Since the first model's release in early 2013, it is safe to say that the Raspberry Pi has taken the computing world by storm. It brought single-board computers to the mainstream, enabling hackers all over the world to build new and interesting things thanks to its low, low price of only $35. A few years later the Raspberry Pi Zero lowered that cost of entry to under $10. To think that a decade prior Larry Ellison was trying to promote the idea of a "low cost" computer that was only $500; here was one that cost less than what you paid for lunch.
Over the past several years Intel has tried its hand in this market space with the Atom line of processors. To say that their performance was lagging was a bit of an understatement. But in early 2023 Intel finally got serious and released the N100 processor, a 4-core chip with an integrated GPU and a very reasonable 4w of power consumption. Amazon and other similar sources were soon flooded with miniature PCs, typically offering up to 16GB of RAM and half a terabyte of SSD storage in a box that could be yours for under $200 and took up just a little more space on your desk than your coffee mug. This didn't just match the Raspberry Pi's value proposition, it beat it flat-out.
| Model | Raspberry Pi 5 16GB | Beelink EQ12 |
|---|---|---|
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5 (soldered on) | 16GB DDR5 (SO-DIMM) |
| Storage | (none standard) | 500GB NVMe |
| Wireless Networking | 802.11ac at 2.4GHz/5GHz Bluetooth 5.0 | 802.11ac at 2.4/5GHz Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Wired Networking | 1 x 1Gbit Ethernet | 2 x 2.5Gbit Ethernet |
| Display Connectivity | 2 x Micro-HDMI | 2 x full-size HDMI |
| USB Connectivity | 2 x USB 3.0 2 x USB 2.0 | 1 x USB-C (10Gbps) 3 x USB 3.0 (all 10Gbps) |
| On-Board Connectivity | 2 x Camera 40-pin GPIO header 4-pin PoE header PCIe header | SATA drive |
| Other | Case - $10 USB-C power supply - $12 500GB NVMe - $30 NVMe PCIe HAT - $13 | Comes in a case and with a power supply |
Just because they are small doesn't mean they aren't mighty. While nobody is going to do 3D rendering or compute fluid dynamics problems on either of these machines, they are quite capable of doing productive workloads. In fact their low price often acts as the enabler to make certain projects financially viable.
Unfortunately no corner of the market is immune to the skyrocketing cost of memory chips and storage devices. The Raspberry Pi 5 with 1GB of RAM now starts around $50… if you can find one. The local Micro Center store has a few 2GB models in stock, at an eye-watering price of $120, 8GB models for $170, and 16GB models for $230. And those mini PCs on Amazon? They're still there, but they, too, have climbed in price.
This got me to wondering: does the Raspberry Pi's value proposition still hold up?
| Model | Raspberry Pi 5 16GB | Beelink EQ12 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Price | $120 | $190 |
| Case | $10 | included |
| Power Supply | $12 | included |
| Storage | 500GB NVMe - $30 | 500GB NVMe - included |
| Storage Interface | NVMe PCIe HAT - $13 | (d/n/a) |
| Total Price | $185 | $190 |
| Model | Raspberry Pi 5 16GB | Beelink S12 Mini |
|---|---|---|
| Base Price | $230 | $340 |
| Case | $10 | included |
| Power Supply | $12 | included |
| Storage | 500GB NVMe - $85 | 500GB NVMe - included |
| Storage Interface | NVMe PCIe HAT - $13 | (d/n/a) |
| Total Price | $350 | $340 |
The first thing you'll likely notice is that I had to switch the N100 model with an N150 model due to the old EQ12 getting discontinued. However the S12 Mini isn't a perfect replacement due to having only a single 1.0Gbit Ethernet port versus the EQ12's dual 2.5Gbit ports.
Conclusion#
It turns out the needle hasn't moved all that differently depending on your tent of choice. Both options went up in price and remain within a stone's throw of one another.
Each platform has its strengths and weaknesses, which will probably be a bigger influence on the buyer than the pricetag. The Raspberry Pi is smaller and has the flexibility of its 40-pin GPIO header. The N1x0-based mini-PC ships as a more complete product, with a case and power supply, plus better internal expansion.
Either way, and even despite the current insane component prices, it is still the consumer that comes out ahead by having a proper choice in platforms to choose from.