The Top 3 ARM SBCs With 8+ CPU Cores
Single-board computers (SBCs) have come a long way in recent years, especially since the Raspberry Pi increased tiny computing awareness among tech enthusiasts across the globe. New technology enables manufacturers to cram an incredible amount of oomph onto boards that are as small as a credit card. These powerful tiny computers are also available at a fraction of the cost of an equivalent laptop or PC.
Let’s dive into three hot new SBCs that feature an ARM-based chip with at least eight cores. These boards are superstars when used for artificial intelligence, serious development, or gaming.
1.HoneyComb LX2K
Although not as small as the credit-card-sized Raspberry Pi, the HoneyComb LX2K still offers a lot of functionality in a Micro ATX form factor. Here are some key highlights:
SolidRun, the company behind the HoneyComb, took Linus Torvalds' advice to heart when he once said, “Without a development platform, ARM in the server space is never going to make it.” From there, the SolidRun team decided to make it their duty to develop a platform that will push the open-source community into the next evolution of hardware. To this day, Torvalds continues topush Linux into the futurewith Linux 6.0.
Power-wise, the LX2K typically runs well consuming 50 watts of power or less. The low power consumption requirement translates to a cooler running temperature. Thus, smaller fans can be installed in your off-the-shelf case to allow for a very quiet operation.
Aside from developers and creators, DevOps or network administrators can also take advantage of the high-speed throughput that the HoneyComb model offers, while utilizing multiple-cores, along with a large RAM capacity for multiple VMs, containers, and more.
Although gaming may not be a primary focus of the HoneyComb, the AMD RX550 and NVIDIA GTX 1050 GPUs will “work” (but not well, at least yet). Take a look at SolidRun’sHoneyComb hardware specsfor details.
2.Orange Pi 5
The Orange Pi product line-up is fairly similar to the Raspberry Pi range. In addition, the Orange Pi comes much closer to a credit-card-sized form factor than the HoneyComb device. Here are some key features of the Orange Pi 5:
While it’s very capable of being your daily Linux desktop machine, the Orange Pi can do a lot more. Whether you want to build a Kubernetes cluster, view your favorite content in 8K resolution, or dive into robotics and AI, the Orange Pi 5 will handle these types of projects really well.
This Orange Pi board is great to have around if you want an affordable desktop solution with a wide range of options, from tinkering with electronics to exploring artificial intelligence projects in detail. On the other hand, if you’re a hobbyist looking for a more affordable Orange Pi model, check out ourOrange Pi Zero2 review.
3.Khadas Edge2 Pro
This device is, arguably, the smallest and most power tiny computer to hit the market yet. Size-wise, it’s slightly shorter than a Raspberry Pi 4. Let’s review some of the exciting features this Khadas board has to offer:
For projects involving facial recognition and deep data modeling, this is the board that will have no issues handling such tasks. Perhaps you’ll install Windows 10 ARM and take advantage of using your four display connections while getting creative with Adobe Photoshop?
Multiple operating systems are supported by the Khadas Edge2 Pro, and this board will handle almost anything that you throw at it. For instance, using Android 12 OS, the vast open world of Genshin Impact should appear more immersive with four displays connected to the Edge2 Pro.
The most underrated feature of this well-rounded device is the included OOWOW service. After you connect to the internet via Wi-Fi 6, OOWOW provides an efficient way to download and install your preferred OS, which saves you the trouble of downloading and flashing an OS image to your SD card. Learn more about OOWOW in the Khadasgetting started guide.
How Can You Decide?
This is a solid line-up of powerful, yet tiny, computers for sure. If you want a lot of network throughput, then you will have a great time using the HoneyComb device. Also, if you have nerdy friends who take pleasure in recompiling a kernel, challenge yourselves to implement the necessary instructions for ARM-based devices to run GPUs from a PCIe slot.
The Orange Pi 5 price tag is yet to be announced, but—based on the cost of previous model—you should be able to get yourself a well-balanced, feature-packed SBC for a very affordable price.
The Khadas Edge2 Pro is currently approximately $329; however, the standard Khadas Edge2 is closer to $199 (if you could scoop up a sale). Opting out from the Pro model will reduce RAM capacity slightly. Yet, if you’re more concerned about the size of your bank account, the standard Khadas Edge2 is a great balance of budget and speed too.
No matter which of these single-board computers you choose, you’ll have a powerful, yet small, device for a fraction of what a decent laptop or PC will cost you today.
The Raspberry Pi is no longer the only board in town. We cover some of our favourite competitors, and why you might want to buy one.
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