Single Board Computer (SBC)

Best Single Board Computers

Single Board Computer (SBC): Guides, Uses, Best Boards & Projects

What is a Single Board Computer?

A single board computer (SBC) is a complete computer built onto a single circuit board. Unlike a traditional desktop PC that uses multiple separate components, an SBC combines the processor, memory, storage interfaces, networking, and input/output ports into one compact system.

These small computers are affordable, energy efficient, and surprisingly powerful. They are used for everything from home servers and smart home hubs to robotics, digital signage, edge computing, and learning Linux.

Single board computers (SBCs) have evolved from simple educational computers into capable platforms for home servers, networking, storage, automation, development, media streaming, artificial intelligence, and countless DIY projects.

At Single-Board.Computer, we focus on practical information that helps you understand, compare, choose, and use single board computers.

Whether you’re looking for the best SBC for a home server, want to build a Raspberry Pi project, need help with Docker, or are comparing boards such as Raspberry Pi, Orange Pi, Banana Pi, Rock Pi, and other platforms, you’ll find practical guides and technical information here.

What Is a Single Board Computer?

A single board computer is a complete computer built on one circuit board.

Unlike a traditional desktop PC, an SBC typically integrates the processor, memory, networking, USB ports, video interfaces, storage interfaces, and GPIO pins onto a compact board.

Popular SBCs include:

  • Raspberry Pi
  • Orange Pi
  • Banana Pi
  • Rock Pi
  • ODROID
  • Radxa
  • LattePanda
  • NanoPi
  • Khadas

SBCs are available with different processors, memory configurations, storage options, networking capabilities, and operating systems.

This makes them useful for everything from simple electronics projects to relatively powerful home servers.

What Can You Do With a Single Board Computer?

One of the biggest advantages of an SBC is its flexibility.

Depending on the hardware and operating system, you can use a single board computer as:

  • A home server
  • NAS storage server
  • Docker server
  • Media server
  • VPN server
  • Network monitoring system
  • Home automation controller
  • Retro gaming console
  • Development machine
  • Web server
  • Database server
  • AI and edge-computing device
  • IoT controller
  • Desktop computer

The Raspberry Pi is particularly popular because of its ecosystem, community support, accessories, and large number of available projects.

Explore: Single Board Computer Use Cases

1. Essential SBC Guides

New to single board computers? Start with these practical guides covering the fundamentals, operating systems, hardware choices, and common problems.

What Can You Do With a Single Board Computer?

Single board computers can be used for much more than basic electronics projects. Learn how to use an SBC for servers, networking, automation, development, storage, media, and more.

Read: What Can You Do With a Single Board Computer?

Best Operating Systems for Single Board Computers

Choosing the right operating system can have a major impact on compatibility, performance, and usability. Compare popular Linux distributions and other operating systems for SBCs.

Read: Best Operating Systems for Single Board Computers

How to Install Linux on a Single Board Computer

Learn how to choose a Linux distribution, prepare your storage, flash the operating system, configure networking, enable SSH, and secure your SBC.

Read: How to Install Linux on a Single Board Computer

SBC vs Microcontroller

Single board computers and microcontrollers are designed for very different types of projects. Learn the differences between processing power, operating systems, memory, GPIO, power consumption, and typical applications.

Read: SBC vs Microcontroller

Common SBC Problems and Troubleshooting

Learn how to diagnose common single board computer problems involving boot failures, storage, networking, power, overheating, operating systems, and peripherals.

Read: SBC Troubleshooting

Single Board Computer FAQ

Find answers to the most common questions about SBC hardware, operating systems, storage, Raspberry Pi, networking, performance, and projects.

Read: Single Board Computer FAQ

Build a Minecraft Server with Raspberry Pi

A Raspberry Pi can be used to host a private Minecraft Java Edition server for family and friends.

The guide covers installing Java, configuring the Minecraft server, allocating memory, configuring networking, creating backups, and improving server performance.

Read the guide: Build a Minecraft Server with Raspberry Pi

Build a Retro Gaming Console with Raspberry Pi

Turn a Raspberry Pi into a compact retro gaming system.

This project covers the hardware, operating system, storage, controllers, configuration, and other considerations involved in building a Raspberry Pi-based retro gaming console.

Read the guide: Build a Retro Gaming Console with Raspberry Pi

2. Home Server & Self-Hosting

Build a Home Server with a Single Board Computer

One of the most useful applications for a single board computer is running your own home server.

A Raspberry Pi or another powerful SBC can host file storage, media servers, VPNs, home automation, Docker containers, password managers, monitoring tools, and many other self-hosted applications.

Best SBC for Home Assistant

Home Assistant turns an SBC into a powerful smart-home controller. Compare Raspberry Pi, Orange Pi, ODROID, ROCK Pi, and other boards to find the right hardware for your automation setup.

Read: Best SBC for Home Assistant

How to Build a Home Server

Learn how to choose the hardware, install Linux, configure networking, install Docker, add storage, secure the server, create backups, and deploy self-hosted applications.

Read: How to Build a Home Server with a Single Board Computer

Build a Password Manager with Vaultwarden

Vaultwarden can turn a Raspberry Pi into a lightweight self-hosted password manager. Learn how to deploy Vaultwarden with Docker, configure HTTPS, secure registration, and create backups.

Read: Build a Password Manager with Vaultwarden

Tailscale on Raspberry Pi

Tailscale provides a convenient way to connect your Raspberry Pi to your other devices without exposing every service directly to the public internet.

Read: How to Install Tailscale on Raspberry Pi

Nextcloud on Raspberry Pi

Nextcloud can turn a Raspberry Pi into a private cloud platform for files, calendars, contacts, and other services.

Read: How to Install Nextcloud on Raspberry Pi

Jellyfin on Raspberry Pi

Jellyfin provides an open-source media server for organizing and streaming movies, television shows, music, and other media.

Read: How to Install Jellyfin on Raspberry Pi

Pi-hole on Raspberry Pi

Pi-hole can act as a network-wide DNS filtering server, helping block unwanted advertising and tracking domains for devices on your network.

Read: How to Install Pi-hole on Raspberry Pi

3. Raspberry Pi Storage

Storage is one of the most important decisions when building a Raspberry Pi or SBC server.

While microSD cards are convenient, an SSD can provide better performance for workloads involving databases, Docker volumes, media libraries, and file storage.

Best microSD Cards for Raspberry Pi

Choosing the right microSD card can make a noticeable difference to Raspberry Pi performance and reliability. Learn what A1, A2, U3, and V30 mean and which cards are suitable for Raspberry Pi projects.

Read: Best microSD Cards for Raspberry Pi and Single Board Computers

Best USB SSDs for Raspberry Pi

USB SSDs provide a major storage upgrade for Raspberry Pi servers and are particularly useful for Docker, databases, media libraries, and file storage.

Read: Best USB SSDs for Raspberry Pi and Single Board Computers

Best NVMe HATs for Raspberry Pi 5

Raspberry Pi 5 supports high-speed NVMe storage through compatible PCIe accessories. Compare NVMe HATs and learn what to consider when building a fast Raspberry Pi server.

Read: Best NVMe HATs for Raspberry Pi 5

4. Raspberry Pi Home Server Projects

SBCs are increasingly useful for home labs and self-hosted services.

A single board computer can run applications such as:

  • Docker
  • Portainer
  • Nextcloud
  • Jellyfin
  • Plex
  • Pi-hole
  • Tailscale
  • WireGuard
  • Home Assistant
  • Uptime Kuma
  • Web servers
  • Databases

The best hardware depends on how many services you want to run and whether your applications require fast storage, additional memory, hardware video acceleration, or high-speed networking.

Explore: Best Single Board Computers for Home Servers

A Raspberry Pi can become a powerful low-power home server when combined with Docker, fast storage, networking, and the right software.

Docker Containers

Run multiple applications on your Raspberry Pi using Docker and Docker Compose.

Read: Docker Containers for Raspberry Pi

Portainer

Manage Docker containers, images, volumes, and networks through a graphical interface.

Read: How to Install Portainer on Raspberry Pi

Vaultwarden

Build your own lightweight password manager using Vaultwarden and Docker.

Read: Build a Password Manager with Vaultwarden

Tailscale

Connect your Raspberry Pi securely to your other devices without exposing every service directly to the Internet.

Read: How to Install Tailscale on Raspberry Pi

WireGuard

Turn your Raspberry Pi into a VPN server for secure remote access to your home network.

Read: Raspberry Pi VPN Server with WireGuard

CasaOS

Install CasaOS on Raspberry Pi to create a simple web-based interface for managing applications and files.

Read: How to Install CasaOS on Raspberry Pi

CasaOS vs OpenMediaVault

Compare CasaOS and OpenMediaVault to decide which platform is better for your Raspberry Pi home server or NAS project.

Read: CasaOS vs OpenMediaVault

Plex

A Raspberry Pi can also serve as a low-power media server.

This guide explains how to install Plex, organize your media, configure storage, and understand the difference between Direct Play and transcoding when using Raspberry Pi hardware.

Read the guide: How to Install Plex on Raspberry Pi

5. Raspberry Pi Hardware Guides

The physical hardware you choose can make a significant difference in a Raspberry Pi project.

Cooling, storage, power delivery, and enclosure design all become more important when a board is operating continuously as a server.

Raspberry Pi Cases

A suitable case can improve cooling and protect the board, particularly when the Raspberry Pi is operating under sustained workloads.

Read: Best Raspberry Pi Cases

Raspberry Pi Pinout: GPIO Pins and Interfaces

A complete guide to the GPIO pins, interfaces, and pin functions on Raspberry Pi boards.

Read: Raspberry Pi Pinout

Best Single Board Computers

Raspberry Pi is only one part of the SBC market.

Other boards can provide additional CPU cores, more RAM, faster networking, additional PCIe connectivity, larger storage options, or dedicated AI acceleration.

Our SBC guides cover different boards and use cases so you can compare their hardware before choosing a platform.

Explore: Best Single Board Computers

Some of the boards covered on the site include:

  • Raspberry Pi 5
  • Raspberry Pi 4
  • Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
  • Orange Pi 5 Ultra
  • Orange Pi 6
  • Orange Pi 6 Plus
  • Banana Pi BPI-M7
  • Rock Pi
  • ODROID
  • NanoPi
  • Radxa

Raspberry Pi Alternatives

Compare popular alternatives to Raspberry Pi for servers, AI, Linux, development, and other projects.

Explore: Raspberry Pi Alternatives

Compare Single Board Computers

Specifications can vary significantly between SBCs.

When comparing boards, look beyond processor speed and consider:

  • CPU architecture
  • Number of CPU cores
  • RAM capacity
  • RAM type
  • Ethernet speed
  • Wi-Fi
  • Bluetooth
  • USB connectivity
  • PCIe
  • NVMe support
  • eMMC
  • MicroSD
  • GPU
  • NPU and AI acceleration
  • Display outputs
  • GPIO compatibility
  • Operating system support
  • Power requirements

Explore: Single Board Computer Comparison

How to Choose a Single Board Computer

The right SBC depends on what you intend to do with it.

A small Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W may be appropriate for lightweight projects, while a more powerful board such as the Banana Pi BPI-M7 or Orange Pi 6 Plus can provide considerably more CPU performance, memory, networking, and storage connectivity.

Before buying an SBC, consider:

Your workload

Determine whether you’re building an electronics project, home server, NAS, media server, development machine, or AI system.

Memory

Simple projects may require only a few gigabytes of RAM, while Docker servers and development environments can benefit from considerably more.

Storage

For server workloads, consider whether you need microSD, eMMC, SATA, USB storage, or NVMe.

Networking

Gigabit Ethernet may be sufficient for many projects, while 2.5GbE or faster networking can be useful for NAS and high-speed file transfers.

Software

Hardware specifications are only part of the decision. Check whether your preferred operating system, drivers, applications, and container images support the board.

Read: How to Choose the Right Single Board Computer

Raspberry Pi Projects for Beginners

If you’re new to single board computers, Raspberry Pi provides an accessible way to start experimenting with Linux, networking, Docker, servers, and hardware projects.

Some good starting points include:

  • Building a retro gaming console
  • Installing Pi-hole
  • Installing Jellyfin
  • Running Docker
  • Installing Portainer
  • Setting up Tailscale
  • Building a Minecraft server

Once you’re comfortable with Linux and Raspberry Pi, you can move into more advanced projects such as NAS servers, VPN gateways, reverse proxies, monitoring systems, and multi-container home labs.

Explore: Raspberry Pi Beginner Projects

Single Board Computer vs Traditional Computer

An SBC isn’t necessarily a replacement for a desktop or laptop.

Traditional computers generally provide greater expandability, higher performance, and more powerful GPUs. SBCs instead emphasize compact size, low power consumption, integrated connectivity, and flexible hardware interfaces.

This makes each platform suitable for different workloads.

Read: Single Board Computer vs Traditional Computer

ARM vs x86

Many modern SBCs use ARM processors, while traditional desktops and servers commonly use x86 processors.

The architecture affects:

  • Operating system compatibility
  • Application availability
  • Docker images
  • Performance characteristics
  • Power consumption
  • Virtualization
  • Software support

Understanding these differences is particularly important when building a server around an SBC.

Read: ARM vs x86: What’s the Difference?

Explore Linux, Docker and IT Infrastructure

Single board computers overlap with many areas of Linux and infrastructure.

If you’re interested in Linux administration, Docker, WordPress, virtualization, networking, hosting, and other infrastructure topics, you can find additional guides on our other sites.

Vidagnu

Vidagnu

Vidagnu covers Linux, Docker, WordPress, hosting, virtualization, Raspberry Pi, networking, servers, and IT infrastructure.

Some related topics include:

  • Linux server administration
  • Docker and Docker Compose
  • KVM virtualization
  • Proxmox
  • WordPress hosting
  • VPS hosting
  • Raspberry Pi
  • Networking and security

If you’re using a Raspberry Pi or another SBC as part of a larger Linux or home-lab environment, Vidagnu provides additional infrastructure-focused tutorials.

VPSScout

VPSScout

VPSScout focuses on VPS hosting, server infrastructure, provider comparisons, and VPS-related guides.

It’s useful when you outgrow an SBC and need more CPU, RAM, storage, bandwidth, or a remotely hosted server.

Explore Single Board Computers

Whether you’re building your first Raspberry Pi project or designing a more advanced home server, choosing the right hardware is only the beginning.

A successful SBC project also depends on:

  • The operating system
  • Storage
  • Networking
  • Power
  • Cooling
  • Software compatibility
  • Security
  • Backups
  • Monitoring

Our goal at Single-Board.Computer is to provide practical guides that help you make those decisions and build useful projects with single board computers.

Start here:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a single board computer?

A single board computer is a complete computer integrated onto a single circuit board. It typically includes a processor, memory, networking, USB, display connectivity, storage interfaces, and sometimes GPIO interfaces.

Is Raspberry Pi a single board computer?

Yes. Raspberry Pi computers are among the most widely used single board computers and are available in several models designed for different workloads.

Can a Raspberry Pi be used as a server?

Yes. Raspberry Pi boards can run Linux and server applications such as Docker, Nextcloud, Jellyfin, Pi-hole, WireGuard, Tailscale, and web servers.

Can you run Docker on a Raspberry Pi?

Yes. Docker supports compatible 64-bit Raspberry Pi systems, and Docker can be used to run multiple self-hosted applications on a Raspberry Pi.

Which SBC should you buy?

There isn’t one board that fits every project. The appropriate choice depends on your workload, RAM requirements, storage, networking, operating system support, and software requirements.

Can an SBC replace a desktop computer?

Some high-performance SBCs can perform many desktop tasks, but traditional desktop computers generally offer greater expansion and performance. SBCs are particularly useful when compact size, low power consumption, GPIO, and integrated connectivity are important.

Start Your Next SBC Project

Single board computers provide a flexible way to learn Linux, build servers, experiment with networking, run self-hosted applications, and create hardware projects.

Whether you’re starting with a Raspberry Pi or looking for a more powerful ARM-based board with additional RAM, NVMe, 2.5GbE networking, or AI acceleration, the right SBC can become the foundation of a surprisingly capable system.

Explore our Single Board Computer guides, compare different boards, and start building your next project.