This is a text-only version of the following page on https://raymii.org:
---
Title : Small low cost linux pc's, an overview from 11-2012
Author : Remy van Elst
Date : 07-11-2012
URL : https://raymii.org/s/articles/Small_Linux_PCs.html
Format : Markdown/HTML
---
You might have heard of the Raspberry Pi, or the Cotton Candy, or the Snowball.
Those are, besides nice pi, candy and snow, also small Linux pc's. Most of them
have an ARM chip, a small amount of memory and run some for of Linux.
This page will provide an overview of what is on the market, specs, an image,
and links to the boards. It is probably not complete, and if I forgot one,
please leave a comment. I think I'll be doing another overview at the end of the
year.
Prices are in US dollar unless otherwise stated. It is the starting price for
the cheapest model where applicable.
USB is always 2.0 unless otherwise stated.
If specs are known, I add them, (HMDI 1.4, 10/100/1000 base T ethernet), if not
then it is like (HDMI, RJ-45 ethernet).
<p class="ad"> <b>Recently I removed all Google Ads from this site due to their invasive tracking, as well as Google Analytics. Please, if you found this content useful, consider a small donation using any of the options below:</b><br><br> <a href="https://leafnode.nl">I'm developing an open source monitoring app called Leaf Node Monitoring, for windows, linux & android. Go check it out!</a><br><br> <a href="https://github.com/sponsors/RaymiiOrg/">Consider sponsoring me on Github. It means the world to me if you show your appreciation and you'll help pay the server costs.</a><br><br> <a href="https://www.digitalocean.com/?refcode=7435ae6b8212">You can also sponsor me by getting a Digital Ocean VPS. With this referral link you'll get $100 credit for 60 days. </a><br><br> </p>
#### Table of Contents
* Raspberry Pi
* Cotton Candy
* Gooseberry
* Rascal Micro
* ODROID-X
* CuBox
* Pandora
* Via APC
* AllWinner MK802
* Allwinner MK808
* Ben Nanote
* Norhtec Gecko Surfboard
* Cappuccino PC
* Zipit Z2
* Trimslice
* OLinuXino
* Plug Computers
* Others
#### Raspberry Pi
![Raspberry Pi][2]
##### Goal / Info
* stimulating the teaching of basic computer science in schools. *
##### Specs (model B)
* Broadcom BCM2835 SoC
* 700 MHz ARM1176JZF-S core ARM11 CPU,
* 512 MB RAM [(pre october 2012 models have 256 MB RAM)][3] (shared)
* 2x USB, 1x RJ45 100mbit, 1x 3.5mm jack audio, HDMI 1,3 & 1,4, Composite RCA (PAL & NTSC)
* SD card slot for storage. No internal HDD.
##### Operating System(s)
Linux (Debian, Arch, Fedora), RISC OS
##### Price
$35.
[Raspberry Pi Homepage][4]
#### Cotton Candy
![Cotton Candy][5]
##### Goal / Info
_allows users a single, secure point of access to all personal cloud services
and apps through their favorite operating system, while delivering a consistent
experience on any screen. The device will serve as a companion to smartphones,
tablets, and notebook PC and Macs, as well add smart capabilities to existing
displays, TVs, set top boxes and other media that supports USB mass storage."_
##### Specs
* 1.2 GHz ARM Cortex-A9 CPU
* Mali-400MP ARM GPU
* 1 GB RAM
* 802.11 b/g/n Wifi, Bluetooth 2.1.
* 1x HMDI, 1x USB, 1x female MicroUSB
* MicroSD card Slot
##### Operating System(s)
Linux (Ubuntu), Android
##### Price
$200
[Cotton Candy Homepage][6]
#### Gooseberry
![Gooseberry][7]
##### Goal / Info
_Ive set up Gooseberry for one chief reason, the time the Raspberry Pi is taking
to get here!_
##### Specs
* 1.0 GHz Allwinner A10 Soc
* 4 GB nand flash internal storage
* Micro SD card slot
* 802.11 b/g/n/ Wifi
* 1x HDMI (Mali 400 MHz), 1x 3.5mm jack
##### Operating System
Android ICS only. Arch and Ubuntu expected.
##### Price
40 UK Pounds
[Gooseberry Homepage][8]
#### Rascal Micro
![Rascal Micro][9]
##### Goal / Info
_The Rascal is a small, open source computer that works with Arduino shields.
Inside, it runs Linux, and you can program it in Python. The Rascal comes with a
web-based editor and lots of examples that you can modify to make whatever you
want._
##### Specs
I could not find any good hardware specs, if you know them, please leave them in
the comments.
* Open source computer that works with Arduino shields
* Programmable in Python
* Serves webpages
* Web server includes an editor
##### Operating Systems
#### ODROID-X
![ODROID-X][10]
##### Goal / Info
_Not found._
##### Specs
* 1.4 GHz Samsung Exynos 43412 ARM Cortex A9
* 1 GB RAM
* Mali 400 GPU, Micro HDMI
* 50pin IO expansion port for LCD/I2C/UART/SPI/ADC/GPIO interfaces
* 6x USB 2, 2x 3.5MM Jack
* 1x 10/100MB Ethernet (RJ-45)
* SDHC card slot
##### Operating Systems
Android 4 ICS, Ubuntu ARM, Fedora ARM, Arch Linux ARM
##### Price
129 US Dollar
[ODROID-X homepage][11]
#### CuBox
![CuBox][12]
##### Goal / Info
_CuBox Developer Platform is a highly energy efficient and miniature open source
development platform for different applications, like multimedia, set-top-box,
NAS, automation and other applications._
##### Specs:
* Marvell Armada 510 SoC
* 800 MHz dual issue ARM PJ4 processor, VFPv3, wmmx SIMD and 512KB L2 cache.
* 1 GB RAM
* 1x HDMI, 1x SPDIF, 1x eSata, 2x USB, 1x Micro SD, 1x Micro USB (for console)
* 1x Gigabit ethernet
* Infrared. Special No-JTAG Unbrick
##### Operating System(s):
Linux (Ubuntu), Android
##### Price:
$135
[CuBox Homepage][13]
#### Pandora
##### Goal / Info
*designed to take advantage of existing open source software and to be a target for homebrew development and emulation. *
##### Specs
* TI OMAP3530 SoC
* 600 MHz ARM A8 CPU
* 512 MB RAM
* 802.11 b/g Wifi, Bluetooth 2.0,
* 800x480 4.3" resistive touch screen, 2 analog controllers
* TV out, 3.5mm jack, 2x USB, 2x SD card slot
* 43 key QWERTY keyboard
##### Operating System(s):
ngstrm Linux
#### Price
EUR: 440.
[OpenPandora Homepgage][14]
#### VIA Android-PC (APC)
![via APC][15]
##### Goal / Info
_APC was born from our love of computers and our realization that the PC needs a
fundamental redesign. The redesign that we offer is a computer that is more
accessible, and more valuable, because youre not paying for functions that you
dont need and wont be using._
##### Specs
* 800 MHz VIA CPU
* 512 MB RAM
* 2 GB NAND Flash memory
* 1x RJ-45 10/100 mbit ethernet, No WIFI (only via USB Dongle)
* 1X HDMI, 1x VGA, 4x USB, 2x 3.5MM Jack (audio-out adn audio-in), 1x MicroSD slot
##### Operating System(s)
Android (2.3)
##### Price
$50
[APC Homepage][16]
#### AllWinner MK802 Mini PC
![][17]
##### Goal / Info
_None, a cheap china-made clone/mix of the above._
##### Specs
* Allwinner A10/ 1GHz Cortex-A8 CPU
* 512MB RAM, 4GB Storage
* 802.11b/g/n Wifi
* 1x MicroSD Slot, 1x USB, 1x HDMI
##### Operating System(s)
Android, Linux (Ubuntu).
##### Price
$75 base price, varies where you buy it.
#### Allwinner MK808 Android PC
![mk808][18]
##### Goal / Info
_None, cheap china made clone/mix of the above, upgrade of the MK208_
##### Specs
* 1.2 GHz Rochip RK 3066, CORTEX-A9 CPU
* Mali-400MP ARM GPU
* 1 GB DDR3 RAM
* 8 GB NAND Flash
* B/G/N Wifi
* HMDI Port
* 1x USB 2.0
* 1x Micro USB
##### Operating System
Android Jelly Bean 4.1
##### Price
$60 base price, varies where you buy it.
[Webshop that sells the MK808][19]
#### Ben Nanote
![Ben Nanote][20]
##### Goal / Info
_: bn. The Chinese character signifies an origin or the beginning place; It
signifies exactly what the first version of the NanoNote is: a beginning. The
version of NanoNote is an ultra small form factor computing device. The device
sports a 336 MHz processor, 2GB of flash memory, microSD slot, head phone jack,
USB device and 850mAh Li-ion battery. It boots Linux out of the box and also
boots over USB. Its targeted squarely at developers who see the promise of open
hardware and want to roll their own end user experience. Its the perfect
companion for open content; we envision developers turning the device into a
music or video player for Ogg or an offline Wikipedia or MIT OpenCourseWare
appliance. Or you can simply amaze your friends by creating an ultra small
handheld notebook computer. You choose the distribution._
##### Specs
* 336 MHz JZ4720 MIPS CPU (MIPS, Yay!)
* 32 MB RAM (yes, Megabyte)
* 320x240 3" screen (40x15 console)
* 2 GB NAND Flash, 1x MicroSD slot
* 1x USB Mini B
* 59 key keyboard
##### Operating System(s)
Linux (Debian MIPS)
##### Price
$99
[Ben Nanote Website][21]
#### Norhtec Gecko Surfboard
![Norhtec Surfboard][22]
##### Goal / Info
*The Gecko Surfboard is one of the easiest, most energy efficient and least expensive platforms to get on the web. The Gecko Surfboard is the size of a standard keyboard but inside is a full x86 computer. *
##### Specs
* 1 GHz Xcore86 x586 Device on Chip CPU
* 512 MB RAM
* 1x internal Sata
* 1x RS232, 1x VGA, 1x TV/Composite, 2x USB, 2x SD, 1x RJ-45
* Integrated Keyboard
##### Operating System(s)
This is an x86, so Windows, Linux, Android, BSD, Haiku, ReactOS or whatever you
can hack on it.
##### Price
$120
[Norhtec Surfboard][23]
#### Cappuccino PC
![Cappuccino PC][24]
##### Goal / Info
_Not Found_
##### Specs
Differs per model, these are the specs for the SlimPRO SP645 Mini PC model
* Support Intel Core2Duo T9400/T9600/T7500, P8600/8400 and Celeron M 575/585 CPU
* Intel GM45 / ICH9M
* Support Max 8GB DDR2 667/800 Dual Channel SODIMM with 64Bit OS
* On-board Gigabit LAN, 1394 firewire port
* Optional 2nd COM Port,2nd Gigabit LAN or 3 Gigabit LAN coexist with Optical Drive
* Optional Mini PCI Express slot and Express Card slot add-on, DVI port add-on for dual display, Parallel Port, 4 DVR Input
* 5.75"(W) x 10.0"(D) x 1.65"(H) (14.6 x 25.4 x 4.2 cm)
##### Operating Systems
These machines are x86 so anything you can run on x86 hardware, like
[ReactOS][25], [Haiku][26], [Syllable OS][27] or [MikeOS][28]. Or just any Linux
distro, and maybe even Windows.
##### Price
Starting at 400 dollars.
[SlimPRO Model][29] and [many more Cappuccino models][30]
#### Zipit Z2
![Zipit Z2][31]
#### Goal
_The Z2 is a handheld device which was originally marketed to children for
chatting on instant messenger services through wifi without the need for a
costly cellphone and associated service plan._
#### Specs
* 312 MHz XScale PXA270 CPU
* 32 MB RAM
* Backlit QWERTY Keyboard
* 2.8" QVGA Screen (320x240)
* MiniSD Slot
* 3.5MM jack
* 802.11 b/g Wifi
##### Operating Systems
This is the nice thing about this device, it runs Linux, and you can hack it to
run Debian with FluxBox and the Dillo Webbrowser.
[Here is a step by step guide to setup debian][32]
##### Price
Around 40 dollars on ebay, not in production anymore.
[Zipit Z2 page][33]
#### TrimSlice
![trimslice][34]
##### Goal / Info
_Trim-Slice is the first desktop computer powered by NVIDIA Tegra 2. It is a
miniature fanless dual-core ARM Cortex A9 computer that provides outstanding
multimedia experience._
##### Specs
* NVIDIA Tegra 2 SoC
* 1 GHz ARM Cortex A9 CPU
* 1 GB RAM
* 1x Sata internal, 1x SD slot, 1x Micro SD Slot
* 1x RJ-45 1000 mbit ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wifi, Bluetooth
* 1x HDMI 1.3, 1x dual head DVI
* 4x USB, 1x RS232, JTAG, Composite
##### Operating System(s)
Android, Linux (Ubuntu)
##### Price
$213
[TrimSlice website][35]
#### OLinuXino
![OLinuxIno][36]
##### Goal / Info
_OLINUXINO is Open Source software and Open Source Hardware, low cost EUR 30
Linux Industrial grade single board computer with GPIOs capable to operate
-25+85C. OLINUXINO is completely open source - including hardware and software,
this means you have access to all CAD files and sources and you can reuse them
for your own personal or commercial project. There are NO restrictions to
manufacture and sell these board for your own use or resale._
##### Specs (iMX233-OLinuXino-MINI)
* 454 MHz iMX233 ARM926J CPU
* 64 MB RAM
* 40 pin GPIO
* SD Card
* TV/PAL/NTSC Output
* 3x USB
* UEXT Connector
* optional Wifi via RTL8188CU module
##### Operating Systems
Linux (Arch), Android, Open Embedded Linux
###### Price
$ 35
[OlinuXino website][37]
#### Plug Computers (SheevaPlug, GuruPlug etc)
![SheevaPlug][38]
##### Goal / Info
_designed to allow standard computing features in as small a space as possible._
##### Specs
* ARM CPU, varies between 600 MHz to 1.5 GHz
* RAM varies from 256 MB to 1 GB
* Plug directly in wall socket
* 1 or more RJ-45 ethernet ports
* 1 or more USB ports
* Some have 802.11 b/g Wireless
##### Operating System(s)
Linux (various)
##### Price
Varies per plug PC.
[Wikipedia Article about Plug Computers][39]
[List of plug computers][40]
[DreamPlug][41]
#### Other Boards
* [Beagleboard][42]
* [BeagleBone][43]
* [Fit Pc 2i][44]
* [PandaBoard][45]
* [SnowBall][46]
* [PC Engiles ALIX boards][47]
* [Armadeus Systems][48]
* [GUMSTIX Overo][49]
* [CubieBoard][50]
[1]: https://www.digitalocean.com/?refcode=7435ae6b8212
[2]: https://raymii.org/s/inc/img/small-pcs/raspberry-pi.jpg
[3]: http://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/2180
[4]: http://raspberrypi.org
[5]: https://raymii.org/s/inc/img/small-pcs/cotton-candy.jpg
[6]: http://www.fxitech.com/
[7]: https://raymii.org/s/inc/img/small-pcs/gooseberry.jpg
[8]: http://gooseberry.atspace.co.uk/
[9]: https://raymii.org/s/inc/img/small-pcs/rascal-micro.jpg
[10]: https://raymii.org/s/inc/img/small-pcs/odroid.jpeg
[11]: http://www.hardkernel.com/renewal_2011/products/prdt_info.php?g_code=G133999328931
[12]: https://raymii.org/s/inc/img/small-pcs/cubox.jpg
[13]: http://www.solid-run.com/products/cubox
[14]: http://www.open-pandora.org/
[15]: https://raymii.org/s/inc/img/small-pcs/apc.jpg
[16]: http://apc.io/
[17]: https://raymii.org/s/inc/img/small-pcs/allwinner.jpg
[18]: https://raymii.org/s/inc/img/small-pcs/mk808.jpg
[19]: http://www.geekbuying.com/item/MK808-Dual-Core-Android-4-1-Jelly-Bean-TV-BOX-Rockchip-RK3066-Cortex-A9-Mini-PC-stick-307415.html
[20]: https://raymii.org/s/inc/img/small-pcs/nanote.jpg
[21]: http://en.qi-hardware.com/wiki/Ben_NanoNote
[22]: https://raymii.org/s/inc/img/small-pcs/surf.jpg
[23]: http://www.norhtec.com/products/surfboard/index.html
[24]: https://raymii.org/s/inc/img/small-pcs/capp.jpg
[25]: http://reactos.org
[26]: http://www.haiku-os.org/
[27]: http://web.syllable.org/pages/index.html
[28]: http://mikeos.berlios.de/
[29]: http://www.cappuccinopc.com/slimpro-sp645.asp
[30]: http://www.cappuccinopc.com
[31]: https://raymii.org/s/inc/img/small-pcs/zip.jpg
[32]: http://quantumlime.com/zipit
[33]: http://www.elkgrovewireless.com/zipit/
[34]: https://raymii.org/s/inc/img/small-pcs/trim.jpg
[35]: http://www.trimslice.com/
[36]: https://raymii.org/s/inc/img/small-pcs/olinux.jpg
[37]: https://www.olimex.com/Products/OLinuXino/
[38]: https://raymii.org/s/inc/img/small-pcs/plug.jpg
[39]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plug_computer
[40]: http://www.plugcomputer.org/development-kits/
[41]: http://www.newit.co.uk/shop/All-DreamPlug/DreamPlugs
[42]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BeagleBoard
[43]: http://beagleboard.org/bone/
[44]: http://www.fit-pc.com/web/fit-pc/fit-pc2i-specifications/
[45]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PandaBoard
[46]: http://www.igloocommunity.org/
[47]: http://pcengines.ch/alix.htm
[48]: http://www.armadeus.com/english/index.html
[49]: https://www.gumstix.com/store/index.php?cPath=33
[50]: http://cubieboard.org/
---
License:
All the text on this website is free as in freedom unless stated otherwise.
This means you can use it in any way you want, you can copy it, change it
the way you like and republish it, as long as you release the (modified)
content under the same license to give others the same freedoms you've got
and place my name and a link to this site with the article as source.
This site uses Google Analytics for statistics and Google Adwords for
advertisements. You are tracked and Google knows everything about you.
Use an adblocker like ublock-origin if you don't want it.
All the code on this website is licensed under the GNU GPL v3 license
unless already licensed under a license which does not allows this form
of licensing or if another license is stated on that page / in that software:
This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
(at your option) any later version.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
GNU General Public License for more details.
You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
along with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
Just to be clear, the information on this website is for meant for educational
purposes and you use it at your own risk. I do not take responsibility if you
screw something up. Use common sense, do not 'rm -rf /' as root for example.
If you have any questions then do not hesitate to contact me.
See https://raymii.org/s/static/About.html for details.