernet is not troubled by being connected to USB, however the on-board HDMI seems less capable.

 

Other differences are in the documentation, I'm currently viewing the pcb gerbers for the beaglebone..  Have yet to see any sign of those for the R-Pi a year later. There's even an up to date devicetree capable kernel too.

 

Technology has also moved on somewhat, we get a 1GHz Cortex A8 which is better than the Pi, along with various other stuff and lots more GPIO's too.

 

Ok, so it's clear that I like the look of the new beaglebone, and given the price I'm likely to put any further R-Pi plans on hold until I have a chance to play with this. It's also making things like the Olinuxino-maxi I bought recently look very slow/expensive while still being cheaper than the similarly specced Olinuxino-A13

 

Some details of the beaglebone-black here http://circuitco.com/support/index.php?title=BeagleBoneBlack

 

What do the rest of you think ?   I don't expect this to displace the Pi anytime soon, but I expect it to be very attractive to those people who don't simply want to put XBMC on it and duct tape it to the back of the TV..

Parents

  • A more modern soc....

    That's the nice thing about the allwinner and the Ti arm cores as well (Not sure about the last one)

    They have pin compatible dual core versions of the same soc.

    Quad core probably already exist as well, but I wouldn't bet on that right now.

     

    Low dropout voltage regulators are not a bad design. The Pi supply is a bad design as it expects 5V with a maximum deviation of 5% and it expects every charger on the market with a micro usb plug do deliver that stable. (Which isn't the case)

    I also prefer something that accepts like 9 - 15V. The wider the range the more likely it will work and keep working, even if the supply adapter capacitors start to dry out.

     

    I am also always a bit confused when people focus on the Pi pricetag. It's a bit like going to a computer shop and buying a motherboard and cpu, saying you got a pc for 120 euro.

     

    Ok, you can use it without a housing, but you will need a supply, a keyboard, a screen, a mouse and a storage device. Assuming you have those lying around is not a fair comparison in my opinion. 

  • in reply to Former Member

    Luc Cool wrote:

     

    A more modern soc....

    That's the nice thing about the allwinner and the Ti arm cores as well (Not sure about the last one)

    They have pin compatible dual core versions of the same soc.

    Quad core probably already exist as well, but I wouldn't bet on that right now.

    Freescale's iMX6 has, AFAIK, single, dual and quad versions in pin-compatible packaging along with some reduced feature versions of their core in different packaging.  It's used in the Sabre-Lite boards amongst others, better feature set and an inflated price to go with it.

     

    I am also always a bit confused when people focus on the Pi pricetag. It's a bit like going to a computer shop and buying a motherboard and cpu, saying you got a pc for 120 euro.

     

    Ok, you can use it without a housing, but you will need a supply, a keyboard, a screen, a mouse and a storage device. Assuming you have those lying around is not a fair comparison in my opinion. 

    The BBB seems to be in the same boat, it certainly appears they've cut all the same corners by not supplying a PSU etc either. The Pi and BBB are approx 2 GBP different and you'll need all the same extras for both. That makes a straight comparison of what you get for your money interesting, whether the base price is $35 or $350 isn't so important.  Much more difficult to compare the relative merits of a $35 device to a $350 device objectively, especially if you only have $100.

Reply
  • in reply to Former Member

    Luc Cool wrote:

     

    A more modern soc....

    That's the nice thing about the allwinner and the Ti arm cores as well (Not sure about the last one)

    They have pin compatible dual core versions of the same soc.

    Quad core probably already exist as well, but I wouldn't bet on that right now.

    Freescale's iMX6 has, AFAIK, single, dual and quad versions in pin-compatible packaging along with some reduced feature versions of their core in different packaging.  It's used in the Sabre-Lite boards amongst others, better feature set and an inflated price to go with it.

     

    I am also always a bit confused when people focus on the Pi pricetag. It's a bit like going to a computer shop and buying a motherboard and cpu, saying you got a pc for 120 euro.

     

    Ok, you can use it without a housing, but you will need a supply, a keyboard, a screen, a mouse and a storage device. Assuming you have those lying around is not a fair comparison in my opinion. 

    The BBB seems to be in the same boat, it certainly appears they've cut all the same corners by not supplying a PSU etc either. The Pi and BBB are approx 2 GBP different and you'll need all the same extras for both. That makes a straight comparison of what you get for your money interesting, whether the base price is $35 or $350 isn't so important.  Much more difficult to compare the relative merits of a $35 device to a $350 device objectively, especially if you only have $100.

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