{"id":972,"date":"2024-07-25T00:14:38","date_gmt":"2024-07-25T00:14:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/serverhost.com\/blog\/meet-the-60-intel-sbc-a-cheaper-and-faster-alternative-to-the-raspberry-pi-5\/"},"modified":"2025-02-11T06:50:19","modified_gmt":"2025-02-11T06:50:19","slug":"meet-the-60-intel-sbc-a-cheaper-and-faster-alternative-to-the-raspberry-pi-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/serverhost.com\/blog\/meet-the-60-intel-sbc-a-cheaper-and-faster-alternative-to-the-raspberry-pi-5\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the $60 Intel SBC: A Cheaper and Faster Alternative to the Raspberry Pi 5"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you love the idea of tinkering with a small, single-board computer (SBC) but need something with more power than most ARM-based offerings, you’re in luck.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The new Radxa X4<\/em> from Radxa might pique your interest.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Powered by an Intel N100<\/a> CPU with Intel UHD graphics, the Radxa X4<\/em> offers enhanced performance for both CPU and GPU tasks compared to the Raspberry Pi 5, while maintaining a similar price range. However, it does consume more power and tends to heat up more under load.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\n

Radxa X4 Specs<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

CPU:<\/th>\n<\/p>\n

Intel N100 (quad-core, 3.40 GHz turbo boost)<\/td>\n<\/p>\n<\/tr>\n
GPU:<\/th>\n<\/p>\n

Intel UHD<\/td>\n<\/p>\n<\/tr>\n
RAM:<\/th>\n<\/p>\n

4\/8\/16 GB LPDDR5<\/td>\n<\/p>\n<\/tr>\n
Storage:<\/th>\n<\/p>\n

M.2 slot
32\/64 GB* eMMC<\/td>\n<\/p>\n<\/tr>\n
Network:<\/th>\n<\/p>\n

Wi-Fi 5\/6*
Bluetooth 5.0\/5.2*
Ethernet<\/td>\n<\/p>\n<\/tr>\n
Ports:<\/th>\n<\/p>\n

2 micro-HDMI
3 USB 3.2
1 USB 2.0
3.5mm audio<\/td>\n<\/p>\n<\/tr>\n
Other:<\/th>\n<\/p>\n

40 Pin GPIO
SPI Flash
Power button<\/td>\n<\/p>\n<\/tr>\n
Price:<\/th>\n<\/p>\n

From \u00a348\/$60<\/td>\n<\/p>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/th>\n<\/p>\n

*8GB model only<\/em><\/td>\n<\/p>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Also like the Pi —I\u2019d stop comparing but hey: I\u2019ve picked my narrative hook and I\u2019m running with it—<\/em> this Intel-based alternative comes in 4 GB and 8 GB versions, with a 16 GB model planned.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The Intel N100 powering this is a quad-core chip with 4 threads, a max turbo frequency of 3.40 GHz, 6 MB Intel Smart Cache, and a TDP of 6W. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The integrated Intel UHD graphics runs at 750 MHz and supports DirectX 12.1, OpenGL 4.6, OpenCL 3.0, Intel Quick Sync, and h.264\/5 & AV1 decoding.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

It\u2019s true that the N100 is at the low-end of the computing power scale. A number of budget mini PCs from brands like MinisForum<\/a><\/em>, Trigkey<\/a><\/em>, and Geekom<\/a><\/em> are built around it.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Still, you probably weren\u2019t expecting supercomputer performance from a device the size of a supermarket loyalty card, right? RIGHT?!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Could you use a Radxa X4<\/em> as a regular PC? Easily (see the OS support below) as those aforementioned N100 mini-PCs get decent reviews \u2013 and yet they cost more!<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

But a cheap, barebones (if totally naked) NUC this is not.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The Radxa X4 is a bona-fide SBC built for the same kind of use-cases as a traditional ARM-based one.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The Radxa X4<\/em> offers a 40-pin GPIO header connected to a Raspberry Pi RP2040<\/a> microcontroller (MCU). This is said to be largely compatible with the Pi\u2019s GPIO header.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

A list of what it supports:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n