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ODROID-C1+, the quad-core computer for 37 USD


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#1 Brito

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Posted 03 December 2015 - 04:37 PM

Hello,

I was looking at the recent announcement of the Raspberry Pi Zero, which costs something like 5 GBP per board and got wondering what else was available in terms of small computer boards reduced to bare minimum.

One detail of Pi zero is the single-threaded CPU running at 1Ghz. That's not bad for something that costs less than a pizza. An interesting possibility is to create a computer cluster with inexpensive boards of this type but when looking at projects existing with the Pi, you need some 12 of them (or similar) to reach similar computation level of a laptop.

So what is there of interest? After looking around for some days found the ODROID boards.

The most recent model is the ODROID C1+ that comes equipped with a 1,5Ghz quad-core CPU, a gigabit network port and few other peripheral ports at a whooping price of 37 USD.

ODROID-C1+m.jpg



The processor is ARM, meaning that Linux, FreeDOS and related operating systems can run on this board. Interesting enough, also learned of a special Windows 10 edition made available for the ARM. On this case, I'd just use the Linux version and figure out how to make a few of these boards to work together to crunch data faster than a single machine.

Website for these boards is found at http://www.hardkerne...e=G143703355573

It seems possible to order directly from their site, or if you prefer, from a local store in your country albeit with a bit extra cost on the retail price.

:cheers:


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#2 Wonko the Sane

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Posted 10 December 2015 - 05:23 PM

Soon to arrive Pine 64 (JFYI):

https://www.kickstar...rd-super-comput

 

:duff:

Wonko



#3 erwan.l

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Posted 10 December 2015 - 08:02 PM

This odroid c1, price wise, but also performance wise is comparable to a RPI 2 is not it?

 

Also, the community support is for me as important (if not more) than the raw specs.

I am using RPI's for some time now and I am delighted by the projects, builds, etc around this product.

Whereas these last months I have seen many RPI like project which died silently after a few month due to lack of support/followers.


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#4 Wonko the Sane

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Posted 10 December 2015 - 08:19 PM

This odroid c1, price wise, but also performance wise is comparable to a RPI 2 is not it?

Define comparable.
900 MHz vs. 1.5 GHz?
Ethernet 10/100 vs. Gigabit?

If you are looking for "pure computing" power or networking speed, no, they are not comparable.

Another good point would be if you actually need more power (which somehow will translate in higher power consumption and heat generation). :unsure:

Also, the community support is for me as important (if not more) than the raw specs.
I am using RPI's for some time now and I am delighted by the projects, builds, etc around this product.
Whereas these last months I have seen many RPI like project which died silently after a few month due to lack of support/followers.

This is actually a very good point :), power is nothing without control ;).

Still, my guess is that in a few months there will be more similar thingies than stars in the sky, each one a bit more powerful than the previous one, until the good guys @Raspberry.org will need to make a RPI 3, which will start a new escalation of processors, speed and amount of memory....

:duff:
Wonko
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#5 Brito

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Posted 10 December 2015 - 11:10 PM

Good find! Amazing stuff at a price tag of 15 USD.

 

There is a comparitive chart with the RPI2 at this page: http://www.slashgear...an-20-09417823/

 

For my own context, I'd only use these inexpensive machines for running java in distributed mode.

 

So, what would matter for such context:

- processing power

- network access (for tens of these machines to move around gigabytes of data)

- price (cheapest possible)

 

Community-wise, completely agree with you. Raspberry is doing an amazing work and for any other purpose such as general controller for other devices is quite usable.

 

:cheers:



#6 Brito

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Posted 14 December 2015 - 11:48 AM

Just an update, I've ordered one of these machines together with some accessories.

 

TFT touchscreen, cost is 25 USD:

C13_2inchTouchscreenDisplayShieldHome.jp

http://www.hardkerne...e=G142060963922

 

 

IR remote control, cost is 4 USD:

CRemotecon4.jpg

http://www.hardkerne...e=G141637537661

 

 

Price was 66 USD, delivery costs are 19 USD so the grand total was 85 USD or roughly 77 EUR in current exchange prices.

 

The TFT can be placed directly on top of the single board computer, will check how good it is for output of information. The remote control was more for fun, the board has a built-in IR receiver and from the site it seems that the remote is triggering keyboard presses, so it should be easy to integrate into software.

 

 

Was also considering to grab an expansion board, but the cost was 18 USD and didn't really had much rational to use it, albeit this really looks like fun to setup and connect to other stuff:

C-TinkeringKitSetupH.jpg

 

http://www.hardkerne...32784&tab_idx=1

 

 

Right now will test if these machines are good enough for real work, use them as CPU nodes for distributing the effort of computation. Bottleneck is passing data over network to avoid buying large storage cards (data to be processed is above 200Gb).

 

A point of interest is to check if LAN boot is permitted. This would help to automate deployments if more boards are added on a cluster-type of thing.

 

:cheers:



#7 Wonko the Sane

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Posted 27 December 2015 - 02:54 PM

Another possible candidate (x86 based), the jaguarboard:

http://www.jaguarboard.org/index.php

http://www.jaguarboa...-x86-based.html

 

Probably in the $50-60 range :unsure:

https://www.kickstar...er?ref=category

 

:duff:

Wonko



#8 Brito

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Posted 28 December 2015 - 12:29 AM

Looks good. 45 USD on kickstarter, CPU has 4 threads that seem capable of 1.3Ghz. Minus point is having to use a specific cable for power. The other boards usually go with the micro-usb option for power which makes it easy to power up.

 

btw. Already got the Odroid at home. Had to pay some extra 33 EUR in taxes, which added to transportation costs makes the board quite pricey.

 

Other than the tax and transportation costs, the machine itself is fairly good and robust. Was testing performance and was impressed. Really small, yet performs just like normal server machine. The manufacturer provides a custom Ubuntu image already setup with drivers, just plug in a micro-SD card and watch it boot through an HDMI cable.

 

:cheers:



#9 Wonko the Sane

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Posted 28 December 2015 - 01:54 PM

Another x86 one (including an Arduino co-processor :w00t:) 1.84 GHz Atom Quad-Core, 2 Gb Ram, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cable LAN, USB 2.0 and 3.0, pre-installed Windows 10 :ph34r: :

https://www.kickstar...ng?ref=category

For 69 US$ (or so).

:duff:

Wonko






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