Trending Raspberry Pi Single Board Computers

Raspberry Pi

• Raspberry Pi is a popular choice due to its affordability and strong community support.
• Pros:
  • "The Pi has better OS, driver, and application support than any other single board computer."
  • "The Pi 4 should be a beast at running your SNES titles."
  • "Raspberry Pi is made in Wales, which could be a selling point for some."
• Cons:
  • "It has several issues, including lack of on-board storage, reliability issues with SD card and USB, limited Ethernet speeds, no SATA, no analog inputs, no RTC, and limited GPIO."
  • "It runs very hot, so users may need to consider adding a heat sink."

Other Competitors

• ODROID C1: Offers gigabit Ethernet, eMMC, and IR capabilities.
• Orange Pi: Affordable alternative with features like Wi-Fi, IR, and SATA.
• C.H.I.P: A budget option with Wi-Fi, BT, eMMC, and LiPo support.
• Seeed LinkIt Smart 7688: Suitable for router-level projects with Wi-Fi and GPIOs.
• Arduino and ESP8266: Cheaper options for microcontrollers suitable for specific tasks but lack the computing power and Linux compatibility.

RISC-V SBCs

• With the rise of RISC-V, boards like the SiFive HiFive Unmatched are gaining popularity for their competitive capabilities and prices compared to ARM-based boards.

RetroPie/Emulation

• The Raspberry Pi 4 is recommended for retro gaming, running old games smoothly.
• Recalbox and RetroPie are specialized distros for retro gaming on Raspberry Pi.
• Pros:
  • Retro gaming up to PS1 runs smoothly.
  • Easy controller detection and pairing.
  • Allows for emulation of consoles like Playstation and Dreamcast.
• Cons:
  • Users may face tearing issues and overheating if not properly managed.

Overall Insights

• Pros of Raspberry Pi:
  • Strong community support.
  • Versatile for various projects including retro gaming.
• Cons of Raspberry Pi:
  • Hardware limitations compared to competitors.
• Trending:
  • RISC-V SBCs like the SiFive HiFive Unmatched are gaining traction.
  • Retro gaming on Raspberry Pi with distros like RetroPie and Recalbox is popular.
• Possible Alternatives:
  • Other boards like ODROID, Orange Pi, and C.H.I.P provide options with different features and price points.