Raspberry Pi: what it is and the closest Thinvent alternative
A Raspberry Pi is a series of small single-board computers, each about the size of a credit card. They run Linux and are used for education, industrial automation, robotics, IoT devices and hobby projects. Thinvent does not make a single-board computer. The closest Thinvent alternatives are its Mini PC lines, Treo and P, which give a full desktop-class computer with a larger memory and storage range.
Raspberry Pi vs Thinvent Treo and P
| Raspberry Pi (series) | Thinvent P Mini PC | Thinvent Treo Mini PC (Intel N5095A) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Custom Broadcom system on a chip, varies by model | ARM Cortex-A55, 4 cores (Amlogic S905X3) | Intel Celeron N5095A |
| Cores/Threads | Varies by model | 4 cores | 4 cores, up to 2.9 GHz |
| RAM | Up to 16 GB | 4 GB | 8 GB DDR4 |
| Storage | microSD slot | 32 GB | 2 TB SSD |
| Form Factor | Credit card-sized board (85 mm x 56 mm) | Mini PC, fanless | Mini PC, 199.5 mm x 181.5 mm x 29.5 mm |
| Operating System | Raspberry Pi OS (default) | Thinux Embedded Linux | Windows 11 Pro (other options listed below) |
Notes: the Thinvent P uses the Amlogic S905X3 chip. Its operating system choice is Thinux Embedded Linux. The Thinvent Treo N5095A is available with Windows 11 Pro, Windows 11 IoT, Ubuntu Linux, Thinux Embedded Linux, Without OS or DOS.
Key differences
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The Thinvent Treo supports up to 2 TB of SSD storage. The Raspberry Pi stores its data on a microSD card.
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The Thinvent Treo is a Mini PC with a metal aluminium housing, a VESA mount and a 12V DC power input. It is designed for desktop and embedded use.
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The Thinvent P is fanless and uses the same Amlogic S905X3 chip as many compact ARM boards.
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The Raspberry Pi has a smaller footprint and a larger hobbyist and educational software community. This is a strength of the Raspberry Pi series.
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Thinvent Treo models can run Windows 11 Pro, while the Raspberry Pi runs Raspberry Pi OS by default.
Which one should you choose?
Choose a Raspberry Pi for a very small single-board project, classroom teaching or a Linux hobby build. Choose a Thinvent Treo Mini PC when you need a full desktop-class computer with more memory, a 2 TB SSD and a choice of operating systems. Choose the Thinvent P for a fanless ARM Mini PC running Thinux Embedded Linux.
