Many maker projects require a central computer unit to process sensor streams, run analysis and decision-taking algorithms, control actuators and provide an interface to users, among other tasks. Different projects demand varying levels of mobility, power consumption and processing power, with budget constraints being an additional consideration factor; in the end most options fall in either the category of Single-Board Computer (SBC) or mini PC.
The list below provides a variety of computing platform alternatives, with considerations on what projects they match best.
Raspberry Pi 4
The Raspberry Pi is a line of ARM-based SBC’s. In terms of cost-effectiveness it strikes a balance between more economical (but also limited) micro-controllers and more powerful (but also expensive) mini PC’s. Although recently superseded by the Raspberry Pi 5, the Raspberry Pi 4 may still be preferred for many automation tasks, owing to its lower power consumption and compatibility with existing accessories.
When buying a Raspberry Pi, it’s important to keep in mind that additional parts will be required for its operation. At a minimum, a Power Source Unit (PSU) and a micro SD card are needed, and a case is also highly recommended. The Raspberry Pi OS image can be pre-formatted for automatic connection to a Wi-Fi network, allowing for headless operation from the get-go; still it’s also recommended to have an HDMI adapter at hand, in case connection to a display is necessary.
- Raspberry Pi 4 (4GB)
- Raspberry Pi 4 (8GB)
- USB-C Power Source Unit (PSU)
- Micro SD Card (64 GB)
- Raspberry Pi 4 Aluminum Case
- Micro HDMI to HDMI adapter
nVIDIA Jetson Nano
the Jetson Nano is an SBC combining an ARM CPU and an nVIDIA 128-core Maxwell GPU. It provides a cost-effective solution for edge AI projects, especially those combining AI-based Computer Vision and robotics.
The Jetson Nano computing module is usually sold alongside its custom expansion board, but not much else. It’s recommended to also acquire a complementary kit including a case, power source, micro SD card and Wi-Fi / Bluetooth card, in order to make the system more usable.
Asus PN53
The mini PC form-factor got a huge boost when Intel launched the NUC line, but it was arguably perfected by ASUS and it’s "P*" line. These are great “workhorse” machines, for when raw CPU power is the overriding requirement — for example, in mobile robotics applications. The PN53 is a recent example of the line. It’s based on AMD’s Ryzen 7 7735HS APU; launched in January 2023, it contains 8 CPU cores, which between them can run 16 threads.
When buying a mini PC, check whether it’s being sold “barebones”, meaning that it comes without memory or storage — which have to be acquired separately. For most maker applications, 16GB of RAM and 250GB of storage will do nicely, which tend to be on low end of the cost spectrum.
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