5 best x86 single board computers in 2024

Although ARM-based single-board computers are more popular, x86 SBCs still have their place. In general, they are often more efficient and can be used in applications that are less concerned with power consumption than performance, such as emulation and server hosting.

LattePanda 3 Delta

The LattePanda 3 Delta is a powerful single-board computer capable of running Windows and Linux. It's slightly larger than the Raspberry Pi 4 and has a quad-core processor nested under an integrated heatsink and fan.

In true SBC fashion, you're virtually spoiled for choice with the input/output connections provided by this board. The LattePanda Delta 3 contains an Arduino Leonardo ATMEGA32U4 coprocessor that can be connected to electronics via on-board GPIO pins and also comes with an RTC pin to power the RTC.

Android H3+

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Odroid H3+ is one of the few x86 products from Hardkernel and seeks to replace the older H2. It comes with an Intel quad-core processor with a boost clock speed of 3.3GHz and supports up to 64GB DDR4 RAM in dual-channel mode and housed in SODIMM slots. The integrated graphics card is clocked at 900MHz and an RTC battery comes with the board.

The Odroid H3+ has a built-in heatsink and also has a 4-pin fan connector if your project requires active cooling. There is no wireless network module on this board, but it does have two Gigabit Ethernet ports onboard.

Up Squared V2

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Up Squared V2 is a 2022 release from the UPboard company and is intended to be the successor to the UP Squared line. There are two versions, each based on a different SoC (System-on-Chip), one using the Intel Pentium J6426 processor and the other using the Intel Celeron N6210 (formerly Elkhart Lake) .

It has a 40-pin GPIO expansion header and comes with a passive heatsink and RTC pin onboard. It is larger than the Raspberry Pi 4B, 85.6 mm long and 90 mm wide. This x86 board is still compact and portable enough for embedded projects. In addition, the power consumption rate is relatively low compared to the performance it delivers.

The Up Squared V2 is also suitable for industrial applications with its standard 12V DC power input and hardware TPM v2.0 module. It is also capable of displaying 4K content at 60Hz on 3 screens at the same time.

UDOO Bolt V8

The UDOO Bolt V8 is not a single-board computer in the strictest sense of the term, as it contains RAM sticks in SODIMM slots rather than directly on the board. It's more accurately called a maker board, since there are so many connectivity options built into the slim chassis.

It comes with an AMD Ryzen Embedded V1605B processor with 4 cores and 8 threads, capable of running at 2GHz regular and 3.6GHz on boost. It has the same coprocessor as the LattePanda 3 and the Arduino ATMEGA32U4.

The UDOO Bolt V8 is an expensive board at over $500, plus tax and shipping. You can also buy the slightly underpowered UDOO Bolt V3 for about $100 less.

Up Squared Pro 7000

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The Up Squared Pro 7000 is an Intel-based single-board computer released in early 2023. It is the latest addition to the Up Squared Pro line and features several upgrades, such as a more powerful processor, Better graphics, more ports and interfaces.

There are 4 possible options for the integrated SoC, Intel N50, Intel N97, Intel Atom x7425E or IntelCore i3-N305. All of these models vary in performance and price, with the Intel N50 being the cheapest and the Core i3 the most expensive. Regardless, all models are designed to consume as little power as possible while delivering maximum performance.

The Up Squared Pro 7000 is aimed at professional manufacturers and features hardware optimized for robotics, automation, Internet of Things and artificial intelligence applications.

Lesley Montoya

Update 02 April 2024