With greater than 45 million items offered, the Raspberry Pi is just not solely by far essentially the most profitable single-board pc, but additionally the best-selling British pc ever. The single-board pc (SBC) has additionally gained numerous awards.
So it’s no marvel that the tiny improvement board from the British Raspberry Pi Foundation has spawned quite a few imitators over the previous 10 years. But which single-board computer systems are a viable different to the unique?
We have taken a more in-depth take a look at the present opponents to offer the solutions. Here are 4 beneficial options to the Raspberry Pi 4 and Raspberry Pi 5.
Orange Pi 4 and 5
The Orange Pi 4 is a single-board pc from the Orange Pi collection, which was developed by the Chinese firm Shenzhen Xunlong Software Co, Ltd. This compact mini PC was constructed to offer builders and hobbyists particularly with a robust and reasonably priced platform for numerous purposes.
Shenzhen Xunlong Software Co., Ltd.
Hardware specs: The Orange Pi 4 has spectacular {hardware} specs that make it appropriate for a variety of purposes. Key options embrace:
- Processor (SoC): The Orange Pi 4 is powered by a robust Rockchip RK3399 SoC (System-on-a-Chip), which consists of a dual-core Cortex-A72 processor and a quad-core Cortex-A53 processor. This mixture presents ample computing energy for demanding duties.
- Graphics (GPU): The RK3399 chipset is supplied with a Mali-T860 MP4 GPU, which offers {hardware} acceleration for graphics purposes. This additionally makes the Orange Pi 4 appropriate for multimedia purposes and video games.
- Memory: The system has 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, which is ample to run a number of purposes concurrently. It additionally has a microSD card slot for reminiscence growth.
- Connectivity: The Orange Pi 4 is supplied with Gigabit Ethernet, dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, and a number of USB ports, which significantly expands connectivity choices.
- Video output: It helps 4K video playback through HDMI 2.0 and in addition presents a DisplayPort output.
- Expandability: The system has GPIO pins and extra connectors that permit exterior {hardware} elements and growth boards to be related.
Operating system assist: The Orange Pi 4 is supported by numerous working programs, together with Android, Linux (with numerous distributions resembling Ubuntu, Debian, and so on.) and different community-developed working programs.
Applications: The Orange Pi 4 is appropriate for a variety of purposes together with:
- IoT tasks
- Server purposes
- Multimedia streaming
- Image and video enhancing
- Development platform for software program builders
- Control of robots and different embedded programs
The newest evolutionary stage, the Orange Pi 5, now additionally presents an octa-core Rockchip RK3588S processor and as much as 16GB LPDDR4X, making it appropriate for notably demanding duties and bold tasks.
Conclusion: The Orange Pi 4 is a robust single-board pc with high-performance {hardware} specs that’s superb for builders, hobbyists, and DIY lovers. With its versatility and numerous connectivity choices, it offers a strong basis for a variety of tasks and purposes.
The Orange Pi 5, however, is primarily geared toward professionals and customers who wish to notice notably giant tasks with a excessive demand for computing energy.
Users who go for an Orange Pi 4 ought to keep in mind that the single-board pc normally needs to be imported from China or the USA and is mostly solely out there on Amazon.com. The Orange Pi 5 is currently also available from Amazon.
Banana Pi BPI-M4 and M5
The Banana Pi BPI-M4 is a member of the Banana Pi household of single-board computer systems developed by SinoVoip. These computer systems are characterised by highly effective {hardware} and a cheap platform that’s engaging to builders, hobbyists, and small companies alike. The specs are similar to these of the Orange Pi 4.
SinoVoip
Hardware specs: The Banana Pi BPI-M4 presents comparatively highly effective {hardware} that helps a variety of purposes:
- Processor (SoC): The Banana Pi M4 is powered by a robust Allwinner H618 SoC, which consists of a quad-core Cortex-A53 processor and a quad-core Cortex-A53 processor. This mixture presents loads of computing energy for demanding duties.
- Graphics (GPU): With the H618 chipset and a ARM Mali G31 GPU, the system presents {hardware} acceleration for graphics purposes and is due to this fact superb for multimedia and gaming.
- Memory: The M4 presents simply 2GB LPDDR4 RAM, in comparison with the Raspberry Pi 4’s 4GB. Storage expands through a MicroSD card slot.
- Connectivity: This single-board pc is supplied with Gigabit Ethernet, dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz), and Bluetooth 5.0, providing a variety of connectivity choices.
- Video output: The Banana Pi M4 helps 4K video playback through HDMI 2.0.
- Expandability: The system presents GPIO pins and a GPIO header that allow the connection of exterior {hardware} elements and growth boards.
Operating system assist: The Banana Pi M4 is supported by numerous working programs, together with Android, numerous Linux distributions resembling Ubuntu and Debian, in addition to different working programs developed by the neighborhood.
Applications: The Banana Pi M4 is flexible and has purposes in areas resembling:
- Multimedia streaming and playback: Thanks to its highly effective {hardware}, the Banana Pi M4 can course of multimedia content material in prime quality.
- IoT tasks: With its connectivity choices and GPIO pins, it’s superb for creating IoT gadgets and purposes.
- Server purposes: The Banana Pi M4 can be utilized as a server for internet companies, file sharing, and for different purposes.
- Development platform: Software builders will discover a platform within the Banana Pi M4 to develop and take a look at purposes and prototypes.
- Image and video enhancing: Thanks to its graphics efficiency, it’s additionally appropriate for picture and video enhancing duties.
Conclusion: The Banana Pi BPI-M4 is a robust single-board pc with high-performance {hardware} that helps a variety of purposes. It’s appropriate for builders and hobbyists in addition to small companies on the lookout for a cheap and versatile platform.
The Banana Pi M5 presents an alternate SoC, the Amlogic S905X3, together with 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM and can also be out there at a relatively low value:
Compared to the Raspberry Pi 5 or the newest Orange Pi 5, the Banana Pi M5 is just not fairly as highly effective, however is normally completely ample for smaller tasks and may rating factors with a aggressive value. However, different options are rather more appropriate for demanding purposes.
Nvidia Jetson Nano
The Nvidia Jetson Nano is aimed particularly at customers and builders who connect significance to excessive GPU efficiency, because the single-board pc has a really highly effective built-in graphics unit primarily based on Nvidia’s Maxwell structure.
Nvidia
Hardware specs: The Nvidia Jetson Nano presents extraordinarily highly effective {hardware} that helps a variety of purposes and focuses on GPU efficiency, AI, robotics, and automation:
- Processor (SoC): The producer lays the inspiration for the Nvidia Jetson Nano with its in-house Nvidia Tegra, which might draw on 4 ARM Cortex-A57 with a clock frequency of 1.43GHz.
- Graphics (GPU): This is the place the Nvidia Jetson Nano differs considerably from its opponents, because it makes use of a very highly effective Maxwell GPU with 128 activated CUDA cores.
- Memory: The Nvidia Jetson Nano has entry to a complete of 4GB LPDDR4, which is related to the CPU at 25.6GB/s and ensures quick operation.
- Artificial intelligence and deep studying: The Jetson Nano is especially appropriate for deep studying duties. It helps widespread deep studying frameworks resembling TensorFlow and PyTorch and presents quick inference speeds for neural networks.
- Versatile interfaces: The Nvidia Jetson Nano has a variety of interfaces, together with USB ports, HDMI output, Gigabit Ethernet, GPIO pins, and digicam interfaces, making it a wonderful alternative for purposes that require sensors and cameras.
- Developer-friendly: Nvidia presents in depth developer assist, together with a software program improvement equipment (SDK) and an energetic neighborhood. This facilitates the event and debugging of purposes.
- Operating system assist: The Nvidia Jetson Nano may be operated with numerous working programs resembling Ubuntu-based Linux distributions, which facilitates customization and integration into present tasks.
The Nvidia Jetson Nano has a wider vary of purposes than most different single-board computer systems and in addition presents extra highly effective developer instruments with producer assist.
Of course, this comes at a value and so the single-board pc is within the highest value bracket on this phase at $150.
Conclusion: The Nvidia Jetson Nano is at present a good selection for customers who’re primarily planning tasks within the fields of AI, robotics, automotive, and automation. However, when you solely wish to create a retro video games console or a small media middle, it is best to go for a less expensive resolution.
ODROID N2+
The ODROID N2+ from South Korean producer Hardkernel is geared toward a variety of purposes. In addition to community storage options, multimedia facilities, and retro video games consoles, this single-board pc may also be used to implement skilled tasks.
Hardkernel
The technical specs, options, and efficiency traits of the Hardkernel ODROID N2+ are as follows:
- Powerful processor (SoC): The ODROID N2+ is powered by an Amlogic S922X SoC (System-on-a-Chip), which mixes 4 Cortex-A73 CPU cores and two Cortex-A53 CPU cores to kind a hexa-core SoC. The processor presents excessive computing energy and can also be able to dealing with demanding duties.
- Graphics efficiency (GPU): In addition to the processor, the ODROID N2+ has a robust Mali-G52 GPU that helps high-resolution graphics and video playback in 4K decision.
- Storage choices: This single-board pc presents assist for DDR4 RAM, offering ample reminiscence for compute-intensive duties. It additionally helps eMMC reminiscence modules and presents a number of USB ports for exterior knowledge storage.
- Expansion choices: The ODROID N2+ presents quite a lot of ports, together with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI outputs, and GPIO pins. This makes it extraordinarily versatile and permits the connection of a variety of peripheral gadgets.
- Operating system assist: The ODROID N2+ is suitable with numerous working programs, together with Linux distributions resembling Ubuntu and numerous Android variations. This facilitates customization and integration into numerous tasks.
- Media playback: Thanks to its highly effective {hardware}, the ODROID N2+ is ready to run 4K video playback, H.265 and VP9 codecs, and different multimedia duties easily. This makes it superb for media facilities and shopper electronics.
- Energy effectivity: Despite its excessive computing energy, the ODROID N2+ is power environment friendly and can be utilized in environments with restricted energy consumption.
- Active neighborhood: Hardkernel has an engaged person and developer neighborhood that gives assist and sources for utility improvement and customization.
- Applications: The ODROID N2+ is good for purposes resembling media facilities, dwelling automation programs (“Smart Home”), community storage options, retro gaming consoles, and different demanding embedded (“Embedded”) and shopper electronics duties.
- Robust building: The ODROID N2+ is characterised by high-quality workmanship and a strong building that ensures dependable efficiency over the long run.
The ODROID N2+ is a robust single-board pc and is good for a variety of demanding embedded and shopper electronics purposes. With its highly effective {hardware} elements and flexibility, it presents builders and engineers a robust platform for tasks that require excessive computing energy. The single-board pc additionally scores with a relatively favorable entry-level value.
Conclusion: The Hardkernel ODROID N2+ is an actual all-rounder and is appropriate for nearly any sort of undertaking. The single-board pc is especially appropriate for streaming shoppers, media facilities and community storage options, so-called Network Attached Storage (“NAS”).
This article was translated from German to English and initially appeared on pcwelt.de.