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1) x86 is pretty much always easier and better for (I assume, as you mentioned HTPC, that you mean) game console emulation than other architectures, so if you d

1) x86 is pretty much always easier and better for (I assume, as you mentioned HTPC, that you mean) game console emulation than other architectures, so if you don't have to have an SBC get a cheap, small x86 machine. Consider used small-footprint business workstations. 2) Raspberry Pi has much better official and (especially) community software support than other SBCs. Things like bluetooth or wifi are usually supported better there, with fewer quirks and breakage, and software's usually more up to date generally. You're rolling the dice with anything else if you're looking for something you won't have to spend a bunch of time fiddling with or fixing all the time.

sebdei 7y ago
Thanks for the reply. I initially didn't want x86 due to the footprint you already mentioned. I'm a fan of ARM processors so I prefer those. I also read somewhere that RK3399 for emulation should also be a good choice, therefore I considered the Rockpi 10N as well.
snvzz 7y ago
2) Raspberry Pi has much better official and (especially) community software support than other SBCs. I disagree, as my experience has been the opposite of this. RPis are always a quirky mess, where doing anything but using turnkey appliance-like solutions is painful, and even these turnkey solutions suffer from poor quality. It's a low-effort, low-quality ecosystem, and my experience has been better with each and every one of the alternatives I've used.
- detaro 7y ago
  Which SBC would you recommend for a better ecosystem?
  - snvzz 7y ago
    I have had nothing but happiness from SBCs based Allwinner (sunxi) chips. My experiences reflect A10, A20 and A64. They have excellent community and Mainline Linux support: https://linux-sunxi.org/Linux_mainlining_effort https://linux-sunxi.org/Linux_mainlining_effort Support in BSDs is similarly very good. I'd pick among the boards that use the A20 (ARMv7) or the A64 (ARMv8 aarch64), as these are the better supported chips. Amlogic, iMX6, iMX8 and rockchip also have good reputation, from what I hear from my acquaintances. But I haven't tried these myself. Broadcom (used in RPI) is infamous, and it's a much deserved infamy. I've had nothing but trouble with them, be it SoCs used on RPIs or other chips made by them.
    - detaro 7y ago
      iMX6 is fine if you can live with the underpowered GPUs, although I couldn't name a cheap universal SBC based on them, I've mostly encountered them in SOMs in professional products. iMX8 is mixed from what I've heard, pretty bad hardware issues initially, and iMX8M specifically is good. Similarly don't know a good SBC yet. Being cheap and widely available still does a lot for the Raspberry Pi for DIY purposes IMHO, but I would be wary to base a product on it.

sebdei 7y ago

Thanks for the reply. I initially didn't want x86 due to the footprint you already mentioned. I'm a fan of ARM processors so I prefer those. I also read somewhere that RK3399 for emulation should also be a good choice, therefore I considered the Rockpi 10N as well.

snvzz 7y ago

2) Raspberry Pi has much better official and (especially) community software support than other SBCs. I disagree, as my experience has been the opposite of this. RPis are always a quirky mess, where doing anything but using turnkey appliance-like solutions is painful, and even these turnkey solutions suffer from poor quality. It's a low-effort, low-quality ecosystem, and my experience has been better with each and every one of the alternatives I've used.

detaro 7y ago
Which SBC would you recommend for a better ecosystem?
- snvzz 7y ago
  I have had nothing but happiness from SBCs based Allwinner (sunxi) chips. My experiences reflect A10, A20 and A64. They have excellent community and Mainline Linux support: https://linux-sunxi.org/Linux_mainlining_effort https://linux-sunxi.org/Linux_mainlining_effort Support in BSDs is similarly very good. I'd pick among the boards that use the A20 (ARMv7) or the A64 (ARMv8 aarch64), as these are the better supported chips. Amlogic, iMX6, iMX8 and rockchip also have good reputation, from what I hear from my acquaintances. But I haven't tried these myself. Broadcom (used in RPI) is infamous, and it's a much deserved infamy. I've had nothing but trouble with them, be it SoCs used on RPIs or other chips made by them.
  - detaro 7y ago
    iMX6 is fine if you can live with the underpowered GPUs, although I couldn't name a cheap universal SBC based on them, I've mostly encountered them in SOMs in professional products. iMX8 is mixed from what I've heard, pretty bad hardware issues initially, and iMX8M specifically is good. Similarly don't know a good SBC yet. Being cheap and widely available still does a lot for the Raspberry Pi for DIY purposes IMHO, but I would be wary to base a product on it.