I’m agreeing with them. By the time you buy the Pi 5, and all the add-ons you need, it’s going to rival these SFF systems with full x86 Intel chips with efficiency cores.
It isn't, you can get SFF PCs for as little as $75 on eBay that have Quicksync CPUs and will run circles around a RPi, especially if you have to do any transcoding. They are also really power efficient… 7-20W idles.
SBCs really should no longer be considered for selfhosting unless you are A) in an extremely power constrained environment like an off-grid RV or vanlife situation or B) clustering
You're right, if there's no need of GPIO.
For example I'm using a Fujitsu Futro S720 that I've bought for about 30/40€ and it consumes about 4W idle and 10/15W maximum (I don't really remember).
My point of view is like yours: those boards are not good for self hosting, are good for IoT, digital signage and…mmm…I don't know what else.
You can buy beelink small form factor pcs from Amazon for around $150 with cases and power supplies included.
But…he said that it's not as cheap as it used to be and too power hungry and you propose an 150$ PC?
I’m agreeing with them. By the time you buy the Pi 5, and all the add-ons you need, it’s going to rival these SFF systems with full x86 Intel chips with efficiency cores.
Well, yes if you need "all the add-ons".
Case, cooler, power supply, storage at minimum, dongle/adapters probably too.
I meant IF you need all the add-ons, otherwise the price gap is huge
It isn't, you can get SFF PCs for as little as $75 on eBay that have Quicksync CPUs and will run circles around a RPi, especially if you have to do any transcoding. They are also really power efficient… 7-20W idles.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/195163970881
SBCs really should no longer be considered for selfhosting unless you are A) in an extremely power constrained environment like an off-grid RV or vanlife situation or B) clustering
You're right, if there's no need of GPIO. For example I'm using a Fujitsu Futro S720 that I've bought for about 30/40€ and it consumes about 4W idle and 10/15W maximum (I don't really remember). My point of view is like yours: those boards are not good for self hosting, are good for IoT, digital signage and…mmm…I don't know what else.
This is what I ended up doing last year and it's been great.