There are various types of single-board computers in the market, but a common variation is the one that uses standardized computer form factors intended for use in a backplane enclosure. Such computers have been built around various internal processing structures, including the Intel architecture, lower power processing systems, and multiprocessing architectures. The reason why single-board computers stand out from their counterparts is the increased density of their integrated circuits. Below are some of the examples of single-board computers available in the market today.
Raspberry Pi 4B
Designed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation back in 2019, the Raspberry Pi 4B is the latest version of the most popular single board computer. It comes with a desktop kit from which you can set up using, as well as a Raspberry Pi mouse and USB C power supply. Some of the main features include options of 2, 4, or 8GB RAM, dual 4K micro HDMI ports, gigabit Ethernet, and two USB 3.0 ports. If you are looking for a single-board computer to start with, then this is the best place to start from.
Raspberry Pi 3A+
Another quality product from Raspberry Pi Foundation, the Raspberry Pi 3A+, is a slightly cut down version of the 3B+. It was released back in 2018 and was targeted for the people who want a smaller scale and sleeker version of the Raspberry Pi 3B+. The difference is a thinner and smaller form factor as well as 512MB RAM instead of 1GB RAM. Another difference is the lack of an ethernet socket and fewer USB sockets. Other than that, it is a great little single-board computer and is ideal for IoT projects.
Odyssey X86J4105
Designed by Seeed Studio, the Odyssey X86J4105 is one of the best single-board computers out in the market. There are three different versions of the Odyssey X86J4105. The first one is the X86J4105800 which has 8GB of RAM and no onboard storage. The second one is the X86J4105864, also with 8GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard flash storage. It is also worth pointing out that this version has the Windows Enterprise pre-installed, but it isn’t activated. Lastly, we have the X86J4105864, which has the same 8GB and 64GB RAM and onboard storage but now with Windows Enterprise activated. WITH a SATA port and M.2 slots, the Odyssey X86J4105 can take SATA and NVMe SSDs, as well as a cellular module.
Tinker Board
An Asus product, the Tinker Board, is a more powerful single-board computer compared to the other ones on this list, especially the Raspberry Pi 3A+. With the added power comes extra costs, so expect to pay a few more dollars if you want to get the Tinker Board. However, it is worth noting that they enjoy far less software and wider support compared to the Raspberry Pi.
While there are plenty of different types of single-board computers out in the market, the ones above are some of the most popular and highly rated ones. If you are looking to get a single board computer of your own, you can always consult with a professional to know exactly what you need to get.
