3. stronger Raspberry Pi 3 Alternatives
MagicMirror² v2.4.1 is available! For more information about this release, check out this topic.
Please read the release notes carefully since this update requires adjustments to your Raspberry Pi configuration!

stronger Raspberry Pi 3 Alternatives


  • Several modules like the ones for face recognition, speech recognition or even streaming from webcams bring the Raspberry Pi 3 to it’s performance limits by max out it’s memory and cpu. I found some older topics where several alternatives where named. Unfortunately those post were abandoned like half a year ago and really hard to read, due to the overlapping conversations.

    I really want to find a powerful alternative to the Pi3. Perhaps the experienced builders can briefly share what they have done for experience with your alternatives. I think the following criteria are interesting.

    Everybody else please don’t forget to up vote the contributions of those who share.

    Model: Raspberry Pi 3 Model B

    0_1500588784360_Desi2003_a.png

    Price

    • Board - 35 $
    • Power Supply (mini USB) - 5 $

    in Total: about 40 $

    Dimensions

    85.60mm x 56mm x 21mm

    0_1500589688029_rasp3_dimensions.png

    Hardware Specifications

    • CPU: Quad Core 1.2GHz Broadcom BCM2837 64bit CPU
    • Memory: 1GB RAM
    • WLAN: BCM43438 wireless LAN and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) on board
    • GPIO Pins:: 40-pin extended
    • USB: 4x USB 2.0 ports
    • Video & Stereo output: 4 Pole stereo output and composite video port
    • Full size HDMI
    • CSI camera port for connecting a Raspberry Pi camera
    • DSI display port for connecting a Raspberry Pi touchscreen display
    • Micro SD port for loading your operating system and storing data
    • Upgraded switched Micro USB power source up to 2.5A

    Software:

    OS: Raspian
    Is able to run:

    • NodeJS - yes

    Installation of MM:

    • Is the standard installation script executable? - yes
    bash -c "$(curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/MichMich/MagicMirror/master/installers/raspberry.sh)

    Remarks:

    • Strong spread, big supportive community.

    Model: Intel Thin Mini-ITX Motherboard

    like ASUS H110T/CSM LGA 1151 Intel H110 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Thin Mini-ITX Motherboards
    0_1500631618216_13-132-833-01.jpg

    Price

    • Board: 80 $
    • Ram: 8 GB - 70 $
    • Wifi Card: 27 $
    • CPU: 56 $
    • Cooler: 20$
    • SSD: 128GB - 30 $
    • accepts 12 to 19 Volts Power Supply as for notebooks - 15 $

    in Total: about 300 $ (depending on components)

    Dimensions

    1702mm x 1702 x 25mm

    0_1500631924158_Intel-2.jpg
    0_1500632100859_Mmclj.png

    Hardware Specifications

    • Supported CPU (CPU not included)
      • Socket Type: LGA 1151
      • CPU Type: **Core i7 / i5 / i3 / Pentium / Celeron (LGA1151)
      • Supported CPU Technologies: * Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
    • Memory (not included)
      • Number of Memory Slots: 2×260pin
      • Memory Standard: DDR4 2133
      • Maximum Memory Supported: 32GB
      • Channel Supported: Dual Channel
    • Onboard Video:
      • Integrated Graphics Processor
      • Multi-VGA output support: DP/HDMI/LVDS ports
      • Supports HDMI with max. resolution of 4096 x 2160 @ 24Hz / 2560 x 1600 @ 60Hz
      • Supports LVDS with max. resolution of 1920 x 1200 @ 60Hz
      • Supports DisplayPort with max. resolution of 4096 x 2304 @ 60 Hz
      • Maximum shared memory of 1024MB
    • WLAN: only by using expansion Slot for 1 x M.2 Socket 1 with E key, type 2230 for WIFI device
    • LAN: Dual 10/100/1000Mbps with Realtek 8111H
    • GPIO Pins: no
    • Rear Panel Ports
      • 1 x HDMI
      • 2 x RJ45
      • 1 x DisplayPort
      • 4 x USB 3.0
      • 2 Audio Ports
    • Onboard USB:
      • 2 x USB 2.0 2-port connectors support additional 4 USB 2.0 ports
      • 1 x USB 2.0 1-port connectors support additional 1 USB 2.0 port
    • Video & Stereo output: 4 Pole stereo output and composite video port
    • Full size HDMI

    Software:

    Operating System Support:

    • Unbuntu
    • Windows 10*
    • Windows 8.1*
    • Windows 7
    • 64-bit supported only

    Is able to run:

    • NodeJS - yes

    Installation of MM:

    • Is the standard installation script executable? - yes
    bash -c "$(curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/MichMich/MagicMirror/master/installers/raspberry.sh)

    Remarks:

    • Powerfull Board with several upgrading capabilities which comes with a bigger pice tag
    • Quotes:
      • “So things like @strawberry-3-141 voice module is REALLY fast and responsive. I’m also using an IR touch frame that responds quite well with no additional drivers needed.”
    6

  • I am using an RPi3 for my bathroom but the 32" inch mirror I"m using a mini itx board with intel chip 8 gig of ram and 120G SSD.

    It has the wireless mini card and the video is amazing. I realize the mirror was built based on the RPi but using a real board gives it that much more power.

    So things like @strawberry-3-141 voice module is REALLY fast and responsive. I’m also using an IR touch frame that responds quite well with no additional drivers needed.

    Love the RPi but it just wasn’t giving me what I wanted and wanted to be able to do with this project so I opted for more power… 🙂

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  • @cowboysdude
    Thanks for your answer.
    Could you please share a link which mini itx board board you’re exactly using?

    1 1 Reply

  • @SvenSommer

    It’s the ASUS H110T/CSM LGA 1151 Intel H110 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Thin Mini-ITX Motherboards - Intel

    Link is here but it’s no longer available:
    https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132833

    I’m pretty sure there are others with similar specs out there… I’m using a notebook power supply for this.

    Ram: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015HQ9TGW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    WiFi card: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GUNZUG0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    CPU: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117625

    CPU Cooler: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835220067

    And a SanDisk 120GB SSD

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    D
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    @cowboysdude

    Hello can you show the set up of the mini itx in situ at all? And what case you used if any. Thank you

    0 1 Reply

  • @cowboysdude
    I just updated the summary post, could you please check, if there is everything correct?!

    2 1 Reply

  • @Damian said in stronger Raspberry Pi 3 Alternatives:

    @cowboysdude

    Hello can you show the set up of the mini itx in situ at all? And what case you used if any. Thank you

    I will take a pic this weekend but as of right now it’s ‘on the bench’ and I don’t have a case as of yet. More than likely will be designed to attached to the wall of the cabinet and not in a case…

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  • @SvenSommer said in stronger Raspberry Pi 3 Alternatives:

    @cowboysdude
    I just updated the summary post, could you please check, if there is everything correct?!

       Operating System Support:

    Windows 10*
    Windows 8.1*
    Windows 7
    64-bit supported only

    Under that I would also put Linux… I’m running Unbuntu on the machine currently which makes it much easier to run MM 🙂

    3

  • I would, and will at some point, use one of these in place of the SSD… to further compact things…

    https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820228162&ignorebbr=10_1500685862979_20-228-162-03.jpg

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    @cowboysdude said in stronger Raspberry Pi 3 Alternatives:

    More than likely will be designed to attached to the wall of the cabinet and not in a case…

    Thank you. Yes i looked at cases but none were slim/small enough. Look forward to your snaps to see how yours look set up. What power source did you use?

    0 1 Reply