Intel Based Hackboard 2 Priced To Compete With Raspberry Pi

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By Les Pounder
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Intel x86 for the price of a Raspberry Pi

Hackboard 2
(Image credit: Hackboard)

Intel based single board computers (SBC) are not common, the percentage of Intel x86 CPU based SBC is small compared to the dominance of Arm, especially the Raspberry Pi. Hackboard 2, released for crowd funding aims to introduce another Intel SBC starting from $99. A price which sees it square up to the Raspberry Pi.

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Hackboard 2
(Image credit: Hackboard)

Hackboard 2 measure 4.7 x 3.1 inches (120 x 80 mm) and features an Intel Celeron N4020 dual-core CPU running at a base clock of 1.1 GHz, but with a boost upto 2.8 GHz. A heatsink is provided to cool the CPU. With 4GB of DDR4 RAM and 64GB of eMMC flash storage Hackboard 2 has enough capability for a basic desktop machine,  or a decently powerful SBC. Extra storage can be added via two NVMe M.2 slots. Pre-release models of this board, sent to reviewers / YouTubers have only one NVMe M.2 slot the other replaced with a micro SD slot, and an older CPU. Graphics duties fall to an Intel UHD Graphics 600, which provides upto 4K via an HDMI 2.1 and eDP screen connector.
Connectivity comes via Intel AC95060 dual band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1 and Gigabit Ethernet. In the pledges you can add a $50 4G / 5G cellular modem. With three USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2 camera connections and a 40 pin GPIO which claims compatibility with Raspberry Pi HATs.

The pitch for this board is that it is around the same price as a Raspberry Pi 4, but with an x86 CPU we are free to install any operating system, including Windows 10, which is offered as an option for backers.  The $99 Hackboard 2 pledge covers a unit with Ubuntu Linux pre-installed. Moving up to $140 we see Windows 10 Pro installed. Moving up the tiers and we see a starter kit for $180 that offers "everything you need to hook up the Hackboard 2" and comes with a case, USB 2 webcam and a wireless keyboard trackpad combo. The $299 tier offers all of the previous tiers, but with an 13.3 inch IPS display and a cover that doubles as a stand. 

Hackboard 2 is not a "Raspberry Pi Killer" but if you need an x86 powered SBC then this could be the board for you. Hackboard 2 is available via Crowd Supply.

Les Pounder
Les Pounder

Les Pounder is an associate editor at Tom's Hardware. He is a creative technologist and for seven years has created projects to educate and inspire minds both young and old. He has worked with the Raspberry Pi Foundation to write and deliver their teacher training program "Picademy".

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7 Comments Comment from the forums
  • fball922
    The killer feature here is access to Intel Quick Sync, which could turn this little board into an awesome little Plex Server.
    Reply
  • nofanneeded
    Hackboard 2 measure 4.7 x 3.1 inches (120 x 80 mm) and features an Intel Celeron N4020 dual-core CPU running at a base clock of 1.1 GHz, but with a boost upto 2.8 GHz. A heatsink is provided to cool the CPU. With 4GB of DDR4 RAM and 64GB of eMMC flash storage

    using eMMS flash when they can easily use .UFS 3.0 or NVME is really cheap. and using intel Celeron for this is not a good idea ..

    Some one over there should start using snapdragon 888 or loder 865+ chip and make the real thing and sell it for the same price ...
    Reply
  • Istarion
    nofanneeded said:
    using eMMS flash when they can easily use .UFS 3.0 or NVME is really cheap. and using intel Celeron for this is not a good idea ..

    Some one over there should start using snapdragon 888 or loder 865+ chip and make the real thing and sell it for the same price ...

    You're mixing things up. For starters, we are talking about a 100$ machine. This competes with raspberry pi, its a bit more expensive but has a more capable cpu & includes storage.
    In regards to a snapdragon, youre are comparing one of the worst intel cpus vs one of the best ARM cpus... that snapdragon would cost so much more it would be competition for something else.
    It also includes a NVME port, whereas the raspberry includes none...

    I find this board quite interesting to be fair, I'd probably buy it before a raspberry 4 with 8gb of ram!
    Reply
  • nofanneeded
    Istarion said:
    You're mixing things up. For starters, we are talking about a 100$ machine. This competes with raspberry pi, its a bit more expensive but has a more capable cpu & includes storage.
    In regards to a snapdragon, youre are comparing one of the worst intel cpus vs one of the best ARM cpus... that snapdragon would cost so much more it would be competition for something else.
    It also includes a NVME port, whereas the raspberry includes none...

    I find this board quite interesting to be fair, I'd probably buy it before a raspberry 4 with 8gb of ram!

    Fair by me , but using emmc is really cheap , UFS 3.0 is around .. true Snapdragon would cost more , but we need that power in very small form factor and low watts ...

    I checked the price of 2017 Nvidia shield which comes with full case , and TEGRA APU and controller , it is 170$ only ..

    this board is expensive for what it gives.

    https://www.amazon.com/NVIDIA-SHIELD-Gaming-Streaming-GeForce/dp/B01N1NT9Y6?th=1
    Also , Many android TV boxes are sold for 99$ and are much better than this board.
    Reply
  • evolusian
    How is this "the price of a raspberry pi" when it's 2x + the cost?
    Reply
  • Istarion
    nofanneeded said:
    Fair by me , but using emmc is really cheap , UFS 3.0 is around .. true Snapdragon would cost more , but we need that power in very small form factor and low watts ...

    I checked the price of 2017 Nvidia shield which comes with full case , and TEGRA APU and controller , it is 170$ only ..

    this board is expensive for what it gives.

    https://www.amazon.com/NVIDIA-SHIELD-Gaming-Streaming-GeForce/dp/B01N1NT9Y6?th=1
    Also , Many android TV boxes are sold for 99$ and are much better than this board.

    I really see no point in this discussion :)

    Prices in my country:
    Raspberry 4gb 70e
    Raspberry 8gb 80e
    Raspberry 8gb +case+memory 100e
    Nvidia tegra x1 3gb 220e, lets say 200e
    I expect this board to be around 100-120e, 4gb + heatsink + memory

    Performance wise (unless you need more than 4gb of ram, only available to rpi 4):
    this board > tegra > raspberry pi 4

    But the tegra is almost twice the price, and doesnt have the same goal, it doesnt have gpio inputs for instace nor nvme slot :\
    They are 2 completely different boards.

    Imagine the price if you swap cpus with the snapgradon, which is a more powerful cpu than the one in the tegra; its going to be more expensive.
    Reply
  • Findecanor
    I'm trying to have less Wintel in my life, not more!
    Reply