How to Choose the Right Single-Board Computer (SBC) for Your Project

Single-board computers (SBCs) come in all shapes, sizes, and capabilities. From simple automation tasks to AI-driven edge computing, choosing the right SBC can save development time, reduce cost, and ensure long-term reliability.

This guide outlines the key factors to consider when selecting the best SBC for your embedded or industrial project.

1. 🎯 Define Your Application Requirements

Before looking at technical specs, ask:

• What will the SBC do? Data collection? Display UI? AI inference?
• What environment will it run in? Indoor, outdoor, harsh industrial?
• What’s the lifecycle? One-off prototype or long-term production?
• Any size, temperature, or power constraints?

✅ Example: For a smart home controller, you might prioritize Wi-Fi, low power usage, and touchscreen support.

2. 🧠 Processing Performance

Choose a CPU that matches your task complexity:

Also consider RAM size (1–8GB typical) and storage type (eMMC, SD, NVMe).

3. 🔌 I/O and Interfaces

Check the availability of:

• USB ports (2.0, 3.0)
• HDMI / LVDS / MIPI-DSI for displays
• GPIO, UART, I2C, SPI for sensors
• Ethernet (10/100/1000 Mbps)
• Audio in/out
• PCIe or M.2 for expansion

🧩 If your project requires camera input and real-time display, confirm CSI & DSI support.

4. 📶 Networking & Wireless Connectivity

Must-have for most IoT and mobile applications:

• Wi-Fi 2.4/5GHz — many SBCs have onboard chips or M.2 sockets
• Bluetooth — often included with Wi-Fi
• 4G/5G — via USB dongle or SIM slot on advanced SBCs
• Ethernet — always recommended for industrial reliability

5. 🧰 Software & OS Support

Ensure your target SBC supports:

• Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, Buildroot)
• Android (for UI-intensive projects)
• Driver availability for peripherals
• SDKs and sample code

💡 Rockchip-based SBCs often have Android and Linux dual support with active developer communities.

6. 🏗 Mechanical Size & Power

• Form factor: Credit card size (e.g., Raspberry Pi) or larger (3.5” or Pico-ITX)
• Mounting: DIN rail, VESA, panel-mount?
• Power: 5V vs 12V input; passive or active cooling?

⚠️ For battery-powered devices, power draw must be <5W ideally.

7. 💰 Cost vs Longevity

Don’t just choose the cheapest SBC. Look at:

• Long-term availability (3+ years)
• Support for hardware revision tracking
• Documentation & community
• EOL (end-of-life) roadmap

✅ Summary: SBC Selection Checklist