BeagleBone AI vs. Nvidia Jetson Nano: Which SBC is Best for Machine Learning?
Single-board computers (SBCs) are a popular choice for machine learning enthusiasts, thanks to their affordability, small form factor, and easy integration with various hardware components. Two of the most popular SBCs for machine learning applications are the BeagleBone AI and the Nvidia Jetson Nano. In this post, we'll compare the BeagleBone AI and the Nvidia Jetson Nano to help you decide which one is the best fit for your machine learning projects.
BeagleBone AI
The BeagleBone AI is a powerful SBC that comes loaded with an Arm Cortex-A15 processor, a TI C66x DSP, and an Imagination PowerVR SGX544 GPU. It also features 1GB RAM and 16GB eMMC flash storage, and support for WiFi, Bluetooth, and Gigabit Ethernet. With its impressive hardware specs, the BeagleBone AI is capable of running complex machine learning algorithms, including deep learning.
Nvidia Jetson Nano
The Nvidia Jetson Nano is another popular SBC for machine learning applications. It comes equipped with a quad-core Arm Cortex-A57 processor, a 128-core Nvidia Maxwell GPU, 4GB RAM, and support for WiFi and Gigabit Ethernet. The Jetson Nano also features a dedicated hardware encoder and decoder for streaming video content, making it a great choice for computer vision applications.
Comparison
| SBC | Processor | GPU | RAM | Storage | WiFi | Ethernet | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BeagleBone AI | Arm Cortex-A15 | Imagination PowerVR SGX544 | 1GB | 16GB eMMC | Yes | Gigabit | $118 |
| Nvidia Jetson Nano | Arm Cortex-A57 | Nvidia Maxwell GPU (128 cores) | 4GB | MicroSD card slot | Yes | Gigabit | $99 |
Looking at the specs, the Nvidia Jetson Nano has a more powerful GPU than the BeagleBone AI, which is essential for running complex machine learning algorithms efficiently. However, the BeagleBone AI has more onboard storage, allowing for larger models, and Ethernet for faster networking.
The Jetson Nano is $19 cheaper than the BeagleBone AI, which is a significant difference in price. However, the BeagleBone AI has onboard eMMC storage, eliminating the need to purchase a separate storage device.
Overall, both SBCs have distinct features that make them suitable for different machine learning applications. The Nvidia Jetson Nano is great for computer vision due to its powerful GPU, while the BeagleBone AI is better suited for projects that require larger models and onboard storage.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the BeagleBone AI and the Nvidia Jetson Nano are both reliable SBCs for machine learning applications. Choosing between the two comes down to your specific project requirements, such as the size of your models and the amount of storage you need. Keep in mind that both SBCs have impressive hardware specs, and choosing either one will provide you with a powerful and affordable platform for your machine learning projects.