ARM Desktop I Finally Want
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The ARM based desktop that I want is finally a reality. It's still not perfect, only 4GB of RAM when I would really like to see 8GB, but it is a start. Sext-core ARM processor, 4GB RAM, M2 SSD option, lots of good connectors. It's the Firefly board using the RockChip OP-1 aka RK3399.
Here is the board: https://shop.t-firefly.com/goods.php?id=45
Here is the case: https://shop.t-firefly.com/goods.php?id=55So $250 for a pretty sweet seeming desktop from what I can tell.
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That looks so enticing!
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@smitherick said in ARM Desktop I Finally Want:
That looks so enticing!
Seriously, I REALLY want to waste $250 on this, but I just got a new desktop last week, which is pretty awesome as it is, my first new machine in nearly 18 years. But I really want to test one of these out.
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8GB of RAM will probably bump the price to $500 USD.
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@scottalanmiller said in ARM Desktop I Finally Want:
@smitherick said in ARM Desktop I Finally Want:
That looks so enticing!
Seriously, I REALLY want to waste $250 on this, but I just got a new desktop last week, which is pretty awesome as it is, my first new machine in nearly 18 years. But I really want to test one of these out.
You got a DESKTOP? Are you actually planning to stay put for a bit, or is it one of those small form factor ones?
That RockChip looks like a nice piece of kit.
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@black3dynamite said in ARM Desktop I Finally Want:
8GB of RAM will probably bump the price to $500 USD.
Board can't handle it.
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@travisdh1 said in ARM Desktop I Finally Want:
@scottalanmiller said in ARM Desktop I Finally Want:
@smitherick said in ARM Desktop I Finally Want:
That looks so enticing!
Seriously, I REALLY want to waste $250 on this, but I just got a new desktop last week, which is pretty awesome as it is, my first new machine in nearly 18 years. But I really want to test one of these out.
You got a DESKTOP? Are you actually planning to stay put for a bit, or is it one of those small form factor ones?
That RockChip looks like a nice piece of kit.
Ha, I did.
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Just had IBM come by the house today and swap batteries on my 3 year old Mac Book Pro, clean the fans and swap the lower chassis. I swear this thing feels lighter (was a lot of dust).
Are browser plugins a thing on ARM? Is greeseMonkey there etc?
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@storageninja said in ARM Desktop I Finally Want:
Just had IBM come by the house today and swap batteries on my 3 year old Mac Book Pro, clean the fans and swap the lower chassis. I swear this thing feels lighter (was a lot of dust).
IBM makes house calls on Mac desktops? I couldn't even get them to service IBM servers!
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What are you going to do with it?
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@storageninja said in ARM Desktop I Finally Want:
Are browser plugins a thing on ARM? Is greeseMonkey there etc?
Aren't plugins often JS? I'm not aware of any platform specific plugins, especially as ChromeOS is primarily on ARM, it's pretty important for those plugins to work there.
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@obsolesce said in ARM Desktop I Finally Want:
What are you going to do with it?
I want it for a real desktop, for every day use.
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@scottalanmiller So what did you end up going with for your desktop? I also realized recently that I want a new one as well for the office.
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It's just not powerful enough.
It's in the chromebook / tablet category of CPUs so it lacks a lot of power compared to Intel mobile processors used in real laptops and similar.
An Intel NUC with an i3 CPU will be a MUCH better desktop for just a little more money.
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@pete-s said in ARM Desktop I Finally Want:
An Intel NUC with an i3 CPU will be a MUCH better desktop for just a little more money.
I think part of the appeal is that it's NOT Intel
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@bnrstnr said in ARM Desktop I Finally Want:
@pete-s said in ARM Desktop I Finally Want:
An Intel NUC with an i3 CPU will be a MUCH better desktop for just a little more money.
I think part of the appeal is that it's NOT Intel
and it's ARM.
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How is it different than a Pi?
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@obsolesce said in ARM Desktop I Finally Want:
How is it different than a Pi?
More memory it's the biggest difference. A pi3 can actually run a desktop, whereas versions 1 and 2 just didn't quite have enough memory to run a desktop well. Even pi3 with 1gb of ram can't be used as an everyday desktop because it runs out of memory so quickly. So something with 4gb of ram suddenly becomes something that could be used as a daily driver.
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This one looks better price-wise: http://www.friendlyarm.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=69&product_id=225&sort=p.price&order=DESC
