Hello everyone!
So, I've already got a gaming PC running Intel processors, and I'm already pretty solid on that area, however I seem to be using a lot of power on the desktop area (although I could've easily been using more had I chosen to upgrade to a more powerful and expensive PC, which I still might at some later time).
What I am not really much into is building an ARM based PC. Now, first of all, let's get the following out of the way:
[B]*[/B] I don't care about Windows. I really don't. I already run a Funtoo AMD64 based setup on my desktop with no dual booting, and no virtual machines. I couldn't give less fucks about Windows support.
[B]* [/B]I want flexibility and possible extensibility.
[B]* [/B]It should be able to handle powerful 3D graphics without relying too much (if at all) on proprietary driver code
[B]* [/B]Wireless networking is already covered, I'll be using a USB 2.0 TP-LINK adapter with the rt2800usb driver.
[B]* [/B]Regardless of wireless, the board should in some way provide a true Gigabit Ethernet slot, for internal network systems. That is, a 10/100/1000 ethernet port (unlike the RPi, which only provides 10/100).
Now, a lot of ARM systems already provide the some of this by default, and at less power usage, however I do not have the slightest clue on where to start. My primary concern is for development of true OpenGL applications and compilations, so the processor should be relatively powerful, and provide a nice and useful GPU with little to no reliance on proprietary driver code (firmware is okay).
Budget: NaN
This is mostly for research and RFI, but it would be useful for future workstations and custom gaming and video processing applications that I and others write.
I don't think you'll be building something like that. However, Mini PCs are often very power-light while still packing some decent hardware ( and being super cute ).
This one even has a dedicated GPU: [url]http://www.asus.com/Commercial_Desktops/EB1037/[/url]
[editline]7th December 2014[/editline]
I see you're also from Denmark, so here's a place where you can see what the linked model costs, just to get an idea: [url]https://www.dustinhome.dk/product/5010798591/eee-box-eb1037[/url]
What do you mean you don't think I'll be building something like that? There are already a slew of SoC models out there, however I only know about a few like the RPi and the Parallella16 both of which provide somewhat of what I need at the expense of only a few Watt (about 5W). Clearly this is possible, the only issue is finding the correct one(s).
The one you linked is indeed a neat device and isn't very expensive either. With the CPU itself using consuming 10W, the GPU consumes about 15W and then there's the other devices and utilities. On top of that, it seems to be using Windows 8.1 which requires a UEFI system (which may or may not allow a different OS), of which I personally am not a fan.
So it seems like a neat device that could serve my purpose somewhat, were it not for the possible UEFI compatibility issue and the nVidia GPU which may or may not even work. According to the nouveau freedesktop wiki, I couldn't seem to find any support for the nVidia GT820M card, which could present a problem in that area.
Thanks for your time though, I'll bookmark the link for possible private consideration.
There's a version with Intel integrated graphics, if that's better. Also, computers in general rarely run at full speed so power usage varies a lot (According to Asus, the linked computer uses 10w in idle). And I'm pretty sure you can change from UEFI to legacy boot methods...
You want ARM is an ARM processor?
If so, throw out all notions of having any sort of performance or anything standard. On a clock for clock basis, the ARM is significantly weaker than any current x86 processor had has pretty much zero support for any x86 hardware and software. You won't be running any Nvidia or AMD card.
If you want to run games on an ARM processor, you'll have to compile them yourself (assuming source code is available) and sacrifice any sort of graphical capability since any graphics solution is going to be very weak compared to even a budget x86 mobile GPU.
I used to own an ODROID-U2 and it worked well, but graphics performance was rather bleh in Ubuntu upon initial release compared to Android. I wonder if it's improved with newer releases (I know the U3 / XU3 can run 14.04).
Outside of GPIO pins they're not what I'd call extensible and they only have 10/100, but they're small, pretty good performance and power-efficient.
[img]http://dn.odroid.com/homebackup/xu3Lite_topdetail.jpg[/img]
[QUOTE=GiGaBiTe;46661065]You want ARM is an ARM processor?
If so, throw out all notions of having any sort of performance or anything standard. On a clock for clock basis, the ARM is significantly weaker than any current x86 processor had has pretty much zero support for any x86 hardware and software. You won't be running any Nvidia or AMD card.
If you want to run games on an ARM processor, you'll have to compile them yourself (assuming source code is available) and sacrifice any sort of graphical capability since any graphics solution is going to be very weak compared to even a budget x86 mobile GPU.[/QUOTE]
I'm a systems programmer, so that doesn't bother me at all. However, clockspeed =/= performance, as some tasks can be performed much faster on ARM architecture than x86, and certain instructions allow less overhead while performing what usually is several tasks in just one go. Pretty neat shit.
In addition to that, Nvidia Tegra K1 is a neat ARM system with their GPU of course that allows some pretty hefty processing power for Full HD video and gaming, not to mention incredibly low power usage. However, not as low as I'd like for what I'd love to do, but still, it works for the Acer Chromebook 13 series, and is pretty cheap.
Regarding the gaming side of things, I do not mind writing my own games, and that is exactly what the platform is for. A low-power system with good GPU capabilities (regardless of video game industry support), so I could start producing games, 3D applications, medical utilities, and various other applications I have already written, for the ARM architecture, when it becomes introduced more to the laptop and desktop market.
[QUOTE=fishyfish777;46661521]I used to own an ODROID-U2 and it worked well, but graphics performance was rather bleh in Ubuntu upon initial release compared to Android. I wonder if it's improved with newer releases (I know the U3 / XU3 can run 14.04).
Outside of GPIO pins they're not what I'd call extensible and they only have 10/100, but they're small, pretty good performance and power-efficient.
[IMG]http://dn.odroid.com/homebackup/xu3Lite_topdetail.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]
Thanks, I'll look into those ODROID SoC boards and see if any of them provide the hardware that I'd like.
You could also check out the Radxa. Overall it's similar to that ODROID, and I think they just released a newer model. I messed around with the Rock Pro for a little while, but even with a Lubuntu desktop environment it wouldn't be what I'd call smooth.
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