$50 ODROID-C4 Raspberry Pi 4 Competitor Combines Amlogic S905X3 SoC with 4GB RAM
Hardkernel has just launched an update to its ODROID-C2 board, with ODROID-C4 SBC equipped with a 2.0 GHz Amlogic S905X3 quad-core Cortex-A55 processor combined with up to 4GB RAM, four USB 3.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI 2.0 video output, and the usual 40-pin I/O header.
That makes it a worthy competitor to Raspberry Pi 4 with 4GB RAM, especially since it supports Ubuntu 20.04, CoreELEC, Android 9, and LineageOS operating systems, and comes with a proper heatsink for cooling for just $50 plus shipping.
[...] Besides benchmarks and power consumption, the boards also differ in terms of features. For example, Raspberry Pi 4 offers dual HDMI output and built-in WiFi and Bluetooth, while ODROID-C4 comes with a single HDMI port, and WiFi/Bt is optional via a USB dongle. On the other hand, ODROID-C4 comes with four USB 3.0 ports, and offers support for eMMC flash module, while RPi 4 features 2x USB 3.0 + 2x USB 2.0 ports, and does not offer an eMMC option.
See also: Raspberry Pi 4 vs ODROID-C4 Features Comparison
Also at Notebookcheck and LinuxGizmos.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 30 2020, @12:52AM (6 children)
You can buy a Raspberry Pi anywhere, while Hardkernel's DHL shipping cost from Korea doubles the purchase price.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by driverless on Thursday April 30 2020, @07:13AM (4 children)
The difference is that with a Hardkernel system you get a well-engineered, competently designed system while with a Pi you get something that looks like an undergrad cribbed it together from ideas off various vendor data sheets. I've had Pi setups where I spent more than the cost of the Pi itself on all the external add-ons you needed to get it to work like it should have if it had been properly designed, e.g. custom-modded powered USB hubs to power USB devices that the Pi couldn't power but without backpowering it via the USB.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 30 2020, @02:53PM (1 child)
It's true, the PI has a number of warts and blemishes that range from minor inconvenience to truly annoying.
But the difference between a Pi and a Hardkernel system is there are thousands upon thousands of hackers posting fixes and work arounds for every conceivable problem. You're not alone when you run into a Pi problem. Someone, somewhere has hit the same roadblock as you and posted what they did to get around it.
With a Hardkernel system, you better hope you don't hit an odd case problem because chances are you're not going to find a solution. It really is a numbers game.
(Score: 2) by driverless on Friday May 01 2020, @02:18AM
I run both Pis and Odroids but haven't really found this to be a big issue, both are generic Linux devices and I haven't found anything I need to run that doesn't run on an Odroid just as well as on a Pi, or for that matter any other random Linux device like a Beaglebone. I'm running Pihole on an Odroid, Piaware on an Odroid, and so on, not just generic any-Linux-system software like WeeWx but stuff written to run on a Pi that runs just as well on an Odroid.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Freeman on Thursday April 30 2020, @04:23PM (1 child)
Also, with a Raspberry Pi, there's a whole world of hobbyists that are playing with it. Sure there are a few people using ODROIDs, but the Raspberry Pi community is massive in comparison. Which leads to more support, because there's more of a market. I'd choose a Raspberry Pi every time.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 01 2020, @09:02AM
Sorry, but that isn't a convincing reason to use raspi. I've seen that "massive community", it's similar to the community around Ubuntu - 99% know-nothings looking for a step by step guide to run kodi. The odroid community is smaller, but if you have an issue you can post on the forums and the /developers/ will respond to you. Plus, odroid has quality hardware. I have a near 5 year old XU4 currently clocking over 2 years uptime as a media server and still running strong.
(Score: 1) by DancesWithRobots on Thursday April 30 2020, @11:11AM
If you're in the states, try Ameridroid. Base price costs about 10% more, but you have a whole range of shipping options. But no stock on the C4 at this time.