Raspberry Pi vs. ASUS Tinker Board - Which Single Board Computer is Better
Single-board computers (SBCs) have been gaining popularity in recent years, especially among DIY enthusiasts and hobbyists. Two of the most popular SBCs in the market are Raspberry Pi and ASUS Tinker Board. Both are affordable, versatile, and offer excellent computing performance. But which one is better? In this article, we'll compare Raspberry Pi and ASUS Tinker Board to help you decide which one is right for your project.
Raspberry Pi
Raspberry Pi is a series of single-board computers developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. The current generation of Raspberry Pi boards includes Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4, and Raspberry Pi 400. These SBCs are powered by Broadcom ARM-based processors and are available with 2GB, 4GB, or 8GB of RAM.
Raspberry Pi is known for its excellent software support and a large community of enthusiasts, developers, and manufacturers. It's easy to get started with Raspberry Pi, thanks to the abundance of tutorials, guides, and projects available online. Raspberry Pi also supports a wide range of operating systems, including Raspbian, Ubuntu, and Arch Linux.
Raspberry Pi Specifications
| Model | Processor | RAM | USB ports | Ethernet | Wi-Fi | Bluetooth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 4 | Broadcom BCM2711, Quad-core | 2GB | 2 | Gigabit | 802.11ac | 5.0 |
| Cortex-A72 @ 1.5GHz | 4GB | |||||
| 8GB |
ASUS Tinker Board
ASUS Tinker Board is a single-board computer that was launched as a competitor to Raspberry Pi. The board is powered by a Rockchip RK3288 processor, which is a quad-core ARM-based processor. It also comes with 2GB of RAM, 4 USB 2.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, and Wi-Fi.
ASUS Tinker Board runs on Debian Linux and supports a wide range of applications, including gaming, media center, and DIY projects. The board also features a dedicated hardware-accelerated graphics processor, making it a good choice for gaming and multimedia applications.
ASUS Tinker Board Specifications
| Model | Processor | RAM | USB ports | Ethernet | Wi-Fi | Bluetooth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASUS Tinker Board | Rockchip RK3288 quad-core Cortex-A17 | 2GB | 4 | Gigabit | 802.11b/g/n | 4.0 |
Comparison
Performance
When it comes to performance, Raspberry Pi 4 outperforms ASUS Tinker Board. Raspberry Pi 4 has a more powerful processor and faster RAM, making it a better choice for CPU-intensive tasks. Raspberry Pi 4 also supports 64-bit operating systems, which further enhances its performance capabilities.
Price
When it comes to the price, Raspberry Pi 4 is priced slightly higher than ASUS Tinker Board. Raspberry Pi 4 starts at $35, while ASUS Tinker Board is priced at $59.99. However, Raspberry Pi 4 offers better value for money, thanks to its superior performance and wider software support.
Software Support
Raspberry Pi has a wider range of software support than ASUS Tinker Board. Raspberry Pi supports a vast range of operating systems and software applications, making it an ideal choice for various projects. ASUS Tinker Board, on the other hand, has limited software support, but it does offer dedicated support for gaming and multimedia applications.
Final Verdict
Both Raspberry Pi and ASUS Tinker Board are excellent single-board computers that offer great value for money. However, Raspberry Pi is a better choice for most projects, thanks to its superior performance and wider software support. ASUS Tinker Board is an ideal choice for gaming and multimedia projects, thanks to its dedicated hardware-accelerated graphics processor.
Whichever you choose, you'll get an excellent single-board computer that you can use for a range of DIY projects.