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  • Author Author: johnbeetem
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Are any SBCs ready to replace desktop computers?

I would love to replace my power-hungry desktop PC with an inexpensive SBC with no audible fan.  However, so far the SBCs I've tried lately (BeagleBone, Raspberry Pi, BeagleBoard) don't have enough processing power to be a viable desktop PC.

 

So, are any of the higher-performance SBCs that have been released lately up to the task?  I'm looking for a GNU/Linux computer that can do a decent job surfing the Internet (I don't care about video or audio performance) and a decent job compiling C programs.  I would say it needs at least 1 GB RAM and SATA for a disk drive.  100 Mb/s Ethernet is adequate, but I'd prefer not going through a USB hub.  Reasonable number of USB ports and HDMI output.  Wi-Fi is not needed or desired.

 

Here are some of the SBCs I've been watching and might consider.  Feel free to add others!  Most of these are OSHW, which is of course preferred.

 

Banana Pi: Allwinner A20 Dual ARM Cortex-A7, 1 GB DDR3, SATA, GBE.

CubieTruck: Allwinner A20 Dual ARM Cortex-A7, 2 GB DDR3, SATA, GBE.

Intel Next Unit of Computing (NUC): Intel Atom or other, up to 8 GB DDR3, SATA, GBE.

MinnowBoard MAX: Intel Atom, 1 or 2 GB DDR3, SATA, GBE.

Olimex LIME2: Allwinner A20 Dual ARM Cortex-A7, 1 GB DDR3, SATA, GBE.

PCduino3Nano: Allwinner A20 Dual ARM Cortex-A7, 1 GB DDR3, SATA, GBE.

RIoTboard: Freescale i.MX6 ARM Cortex-A9, 1GB DDR3, no SATA, GBE.

Wandboard Quad: Freescale i.MX6 Quad ARM Cortex-A9, 2 GB DDR3, SATA, GBE.

  • in reply to D_Hersey

    Nice choice. Mine is a I5 NUC  with SSD also.

    Clem

  • I got an i7 NUC with a biggish SSD, works fine

  • in reply to johnbeetem

    johnbeetem wrote:

     

    I'm currently trying an ODROID-C1 as a desktop computer. ODroid - Oh Boy!  I've got a few start-up hiccups, but so far it looks pretty promising...

    ODROID-C1 is working quite well as my main computer.  I got the USB HDD working and upgraded Ubuntu to ODROID's v1.3.  I had a problem with missing and repeated keystrokes and mouse clicks, but I was able to fix that using a USB 1.1 hub hooked up to ODROID-C1's OTG port.

     

    Having a silent computer with decent performance is pretty nifty image

  • I'm currently trying an ODROID-C1 as a desktop computer. ODroid - Oh Boy!  I've got a few start-up hiccups, but so far it looks pretty promising.  I'm writing this on my C1 using Hardkernel's v1.1 release which came on the SD card I ordered with the board.  Performance is actually pretty good.

     

    I'd really like to use v1.2, because it supports the 1440x900 screen resolution of my monitor.  720p works, but it's a little blurry from pixel interpolation and I don't think I'll be able to use it long without eye strain.  I'm trying to boot v1.2 with a 2GB SD card for Linux and a USB hard drive for the root file system.  I can't seem to get HDMI to come up, nor can I get ssh to come up so I can't talk to it to find out what's happening, and I was too cheap to add an extra US$10 for the serial dongle.  Plus my HDMI connection is a little touchy -- I probably need a new Micro HDMI D to full-size HDMI A cable.

     

    But all-in-all a pretty good start and it looks quite promising as a desktop.  ODROID-C1 is new so the software kinks need to be worked out, just like early days of BeagleBoard and RasPi.

  • in reply to fustini

    Drew,  I quite agree that x86_64 is a benefit for software packages.  I am currently using the GIZMO 2  board as my 3D printer workstation, not tried netfabb yet though but will do. Running OpenSCAD, Repetier Host, Slic3r   Only 1GB RAM but not had any real problems yet.  I spent too many hours porting software packages over to ARM and have not always been successful for various reasons.   With the GIZMO 2 running Lubuntu all the software is there and it works.

  • in reply to fustini

    - I've been using the MinnowBoard MAX as my 3-D printing workstation and love it!  I have a USB 3.0 memory stick for the main disk running Ubuntu.  It is really the first time I've used a single board computer and felt like I was using a "PC".  I think 2GB RAM really helps as I never have terrible delays from swapping.

     

    I run 3D model repair software (netfabb), slicing software (Slic3r) and 3D print job controller (printrun/pronterface).  It all works smoothly!  I think the 2GB RAM really helps for work loads like slicing.

     

    I was surprised that I actually found x86_64 arch to be a benefit from a software package perspective.  netfabb is closed-source, free-as-in-beer and the company doesn't offer an ARM build.  Additionally, I found slic3r package in my Ubuntu repo and installed without issues.

     

    In contrast, I also have the Radxa Rock Pro which is also Open Source Hardware and has nice specs (quad core ARM & 2GB RAM).  Radxa offers an Ubuntu image which worked well.  But there was no slic3r package in the repo.  I had to build slic3r from source which took awhile to configure and compile.  [fyi: Debian 8 (Jessie) does have an ARM slic3r package which I have used on the BeagleBone Black before]

  • Another great option is the Lark board it has 40 IO pins, lcd display compatability, and a lot more including usb. See lark board on E14

  • in reply to johnbeetem

    @John Beetem ,

         I would say probably should be fine. I have hooked up my Raspberry Pi to external USB 2.0 drives on a hub running OPENLEC for movies and the software perform great. image

     

    Clem

  • in reply to Problemchild

    John Alexander wrote:

     

    A nice pic of my XU on the back of one of my monitors...

    I saw an XU3 at the ARM TechCon last October.  Very impressive hardware, with quiet little CPU fan that only turns on as needed.  There's now an XU3 Lite for $99 plus international shipping (or $105 in the USA) that sure looks like it could meet my desktop computing requirements.

     

    How is the ODROID community?  Have you been able to get answers as needed?  If I were to get an XU3 Lite I'd want to hook up an external USB 3.0 hard drive as my main file system.  Would you know if this is easy to do?  What a saw at http://forum.odroid.com/ was pretty confusing.