Asus recently launched the Tinker Board, a mini PC similar to the Raspberry Pi.
These types of devices are popular among DIY enthusiasts due to their ability to interface with electronics via general-purpose input/output (GPIO) pins.
This makes them suitable for anything from robotics to homemade gadgets.
The Tinker Board features a similar layout to the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B, with four USB 2.0 ports and an array of GPIO pins.
The Asus board boasts more power than the Raspberry Pi 3, thanks to its faster processor and 2GB of RAM.
While both devices use a micro-USB power input, the Tinker Board uses more power than the Raspberry Pi – with a maximum power consumption of 5W compared to the Raspberry Pi 3’s maximum of 4W.
The specifications and performance of the Asus Tinker Board and Raspberry Pi 3 Model B are detailed below.
Specifications and Performance
| Specifications | Asus Tinker Board | Raspberry Pi 3 Model B |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Cortex-A17 Quad-core 1.8GHz | Cortex-A53 Quad-core 1.2GHz |
| Memory | 2GB LPDDR3 | 1GB LPDDR2 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, Gigabit LAN | Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.1, 10/100Mbit/s Ethernet |
| USB | 4x USB 2.0 | 4x USB 2.0 |
| Audio | 1x 3.5mm jack | 1x 3.5mm jack |
| Display | 1x HDMI supports 4K | 1x HDMI supports Full HD |
| Storage | MicroSD card slot | MicroSD card slot |
| Internal Headers | 1x 40-pin header | 1x 40-pin header |
| Price | £55 | R629 |
Pricing and Availability
The Tinker Board is priced at £55 and is currently not available in South Africa.
The Raspberry Pi 3 Model B is priced at R629 and is available from a number of local retailers, including dedicated stores such as PiShop or PiFactory.
The more expensive Asus Tinker Board provides DIY enthusiasts with a powerful SoC and has several advantages over the Raspberry Pi, including 4K support.
The mini computer could be a useful product for hackers requiring a more powerful device.
