Single Board Computing - Suggestions

[jeeb]

Hi Folks,

New to the forum, but I have read a lot on OC over the years, and have now come up with a query I wonder if your experience can help me with....

Looking into SBC's, I have the raspberry pi (x2) and love the SBC culture, the availability, the low running costs etc, but, I have always hated the lack of windows as an OS.

I am looking into buying a relatively cheap SBC, I have seen the "lattepanda" but its a bit far from my budget! I have seen also a couple of others but they seem to be as expensive.

I am basically wanting the equivelant of a raspberry pi, which will run Windows, and doesnt cost a fortune, looking for around £50.

Processing power doesnt have to be mega, but I dont want Win 10 IoT, I want the full fat version....

Is anyone aware of anything matching this description?

 

[mackerel]

How small does it have to be?

I'm thinking there was the Intel Compute Stick but I see scan listing that at £117 with Windows. See if there is a similar 3rd party device.

Are nettops still a thing? This will be bigger, but they could be cheap. I picked up a dual core one from Acer years ago for £80, although I never had a need for it...

I also recall there were mobos with soldered on atoms on them at low cost, but these were not small form factor...

https://www.ebuyer.com/store/Components/cat/Motherboards-Intel/subcat/Intel-Bundle-Deals

How about some of those? Check what they do or don't include.

 

[jeeb]

As far as small is concerned, I am ideally looking for a raspberry pi, small, powered by a low amperage.

I just don't really want to be running laptops / desktops / servers all the time, at least with a "Pi" or equivalent, its going to cost minimal to run, but its still exceptionally functional and small.

 

[Woomack]

Low cost with OS and ready to run is mentioned compute stick - https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/boards-kits/compute-stick.html
There are also NUC clones in various versions but cost more when you count OS+drive+RAM.

 

[mackerel]

For that size/power class you will be looking at Compute Sticks or similar. I don't recall there being many 3rd party devices in that area though. In a quick but not in depth search there are other models available, but not in your budget.

 

[jeeb]

Thanks folks, still looking at the options but they are still quite expensive for what I was hoping to achieve.

I have some windows tablets, kind of hoping I can make them achieve the same thing, unless there are other options I am not aware of.

 

[mackerel]

Size aside, they still require a common core of components and that's where the money is. They can't easily squeeze the price down. Things like the Pi use lower cost chips.

 

[jeeb]

thanks mackerel, I think its reasonable to say your right. I am just trying to find the best I can for a minimal budget.

 

[habbajabba]

The smallest, cheapest (and cutest)
https://www.solid-run.com/product/cubox-i4pro/

They also have the HummingBoard w/arm processor
https://www.solid-run.com/nxp-family/hummingboard/

Ameridroid has pi based complete kits along with intel and others
https://ameridroid.com/

http://www.fit-pc.com/web/ has some nice stuff as well

If you want to go hardcore try
https://www.spartonre.com/littlepcs/fanless-mini-pcs/

I almost bought a kit for booting linux but other than for the fun of doing so didn't really see the need and spent my money elsewhere wisely so I think (?) lol. I was looking at the xu4 cloudshell kit sans a harddrive for ~$355

For a proper win7 boot fit-pc is your smallest best bet. 50pea will get you nothing (edit-that will boot)

My mistake. There are mini stx boards from intel asrock asus anywhere from 5.5" square to 6.7" square that are more or less 100 quid. With cpu, memory, and storage you get a full-fledged computer in a very small package. I, personally would only consider it small if I could simply strap it to the back of a monitor, which these are a bit big for that, hence my fit-pc suggestion. These mini stx boards are cute and all but not really all that small imo. Once you put it all together, you may as well have gotten a std mini-itx board and saved some elbow room. I do love the dual gigabit lan portion however, nas wise.