SBC Powerhouses: Top Single Board Computers for 2025
Single Board Computers (SBCs) have evolved far beyond their hobbyist roots to become serious tools for developers, AI enthusiasts, and edge computing professionals. Today’s SBCs offer remarkable processing power, connectivity, and expandability—all within a compact footprint. Here is a fact-based guide to the most powerful single board computers available in 2025.
NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin 64GB Developer Kit
The NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin 64GB Developer Kit stands at the pinnacle of edge AI computing. Powered by an Arm Cortex-A78AE CPU cluster and NVIDIA Ampere GPU with 2048 CUDA cores, it delivers server-class AI performance in a compact package. With 64GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 275 TOPS of AI processing capability, it is tailor-made for robotics, autonomous machines, and edge inference workloads. It also offers an extensive suite of I/O including multiple USB 3.2, PCIe Gen4, and 40Gbps Ethernet support. Developers benefit from NVIDIA’s JetPack SDK, enabling accelerated workflows across computer vision, robotics, and deep learning applications.
Orange Pi 5 16GB Rockchip RK3588S
The Orange Pi 5 featuring the Rockchip RK3588S processor is an affordable powerhouse for multimedia applications and AI workloads. It boasts an octa-core CPU configuration (4× Cortex-A76 and 4× Cortex-A55) and Mali-G610 GPU that provides excellent graphics performance. With up to 16GB of LPDDR4 RAM, the board excels in multitasking, 8K video playback, and edge AI inferencing. It supports NVMe SSD storage, Gigabit Ethernet, and dual display outputs, making it versatile for home servers or media centers. Its rich development ecosystem and Android/Linux compatibility appeal to developers seeking a robust alternative to Raspberry Pi.
Raspberry Pi 5
The Raspberry Pi 5 continues the iconic legacy of the Raspberry Pi series with substantial upgrades in performance and connectivity. Powered by a Broadcom BCM2712 quad-core Cortex-A76 processor clocked at 2.4GHz, it offers significant improvements in CPU and GPU capabilities over its predecessor. It features up to 8GB LPDDR4X RAM, dual 4K display outputs, PCIe support, and USB 3.0 ports. With Gigabit Ethernet and onboard Wi-Fi 6, network performance sees a marked boost. The extensive Raspberry Pi ecosystem and vibrant community make it ideal for DIY enthusiasts, educators, and developers alike.
ODROID-N2+
The ODROID-N2+ is an energy-efficient yet powerful SBC favored for media centers and server applications. Featuring the Amlogic S922X processor with 4× Cortex-A73 and 2× Cortex-A53 cores, it achieves clock speeds up to 2.4GHz. It comes with up to 4GB of DDR4 RAM and supports eMMC modules, microSD cards, and USB 3.0 storage. Its HDMI 2.0 output supports 4K HDR video, making it an excellent choice for home theater PCs. The board also offers Gigabit Ethernet and GPIO expansion headers, enhancing its versatility for both developers and makers.
BeagleBone AI-64
The BeagleBone AI-64 merges powerful AI acceleration with industrial-grade reliability. At its heart lies the Texas Instruments TDA4VM SoC featuring dual Arm Cortex-A72 cores, embedded C7x DSPs, and AI accelerators capable of 8 TOPS performance. With 4GB LPDDR4 RAM and onboard 16GB eMMC storage, it ensures efficient data processing for machine vision, robotics, and industrial applications. The board supports multiple interfaces including PCIe, USB 3.0, and dual Gigabit Ethernet. Developers benefit from open-source software support and compatibility with the BeagleBone Cape ecosystem.
UDOO Bolt V8
The UDOO Bolt V8 blurs the line between SBC and full-fledged PC. Powered by an AMD Ryzen Embedded V1605B quad-core processor with Radeon Vega 8 GPU, it delivers impressive computational and graphical performance. With support for up to 32GB DDR4 RAM and dual NVMe SSDs, it is well-suited for demanding applications such as AI processing, 3D rendering, and software development. It offers dual 4K display outputs, multiple USB 3.1 ports, and Gigabit Ethernet connectivity. Its x86 architecture ensures compatibility with Windows, Linux, and various virtualization platforms.
LattePanda Alpha 800S
The LattePanda Alpha 800S integrates an Intel Core m3-8100Y processor in a compact form factor, making it a mini powerhouse for developers. Equipped with 8GB RAM and 64GB eMMC storage, it balances portability with performance for edge computing, IoT, and maker projects. Its dual Gigabit Ethernet, USB-C, and HDMI outputs enable seamless connectivity. The board supports Windows 10 and Linux operating systems, offering a familiar environment for application development. An onboard Arduino co-processor opens up additional possibilities for hardware interfacing.
Banana Pi BPI-F3
The Banana Pi BPI-F3 is one of the first SBCs to showcase an 8-core RISC-V K1 chip, representing a new frontier in open hardware. It features a powerful multi-core processor designed for scalable edge computing, networking, and embedded AI. With support for LPDDR4 RAM, PCIe slots, and multiple USB ports, it offers flexibility for various development tasks. Its compatibility with open-source RISC-V toolchains makes it an attractive choice for developers interested in cutting-edge architecture. The board also integrates Gigabit Ethernet and HDMI outputs for multimedia applications.
Radxa Zero 3E
The Radxa Zero 3E packs remarkable performance into a compact, Raspberry Pi Zero-sized board. It is powered by the Rockchip RK3566 quad-core ARM Cortex-A55 processor, providing a solid balance between efficiency and computing power. With up to 8GB LPDDR4 RAM and support for NVMe SSDs via PCIe, it offers high-speed storage capabilities rarely seen at this size. The board features USB 3.0, HDMI, and Gigabit Ethernet for versatile connectivity. It’s ideal for compact projects such as IoT devices, portable servers, and embedded AI systems.
MaxHub MT61N-I7
The MaxHub MT61N-I7 is a premium SBC featuring an Intel Core i7 processor, designed for industrial-grade and high-performance computing tasks. With up to 32GB DDR4 RAM and multiple storage options including NVMe and SATA, it caters to data-intensive applications. It supports dual 4K displays, USB 3.2 ports, and dual Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, ensuring robust connectivity. The board is compatible with Windows and Linux, making it suitable for enterprise, machine learning, and edge server deployments. Its rugged design and expandability make it a standout choice for professional applications.