The Banana Pi BPI-M7 single board computer is equipped with up to 32GB RAM and 128GB eMMC flash, and features an M.2 2280 socket for one NVMe SSD, three display interfaces (HDMI, USB-C, MIPI DSI), two camera connectors, dual 2.5GbE, WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, a few USB ports, and a 40-pin GPIO header for expansion.
100$ isn’t cheaper than 55$. That’s 200% more than the pi. If someone is looking for a pi because of the price, a 100$ computer isn’t an option.
The Pi is $55 without any accessories… With accessories it’s way over $100.
What accessories? You’re assuming everyone needs all the accessories.
Which accessories?
I’ve got a million keyboards, mice, monitors, cables, chargers, adapters, etc. And I run RPi headless for most use-cases. One is currently using a ten-year old phone charger, it’s on wifi, so what accessories again?
I don’t need that mini computer which is 10 times the size of an RPi for my use cases.
Is it attractive for certain use-cases? Certainly (and I have those on my shopping list), but you keep going on like it’s just the better device.
Hell, I bought a few Pis on sale for $5 each years ago. How is that PC going to beat five bucks, 2 watts max, for my given use-cases (things like Pi-Hole, Vaultwarden, Joplin, etc)?
Yea, to replace my Pis would be about $30 each, but they’d fit in the same place, and migration is a snap.
I’ve got a million keyboards, mice, monitors, cables, chargers, adapters, etc.
Sure, you do. But people just starting likely do not. I’m thinking of the new user, not just myself.
Hell, I bought a few Pis on sale for $5 each years ago. How is that PC going to beat five bucks, 2 watts max, for my given use-cases (things like Pi-Hole, Vaultwarden, Joplin, etc)?
For that you don’t even need a Pi 5. You can get a cheap SBC at around $10-20 to do that work.
Yea, to replace my Pis would be about $30 each, but they’d fit in the same place, and migration is a snap.
And you are assuming people are only buying new boards to replace old boards.
but you keep going on like it’s just the better device.
“Keep going on”? I’ve mentioned it maybe 2 times, that’s hardly enough to classify it as “keep going on”.
I just don’t believe that Raspberry Pi or SBCs are the king(s) of home servers anymore. There are a lot of cheap x86_64 based options out there. But yes, if you just upgrade from a previous generation the Pi 5 is perfect for you, even though it’s likely overkill for your use-case.
Not really. It’s made to run headless, and isn’t always used for compute tasks. I use mine for running servos. But accessories for the desktop are also not included, so your point doesnt stand regardless.
My brother in christ. A used PC has powersupply, case, storage and cooling. This is about the basic kit you need for a proper pi5 experience. You can very easily hit the 100 dollar mark.
Also, most of the used business PC will have 8G RAM, which would put your little ARM funsies up to the $130 budget range.
And you would still only have 4 shitty cores, no expandability.
And it wouldn’t have gpio, would require at least a square foot of floor/desk space, and it would cost more to run. Price. Size. Gpio. Nobody is running their remote controlled car with a cabled desktop sat on it.
If you just need GPIO for low level electronics there are 20$ SBCs that get the job done. No need for a full RPi5.
USFF boxes are quite a bit smaller footprint than 1 sq/ft, about 7"x7"x1.4"
If you’re running a remote controlled car you want something way down the power scale like as ESP32 or even an ATTiny + radio HW.
Mind you, I don’t disagree with your actual point, I just think the example you used wasn’t correct.
Not sure how much more it would cost to run. If you only really talk about stuff a pi can do as well, you wont be maxing out your cores. You will use a bit more maybe. Nothing sort of whatever you only really keep in mind for monero mining.
You’re assuming use-case.
Oh his point stands, as soon as you add a case and a power adapter/cable you’re near 100$.
Oh his point stands,
No it doesn’t. The power supply is 8$ and the case is 10$, from the official store. That’s 72$. Stop lying.
Yeah sure.
You’re funny. That makes the total 77$. Still not the 100$ + required accessories that a desktop needs.
You won’t be running a Pi5 without a cooler, the kit costs 79$ or 99$ (for the 8GB of RAM). I never said it was over 100$.
Now HP Mini i5 8th gen + 16GB of ram + 256GB NVME that obviously has a case, a LOT of I/O, PCIe (m2) comes with a power adapter and outperforms a RPi5 in all possible ways costs you 100$ as well. And then there’s the 4 and 5th gen Mini PCs selling for 50-70$. If you want even cheaper then look for i3 CPU + 4 GB of RAM, you’ll find 40$ complete machines that run faster and are way better than a Pi
I’ve got easily 50 power adapters for things like Pi. Doesn’t everyone?
You’re ignoring the fact that you need accessories that will up your cost to the 100$ range. Either way, fine, there are now 4 and 5th gen HP Mini PCs selling for 50-70$. Want even cheaper then look for i3 CPU + 4 GB of RAM, you’ll find 40$ complete machines that run faster and are way better than a Pi. All of those options come with power adapters and all the things required to get it going.
