Low Cost Linux Boards: What to Look For
A low cost Linux board is a small computer that runs a Linux distribution such as Ubuntu. For a buyer, the main choices are the processor, the memory, the storage, the network options and the power supply. Thinvent has fanless industrial PCs, compact Aero and Treo mini PCs and a Neo S thin client. Every model in this range ships with Ubuntu Linux preinstalled.
The entry point in the range is the Treo Mini PC with an Intel Celeron N5095A processor. It has 4 cores, runs up to 2.9 GHz, has 4 MB of cache, and comes with 4 GB of DDR4 RAM and 128 GB of SSD storage. It is the lowest-cost option for light Linux desktop work, kiosk use and basic office tasks. The Neo S Thin Client uses an Intel J1900 processor with 4 cores, up to 2.4 GHz, 2 MB of cache, 4 GB of DDR3 RAM and two 32 GB MLC SSDs. It suits centralised desktop deployments.
For more processing power, the range includes Intel Core i3-1215U, Core i5-1240P, Core i7-1255U and Core Ultra 5 125U processors. The Ryzen 5 7430U from AMD has 6 cores, runs up to 4.3 GHz and has 16 MB of cache. Models with the Core i7-1255U and the Ryzen 5 7430U support up to 64 GB of RAM.
Key Specifications
| Model | Processor | Cores | Max Frequency | Cache | RAM | Storage | WiFi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treo Mini PC | Intel Celeron N5095A | 4 | 2.9 GHz | 4 MB | 4 GB DDR4 | 128 GB SSD | No |
| Neo S Thin Client | Intel J1900 | 4 | 2.4 GHz | 2 MB | 4 GB DDR3 | 2 x 32 GB MLC SSD | No |
| Aero Mini PC | Intel Core i3-1215U | 6 | 4.4 GHz | 10 MB | 8 GB DDR4 | 256 GB SSD | Dual Band |
| Treo Mini PC | AMD Ryzen 5 7430U | 6 | 4.3 GHz | 16 MB | 16 to 64 GB DDR4 | 256 GB to 1 TB SSD | Dual Band |
| Industrial PC IPC3 | Intel Core i3-1215U | 6 | 4.4 GHz | 10 MB | 8 GB DDR4 | 256 GB SSD | No |
| Industrial PC IPC5 | Intel Core i5-1240P | 12 | 4.4 GHz | 12 MB | 32 GB DDR4 | 1 TB SSD | Dual Band |
| Industrial PC IPC5 | Intel Core i7-1255U | 10 | 4.7 GHz | 12 MB | 32 to 64 GB DDR4 | 1 TB SSD | No or Dual Band |
| Aero Mini PC | Intel Core Ultra 5 125U | 12 | 4.3 GHz | 12 MB | 16 GB DDR5 | 256 GB SSD | No |
Use Cases
Low cost Linux boards suit kiosks, digital signage, point-of-sale terminals, edge data collection, lab instruments and office desktops. The Industrial PC IPC3 and IPC5 suit factory floors and other demanding sites. The Aero and Treo mini PCs suit desks, labs and back offices where space is limited. The Neo S suits thin client deployments that run applications on a central server.
Thinvent Products for Low Cost Linux Computing
Thinvent supplies every model in this section with Ubuntu Linux. The Treo Mini PC with Celeron N5095A is the most affordable choice in the range. The Aero Mini PC with Core i3-1215U and the Treo Mini PC with Ryzen 5 7430U suit general Linux workloads. The Industrial PC IPC5 with Core i7-1255U or Core i5-1240P suits heavier processing. Choose the model whose processor, memory and network options match your application.
