Must fight temptation to buy an overpriced raspberry pi
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reasons to use raspberry pi: energy consumption, reliability, noise, software support, performance, an ethernet port/a way faster ethernet port, availability, faster pcie/storage, io
reasons to use laptop ewaste: saving 30 usd once
unless you buy really stupidly, every single of those points is not true.
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Sometimes you can find them on eBay.
I go to Ebay and sort by distance. It's like Craigslist but they send it to you!
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This is, in my mind, one of the benefits of laptops over micro computers: integrated UPS. Even an old, degraded battery will probably get you a couple of hours with the screen off.
IME, power consumption is going to be worse overall, for any laptop likely to be in the recycle bin, it's probably double the consumption of an ARM SBC. The integrated UPS and usually decent power conditioning of the power supply saves you more money with a laptop. Plus, keyboard and screen for emergencies - I just generally expect that, over there life of a micro I'm going to have to drag out and plug in a spare keyboard, mouse, and monitor because something in a device, or an upgrade, or BIOS flash, is preventing a boot.
There are a lot of good reasons to use laptops instead of SBCs, if you don't mind the extra power draw and (as she says) don't have size requirements.
They make batteries for raspberry pi too you know.
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Digging through e-waste bins is one of my hobbies.
Somebody already asked, but what are good locations to do this? Do you ever get harassed by property owners or law enforcement?
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They make batteries for raspberry pi too you know.
No, I didn't. I don't use Pis, I have ODroids. Heck, they may sell batteries for ODroids, too.
For me, it wouldn't have made much difference because I have UPSes around the house serving things like routers, modems, and switches. And I do care about size and energy use. I'm only saying there are advantages to using laptops.
You can get little integrated LCD cases for Pis too, can't you? And maybe even a little fold-out keyboard. Congratulations! You've re-invented the laptop!
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Where are these cheap e waste laptops with gpio and actually low power?
There are usb gpio devices which can fulfill the connectivity bit.
Pretty sure you are sol with the 5w though
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original post: https://mk.moth.zone/notes/a8zer7ypj6uv02ka
wrote last edited by [email protected]Right? I made the realization a while ago that refurbished mini PCs are a way better fit for most of my homelab needs.
Sure, if power consumption is your #1 priority then you'd want some ARM solution. But for my use cases, I've found myself fighting with software support and the relatively low computational power of even the newer RPis.
Also, T-series Intel chips (the low power ones) have pretty good idle power consumption and don't spin up the fan too much given their lower power. And a lot of uses cases require sticking a fan and heat sinks on an RPi so you lose the quietness benefit.
Also also, you (still?) need proprietary blobs to use a bunch of the hardware on RPis. You can go full open source on a regular old PC.
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original post: https://mk.moth.zone/notes/a8zer7ypj6uv02ka
wrote last edited by [email protected]Add use of gpio to reasons to use pie.
While gpio adaptors are available for pc. The software architecture is not as well rounded and documented.
So for any complex hardware project development. Gpio based SBCs are often essential.
So space, low power and gpio development.
Otherwise yep old laptop or even desktop can be cheaper and more able.
But overall. The wide software support and documentation for hardware connectivity is a bloody good reason to keep pie supported.
I'm setting 2 up to control the hot water and solar dump system on my shared little boat. As I want to link 12v Lifepo4 batt charging with the solar dump and visually impaired control for AC and diesel heating of the water.
Pies really are the best option to play with. While low power and easy to design a unique low vision interface.
Also UK boat safty. Is issuing warning about permanently connected li ion batts on boats. So it is likely setting up a laptop to manage this while not on the boat. Will be banned in the near future.
Only an issue for UK boating but worth considering the risks of leaving laptops to run when not observed.
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original post: https://mk.moth.zone/notes/a8zer7ypj6uv02ka
wrote last edited by [email protected]I mostly agree, and did the same with my second gen lab build - instead of shiny new NUCs like I had used round 1, I bought old off lease Dell Xeon boxes. SO MANY PROS -
- Got them up to 14c/28t each
- They can take GPUs and actually do heavy transcoding/ML work
- They can take up to like, 128GB of memory, which is GREAT when they're all hypervisors
The downsides can't be denied though -
- Even without the GPUs and beefed up CPUs, they are power hogs - the CPU alone uses more than an ENTIRE NUC
- They run HOT
- They run LOUD
The same holds true for off-lease SFF stuff, Lenovo and the likes ...
So while reuse/repurpose is absolutely of the utmost importance, no question - when it comes to technology and how quickly it advances and miniaturizes, a thorough and logical pros/cons list is often required.
I'd add another option though - if you do need what a Pi brings to the table - do you really need a shiny new Pi 5? Is it possible a used Pi 3 or Pi 4 would do the trick, and check the reuse box?
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original post: https://mk.moth.zone/notes/a8zer7ypj6uv02ka
I second this motion
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any luck with gpio and 5W power usage so far?
No, but I did get an Xbox that only needed a power cable.
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Somebody already asked, but what are good locations to do this? Do you ever get harassed by property owners or law enforcement?
I'm in an apartment building, so I just browse the one here whenever I take the trash out. I don't think anyone has noticed, or they've elected to mind their own business if they have.
There's so much stuff that could still be used that it honestly isn't funny, and that's just in my own bin. How much more is being wasted across the country? But at least it's in the recycling and not the trash, so that's something, I guess.
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The only caveat here is the fire-hazard non-removable lithium batteries.
'non-removable' lol
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What kind of place do you go to to find these things? Sometimes I get really lucky (see my post history about my wonderful new printer), but if I could increase my odds that would be cool.
I'm just lucky enough to have one at my apartment building, and very wasteful neighbors.
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I wouldn't touch Facebook with a 10' ethernet cable. Haven't heard of kjiji, I'll have to check it out.
Haven't heard of kjiji, I'll have to check it out.
It's essentially Craigslist, but in Canada.
Craigslist doesn't really have a user base here.
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original post: https://mk.moth.zone/notes/a8zer7ypj6uv02ka
wrote last edited by [email protected]Or get a used thin client (e. g. HP T620, T630, T640 or Dell Wyse 5070). Cost: ~40-100$. Biggest advantage: Passive cooling, i. e. they're absolutely quiet.
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There are usb gpio devices which can fulfill the connectivity bit.
Pretty sure you are sol with the 5w thoughThe Raspberry Pi Zero in USB gadget mode can be used for GPIO. If you don't want to setup gadget mode, get Pi Zero W.
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original post: https://mk.moth.zone/notes/a8zer7ypj6uv02ka
Depending on the specs, I might be paying more for those, even used, than a SBC. The joys of Brazilian tech markets...
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It's low power that is still making arm small computers popular. It's impossible to get a pc down into the 2-5 Watt power consumption range and over time it's the electrical costs that add up. I would suggest the RPI5 is the thing to get because it's expensive for what it is and more performance is available from other options supported by armbian.
Mini PC with N200 and NVMe SSD uses around 7W when idling.
For a minimally higher power consumption you can have up to 32 GB of memory, more powerful CPU, and decent GPU for video transcoding purposes.
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original post: https://mk.moth.zone/notes/a8zer7ypj6uv02ka
I now have a stack of Thinkpads laying around. Right next to my two RPis
