Comparing the new Raspberry Pi 2 with the Odroid-C1

The Raspberry Pi clearly opened up the consumer market for an inexpensive ARM computer. However, the size of its main memory and its network speed limited the number of applications it was suitable for, thus creating an opportunity for competitors to get into the market.

The Raspberry Pi Foundation didn't leave its users out in the cold, however, but instead kept developing its product. Model B followed Model A, and then A+ and B+, and now finally version 2 [1]. Currently, the newest competitor for the Rasp Pi is a nano-computer named Odroid-C1. This board is made by a company out of South Korea called Hardkernel [3], which has already attracted attention for its Odroid models U3 and XU3.

Preparations

Earlier this year, demand was high for both of these new small-board computers (SBCs). Beginners wanting to purchase one should look for a ready-to-use package that contains all the necessary components (e.g., covers, power supply, and possibly even a microSD card) in addition to the board.

Odroid's North American distributor ameriDroid offers several SBCs and accessories [4]. If you prefer buying components individually, you should make sure to get the correct power connectors, because each board has a different power supply. Raspberry Pi customers will most probably need an additional power supply when purchasing an Odroid-C1 unless they already own other boards from Hardkernel. The power supply from an older Hardkernel board can be utilized for the new board.

Both devices use a microSD card for mass storage. The Odroid-C1 also accepts eMMC storage. A case is not necessary in the beginning, and in some situations, a case can even be a hindrance for a Hardkernel ARM nano-computer because the microSD slot is found in the center of the underside of the board (Figure 1). Perhaps somebody will come up with a nifty design for a cover that both protects the device and lets the user exchange the card easily.

Figure 1: Top (left) and bottom (right) views of an Odroid-C1 on the left and a Raspberry Pi 2 on the right. The microSD slot on the Odroid is placed in a peculiar location.

If you already have a cover for the Rasp Pi B+, you can continue using it for the updated model. Tests show, however, that modification may be required. For example, the cutout for the SD card slot on some of the covers was so skimpy that it was not possible to take a card out once it had been put in. Table 1 provides an overview of the technical details for both of the computers.

System

The current selection of suitable operating systems for the Odroid-C1 is meager. Aside from Android 4.4.2, the board merely supports Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS and then only in a minimal form or with a graphical interface. Interestingly, both use different kernel versions that include 3.10.66-49 for the minimal version and 3.10.67-55 for the fully equipped. A new version of RISC OS also boots on the Odroid. However, the system only returns one ping and does not react to access via SSH.

The available selection of systems for the new Rasp Pi is likewise growing slowly. The most important of the current systems are Raspbian and Ubuntu Snappy Core. Microsoft has announced that it plans a Windows 10 version for the new Raspberry Pi, but that remains to be seen. Users interested in finding out what Microsoft has in mind should register for the developer program for the Internet of Things [5].

The Raspberry Pi board is basically built to be backward compatible, which means operating systems for previous generations should be suitable for the new version of the hardware. However, users will find that the devil is in the details. A few systems carry different images [6] for the different Rasp Pi versions. For example, OpenELEC has ARM11 and ARMv7 images [7].

The guidelines for downloading RISC OS [8] and OSMC (the Raspbmc successor) [9] indicate that Rasp Pi version 2 Model B (RPi2B) is supported. Pidora [10] only works with the Rasp Pi version 1 (RPi1); however, a Fedora 21 Remix has been developed for the RPi2B [11].

A behind-the-scenes look at Raspbian shows that the modifications that have been made are limited in scope. In fact, most of the packages have not been changed. The adaptations undertaken for the RPi2B took place in the core of the operating system. The version of the kernel is identical except that it has now been compiled for the new architecture. The summary box titled "What's New with the RPi2B" lays out the details of the hardware innovations for the RPi2B.