A Single Board Computer (SBC) is a PC which is created on a single circuit board which includes an individual or multiple microprocessors, RAM, I/O interfaces and additional peripherals. These exact components when combined will make a completely functional PC.
There are many SBC’s available for sale and you may wonder how exactly to pick and choose one. This article lists the main element factors to look for when buying your SBC’s.
These Important features and benchmarks will assist you to filter your alternatives and select the ideal SBC that matches your wants and needs. Let’s look at these key factors right now.
POWER
Power is an important benchmark for just about any SBC. It’s a way of measuring the power an SBC consumes while working. SBC’s are often deployed in tasks where using a normal computer isn’t feasible.
As a result, this power element becomes crucial often times in cases where you will need to create power resources that can meet up with the current needs of your SBC. You could find power ratings of most SBC’s under technical specifications. Be sure to review these specifications when picking out the right SBC for you.
CPU
For just about any computer, the capability to execute given instructions and perform arithmetic functions is a foundational backbone. Look for the chipset found in your preferred SBC.
After understanding the chip utilized, run queries on the web and you may find information such as the quantity of cores, architecture and speed. The higher the SBC speed, the better and faster the CPU execution steps will be.
CPU’s with multi-core processors allow the PC to execute threads simultaneously. As a result, if an application is created for a multi-thread procedures, the multi cores are advantageous to enhance the execution period rate.
A Himeno check, which is defined as a linear solver of a Poisson equation, is an excellent way to check multi-core processor statistics. You can examine and perform tests on any single SBC by making an individual test onto it, checking to see how lengthy it requires to convert a “.WAV” file to a FLAC format through the use of the encode-flac test.
GRAPHICS
The SBCs have become increasingly more powerful. More recently, they are actually utilized as home-theater computers or as low-end video game machines. The OpenGL or OpenGL ES version is usually common in the present day single board computer systems for easy management of images. To perform a simple graphics test, you can create 2D shapes to check on the Graphical capability in your SBC. For example, you can examine the time an SBC required to create a group of circles in a window.
RAM
For storing short-term and unpredictable data, Random Access Memory (RAM) is essential. You may use RAM acceleration benchmarks to test the ability for the writing and reading of an SBC.
FLASH MEMORY
Hard disks are essential for nonvolatile storage on a computer. Though virtually all single board computers usually do not rely on a genuine hard disk drive, They possess a support of an SD memory card or an onboard eMMC which is commonly known as flash memory. You can perform testing of an SBC for flash memory in a similar way as the RAM test would be performed.
What Would be the Best SBC to Choose?
In truth, there’s not a single “best SBC”; each SBC is designed for different niches. Therefore, to compare each is a misguided task.
Before you make your SBC purchase, you should consider your technical requirements as well as your budget moving forward. For example, if you desire to create a device that monitors your garden and the moisture content within the soil, then a BeagleBone SBC might be worth looking at.
However, if you have a high budget and you’d prefer a device that is innovative and popular within the robotic field, then you might want to consider the Jetson SBC.
Most people reading this article will be newbies that aren’t 100% sure what they want and need in an SBC. If you fit this description, then a good recommendation would be the Raspberry Pi. The Raspberry Pi is not only affordable, but it also has a large support base.
It is inevitable that you will experience trial and error during your first SBC projects. Having a large network of fellow SBC hobbyists to call on when in need will save you hours of being frustrated. As your knowledge grows and you have more of an idea of your SBC goals, you can then change to a more specialized SBC type, as there are many to choose from.
The selection of your perfect SBC depends on the need and usage you will require. There are many popular SBC’s on the market, so make sure you view the benchmarks and specifications in order to select the right SBC for you.