An Introductory Guide to Single Board Computers

Curious about how single board computers work?

With an impressive global market value, it’s natural to think about its phenomenal growth. SBC computers have lots of options that cater to your needs. However, one computer won’t be an encompassing option for everything.

It means you must think about the best board for your situation. To do that, you must first understand them. Read on as we discuss the basics of SBCs:

What are Single Board Computers?

As its name implies, an SBC is a PC that uses one circuit board. It has all the components within, such as:

• RAM
• Input/output (I/O) devices
• Microprocessors

Traditional desktop computers have various components like RAM, GPU, and CPU. These parts must connect to the motherboard. For an SBC, manufacturers put these features within the board.

Most dev boards are small devices comparable to the size of a credit card. However, they have larger variants. These have closer form factors to traditional computer motherboards.

In short, SBCs are PCs with all components found within one circuit board. One of the major benefits of a SBC is its lower price. They’re more resilient since they need not have more connectors for the computer module and carrier board.

However, their disadvantage is the locked configuration. As soon as you pick the CPU and memory option, the only way to upgrade is through replacement. It isn’t as bothersome if you’re unlikely to replace your hardware soon.

Once coated, SBCs are great for harsh, humid, or greasy environments. They can also withstand a great amount of shock and vibration.

What Do You Want an SBC For?

Picking the best SBC for your needs requires thinking about your purposes. It sets your required software, processing power, connectivity, and other factors. SBCs are great for Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

SBCs have lower power draw and smaller footprints compared to normal computers. For example, you can DIY a smart home hub or host a home server. It’s also an excellent choice if you’re a video gamer since it’s great for retro gaming emulation.

It means striking a balance between your requirements and the intended build. Is networking through WiFi, Ethernet, or Bluetooth a necessity? Think whether your device is headless or use displays like your TV or monitor.

You must ask lots of questions to refine your needs and builds. Your planned projects determine the best dev board qualities like I/O, size, and processing power.

Picking the Right Community Size

The size of a dev board’s community plays a part in your SBC choice. It affects the number of resources available for you. It also determines whether you’ll have lots of official and third-party channels to ask for help.

In theory, a larger community surrounding a board gives you more resources. Some famous SBCs can have an online community of millions. Others won’t have over 5,000.

Software and OS Compatibility

An SBC benefits when using Linux distributions. However, you might have another operating system in mind, like Chrome OS, Android, or even Windows 10. Certain SBCs give more Linux distribution choices, while others won’t.

Your operating system options aren’t as crucial as the quality of these distributions. Most won’t run anything more than ARM-based images. Some could run full x64 versions of operating systems like Windows 10.

Available SBC Accessories

An SBC’s accessories affect its popularity. In most cases, SBCs with a wider user base has more options like add-ons and cases. You’ll often find a bigger range of options like retro gaming cases and active cooling cases.

Some SBCs offer accessories like add-on boards, sensors, and other external parts. The possibilities are almost endless.

Price

A maker board’s price is an important consideration. It’s all about achieving the most functionality without going over your budget. Popular SBCs cost around $35 and won’t exceed $100.

However, some SBCs can cost a few hundred dollars. It’s likely because of their embedded capabilities. These have comparable performance levels to most desktops and laptops.

What are the Best Single Board Computer Choices?

The success of SBCs and microcontroller units (MCUs) is undeniable. Nowadays, you’ll find lots of options available in the market. Here are some great SBC choices:

1. Raspberry Pi

It’s the ubiquitous choice for an SBC. Designed for educational purposes, Raspberry Pi 4 caught the attention of the global electronics community.

Raspberry Pi’s specs are hard to beat since it only costs $35. It’s your best bet for an SBC under $50. It has a 1.2Ghz quad-core ARM cortex a53 processor alongside upgrades such as built-in 802.11n WiFi and Bluetooth and HD video output.

However, its cheap price comes with some technical limits. The ethernet and USB ports use the same bus for power. It’s not a good choice if you’re looking for high-speed routing.

2. Nvidia Jetson TX2

The Jetson TX2 developer boasts impressive performance. After all, its current price is a whopping $599. It’s beyond the reach of most hobbyists and students.

This SBC’s target demographic is professionals. It’s a fancy engineering tool with a Jetson module and reference carrier board. It also has cables, power supplies, and some pre-installed software.

The module connects to a carrier board using a 400-pin connector. The board has an aluminum plate connecting to a chunky heatsink and fan setup. It has built-in encoders for handling 4k video at 60fps.

3. Odroid XU4

The name of this SBC comes from mashing “open” and “Android” together. It isn’t open-source, however. Regardless, it outperforms most cheaper tinker-boards for $59.

Odroid XU4 comes with eight cores clocking between 1.4 and 2Ghz. It’s good as a mini-PC since its code compiles rapidly. When browsing the desktop, you’re liable to forget it’s an SBC.

Use Single Board Computers Today!

These are some considerations to help you get started with single board computers. Use the knowledge to determine what to use for specific tasks. You have lots of options, enabling you to find the best solution for any requirement.

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