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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.

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  • Interesting poll!

     

    I recently got a MinnowBoard MAX so I've been playing around with it: https://gist.github.com/pdp7/e1e54f6c77f76f198564

     

    I think it has more power than any of the ARM boards listed though I've not done any benchmarks yet.

     

    However, I think ARM boards generally do better a power consumption (though opinions differ whether I'm talking to Intel or ARM-based vendors at conferences ).

     

    The WandBoard with the Freescale Quad i.MX6 I think would be a good balance of power effiency and processing power.  Bunnie selected it for his Open Source Hardware laptop, the Novena: https://www.crowdsupply.com/kosagi/novena-open-laptop

     

    ...at least I hope so since I ordered one    I should be able to comment in early 2015 on how much I like it.

     

    BTW, I would probably list Intel NUC as number #1 performer on the list here given that it can have 8GB RAM.  However, I don't feel it is necessarily a SBC.  Though that might just be personal bias as it doesn't have GPIO pins to play with   

  • in reply to fustini

    Drew Fustini wrote:

     

    Interesting poll!

     

    I recently got a MinnowBoard MAX so I've been playing around with it: https://gist.github.com/pdp7/e1e54f6c77f76f198564

     

    I think it has more power than any of the ARM boards listed though I've not done any benchmarks yet.

     

    ...

     

    The WandBoard with the Freescale Quad i.MX6 I think would be a good balance of power efficiency and processing power.  Bunnie selected it for his Open Source Hardware laptop, the Novena: https://www.crowdsupply.com/kosagi/novena-open-laptop

     

    ...at least I hope so since I ordered one.  I should be able to comment in early 2015 on how much I like it.

    Hi Drew, it's good to hear from you.  How was Roma?

     

    I'll be interested in your impression of MinnowBoard MAX after you've played with it for a while.  I saw and touched one at the 2014 ESC AKA "EE Live!" earlier this year and I was impressed by how cool it ran, especially compared to an Intel Galileo.  With 2GB it might be able to run Xilinx ISE -- I wonder how well?

     

    I'll also be interested in Novena reviews when users get their hands on them.

  • in reply to johnbeetem

    This certainly be interesting for an application where you need INTEL CPU compatibility for the application.

    ISE is a good example there are so many commercial apps you would never get an ARM  binary for in a million years.

  • in reply to Problemchild

    John Alexander wrote:

     

    This certainly be interesting for an application where you need INTEL CPU compatibility for the application.

    ISE is a good example there: are so many commercial apps you would never get an ARM binary for in a million years.

    IIRC, in the early years of Xilinx their software only ran on "workstations", typically 680x0 or SPARC.  PC was added later, and initially could only be used for very small Xilinx devices.

     

    As soon as 64-bit ARMs take over desktops and laptops, you'll see Xilinx and many others support them.  For Xilinx it's easy, since its software has run on Unix since the early years.

  • in reply to johnbeetem

    Hi, Roma was excellent.  And the videos of the Open Hadware Summit are now online:

    Open Hardware Summit 2014 - Rome on Vimeo

     

    I also did a presentation at my hackerspace [PDF on Google Drive]:

    https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_NI2VDamOOfVWlBd0dwT0VweFE/view

     

    re: minnowboard max, I actually let an embedded developer at my hackerspace borrow it until he gets his.  He is very excited as Android Open Source Platform (AOSP) has a build target for the MinnowBoard MAX.  He said there is no other board that he can use to get a head start on the new Intel "Baytrail" Atom-based system his company is developing (in-flight entertainment system).

     

    re: ISE, I will definitely try that out when I get it back to see how painful synthesize is.

  • 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]

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  • 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]

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  • 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.