Odroid XU4 looks good

I currently have woofQ, my Quirky build system, on an Emtec USB3 64GB flash stick. This is so I can run it either in my laptop or in my Pi2 or Pi3.

The problem is, it is so pathetically slow. I reported earlier today that the Emtec Click3.0 64GB stick is very slow compared with my Samsung USB3 flash stick, but flash media just doesn't cut it.

Unless it is the special design of a solid state hard drive. I think they use eMMC technology, which is very fast.

I currently own 1TB and a 2TB USB3 hard drives, and what I would really like to do is be able to move them between my laptop and my ARM board.

Hence, this is looking good, Odroid Xu4, with two USB3 sockets:
http://www.hardkernel.com/main/products/prdt_info.php?g_code=G143452239825

But oh my, it has a fan!


However, a passive heatsink is available, though it does require the case to be cut out:
http://www.hardkernel.com/main/products/prdt_info.php?g_code=G146648458113


The board comes with a 4A power supply, however, that is inadequate if an external hard drive is to be used, of magnetic platter type. Instead, this 6A supply is required:
http://www.hardkernel.com/main/products/prdt_info.php?g_code=G146977556615

This is serious horsepower. If I am going to get back into ARM development, the Odroid XU4 is very tempting.

Three USB sockets though, is disappointing. I might have to use a USB hub. There is no built-in bluetooth or wifi, again disappointing, so I would need to plug them into USB sockets, leaving only one free socket.
If only they could have fitted in one more USB2 host socket!

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Comments

One thing that I dislike about the Pi's, is the lack of offline and power-off clock. This is a cause of problems when using the Pi as a development platform.

We take it for granted with a PC. All desktop PCs and laptops have battery-powered RTC (Real Time Clock).

So also the Odroid boards have a battery for the RTC:
http://www.hardkernel.com/main/products/prdt_info.php?g_code=G137508214939

That ticks another box for the case for buying the XU4!
http://www.hardkernel.com/main/products/prdt_info.php?g_code=G145628174287

Compare that with my pathetic Emtec flash stick, at 20MB/s!

Tags: linux