latest devices - four core

[zachofalltrades]

I have run a small home server on a Tonido plug for a few years, and I have a couple of rPi devices that I have played with. I actually ran one of the early build of ALARM back when it was still called Arch Linux ARM install. There are now a handful of four core arm7 devices available with hard float, GPU, 2GB RAM, and SATA:

based on Freescale i.MX6 Quad processor:
Wandboard Quad
Cubox-i4Pro

based on Exynos 4412 processor:
ODROID X2
ODROID U2

based on Exynos5 processor:
ODROID XU - eight core "big.LITTLE" (coming soon, also adds USB3)

Does anyone have experience with one of these and have any success story or cautionary advice I should consider before picking one up? Or perhaps an alternative suggestion?

BTW, I am hoping to run:
NAS (NFS, no need for Samba)
owncloud
MineCraft server
Plex media center

[pepedog]

And the Utilite http://utilite-computer.com/web/home

[devr]

Just my two cents. In the next few months I will probably moving toward on of these 4 core systems. Most likely the cubox-i, looking forward to using the eSata port. I would imagine I could just use the install instructions from the wanboard install guide, no ?

[zachofalltrades]

thanks for the link pepedog - I had not seen that one. I like the devices that Compulab puts out, but they have always been a bit on the expensive side for my hobbyist budget. I can imagine that they are quite popular in business or industry where small factor general purpose computers are required. There is an open internet kiosk at an automotive garage that I go to that has one of their devices on the desk.

[zachofalltrades]

devr - I am curious why you are looking at the Cubox-i4 which is not yet shipping, rather than the Wandboard Quad which also supports SATA and is available now at roughly the same price? I am not judging - I am truly curious since I am about to order for one of these.

[WarheadsSE]

form factor?

[devr]

Now I have not done too much researching, and I did like the wandboard. But the issues I had is that the wandboard seems more a maker/tinkerer/developer type board (camera interface, expansion header, etc) And while I would like to develop that hobby more... I don't need them for the purpose of a home server. So these are my reasons:
1. I do not need Developer board features
2. I believe the chassis is something you have to pay extra for.
3. Wandboard has a sata port, but chassis I found would need to be modified to provide eSata port.
4. The cubox-i is tiny, w/ built-in eSata port.

Know this isn't too big a factor, but would also say:
5. I like the activity on the cubox-i forum, and initial answers that have been given out.

[ftravers]

What about cubieboard?

$59
Allwinner A20
2x Cortex-A7 @1GHz
Mali-400MP2
1GB DDR3 @980MHz
4GB NAND flash,
µSD port, SATA port.


For headless operations, I think this has the best value specs. I've heard it's not good as an XBMC as their isn't hardware accelerated graphics??? You could buy two of these for the price of one cubie board 4 core...2 cores might be enough for you?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison ... _computers

[WarheadsSE]

The VPU has been tapped openly now. And the fbdev on the Allwinners is wildly better than on Pi.

It's almost a usable system.

[devr]

I am upgrading from a somewhat under-powered device, tonidoPlug2. So personally I prefer 4 cores this time and the 2gb of memory. Each form-factor has their benefits and each user their preference. But if I did want to go the 2 core route, there is a cubox-i version and similar price point as what was mentioned.