News Overview
- The ODROID-C5 is a new single-board computer (SBC) priced at $39, offering a cost-effective entry point for hobbyists and embedded developers.
- It features a quad-core ARM Cortex-A55 CPU clocked at 2.5 GHz and 4GB of RAM, providing a reasonable level of performance for its price point.
- The board includes various connectivity options such as Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI, USB ports, and a microSD card slot, making it suitable for a range of projects.
🔗 Original article link: ODROID-C5 is a $39 single-board PC with a 2.5 GHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A55 CPU and 4GB of RAM
In-Depth Analysis
The ODROID-C5 targets the budget-conscious SBC market, directly competing with other low-cost boards like the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W. Key specifications include:
- CPU: Amlogic S805X3 quad-core ARM Cortex-A55 processor clocked at 2.5 GHz. This offers a substantial performance increase over previous generations of low-power ARM processors. The Cortex-A55 is designed for efficiency, making it suitable for applications where power consumption is a concern.
- RAM: 4GB of DDR4 RAM. This is a significant advantage over many competing boards at this price point, which often offer only 512MB or 1GB of RAM. 4GB is generally sufficient for running a lightweight desktop environment or a variety of embedded applications.
- Connectivity:
- Gigabit Ethernet: Provides fast and reliable wired network connectivity.
- HDMI 2.0: Supports 4K display output at 60Hz.
- USB 2.0 Host ports: Two USB 2.0 ports are available for connecting peripherals.
- USB 2.0 OTG port: Can be used for device mode or host mode functionality.
- MicroSD card slot: For booting the OS and storing data.
- 40-pin GPIO header: Offers a wide range of connectivity options for interfacing with external hardware.
- Power: The board requires a 5V/2A power supply.
While the article does not provide benchmarks, the Cortex-A55 CPU and 4GB of RAM suggest that the ODROID-C5 should be capable of handling basic desktop tasks, media playback, and running various embedded applications. The inclusion of Gigabit Ethernet and HDMI 2.0 further enhances its versatility. It is important to note the USB ports are only USB 2.0, not USB 3.0.
Commentary
The ODROID-C5 presents a compelling value proposition in the budget SBC market. The $39 price point combined with 4GB of RAM makes it an attractive option for hobbyists, students, and developers looking for a low-cost platform for experimentation or embedded projects. The availability of Gigabit Ethernet and HDMI 2.0 adds to its appeal.
The competitive landscape is crowded, with boards like the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W and various other low-cost ARM-based SBCs vying for market share. The ODROID-C5’s key advantage lies in its RAM capacity, which is significantly higher than many of its competitors. This could make it a more suitable choice for applications that require more memory.
However, the lack of USB 3.0 ports is a potential drawback. USB 3.0 offers significantly faster data transfer speeds, which could be important for certain applications. It also may come down to software support, community backing, and long-term availability to see if this board becomes a popular choice.