Different about Microcontroller and Single Board Computer

Learning embedded systems is a good way to learn more about computer architecture. In the PC / Tablet / Smartphone, there are so many "layers" which complicates our understanding of the hardware, but in embedded systems, we can directly interact with the hardware, even without using the operating system at all.

There are currently two popular paths for learning embedded systems: use a single board computer (eg: Raspberry Pi, BeagleBoard, BeagleBone Black, Cubie Board, RadXa, etc.), or using a single-board microcontroller (eg: different versions of Arduino, Parallax Propeller, LaunchPad MSP430, etc). Abbreviations SBC single board computer for commonly used, but single-board microcontroller usually not abbreviated, but that this quick article, I will briefly as SBM.

Single Board Computer

As the name implies, single board microcomputer is a computer within a board.This means that anything that can be done by a computer can be done by SBC.SBC currently has a large memory (128 MB-2 GB, even some have more), have an external storage (SD Card / USB disk), and has a processor speed in the hundreds of megahertz to gigahertz, some even quad core.

An SBC typically have an operating system (usually Linux, FreeBSD, or another open source OS), and we can run the program in any language in situ (eg: C, Python, Lisp or even the prologue). Although usually have the operating system, we could have been programmed without an operating system.

Single Board Microcontroller

A microcontroller is a computer as well, in an existing microcontroller chip processor cores, memory, and input / output system. Usually RAM in microcontroller is very small compared with the SBC (hundreds of kilobytes, up to several megabytes), storage is also limited (hundreds of kilobytes, except when related to the external storage, such as SD Card), speed is also limited (usually less than 100 Mhz).

A microcontroller typically programmed directly without operating system.Although there are several OS for microcontrollers, his ability is very different from the OS to the computer. The language used to program the microcontroller is actually varied, but usually people choose to use assembly or C / C ++. Single-board microcontroller which is most famous today (Arduino) using the Wiring language is actually a subset of C ++.

Source : Here

Difference specification between Microcontroller and SBC

Source : PPT

A Single Board Computer(SBC) is a printed circuit board (PCB) with a microcontroller and all components needed to make it function as a small computer. A microcontroller is just the processor of the SBC.

Secret of Single Board Computer

SINGLE BOARD COMPUTER

A single-board computer (SBC) is a complete computer built on a single circuit board, with microprocessor(s), memory, input/output and other features required of a functional computer. Single-board computers were made as demonstration or development systems, for educational systems, or for use as embedded computer controllers. SBC computers typically provide a fanless, low-power computing solution and a low profile architecture. (wiki)

What Single Board Computer can do?

1. As a SMS Gateway

An SMS gateway allows a computer to send or receive Short Message Service Short Message Service (SMS) transmissions to or from a telecommunications network.

2. As a File Server
We can share files, documents, music, photos with other fellow users at home or in the office as though we had server itself.

3. As an Access Point

By installing a wifi adapter, we can change the SBC as an Access Point.

4. As a Multimedia Player

We can make an old TV become a smart TV by using SBC.

Example of Single Board Computer :
1. Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pi has become the staple in single board computer for affordability, versatility and compatibility.Raspberry Pi 2 features a 900MHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 CPU. You can buy Raspberry for $35.
Link: https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/raspberry-pi-2-on-sale/


2. CHIP

The board hosts a 1 GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM, and 4 GB of storage space. It also has built in Wifi and Bluetooth 4.0. While processing speed and RAM isn't fastest on the market, it's certainly great for the price and the size. You can buy  CHIP only for $9.
Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1598272670/chip-the-worlds-first-9-computer/description


3. Orange Pi

The board is jam-packed with interfaces particularly useful for gaming and video, The board features a campera interface, 8GB of eMMC (embedded multi-media controller) flash, and HDMI port, 1 GB DDR RAM, SATA 2.0 port, microphone and an Allwinner H3 processor. You can buy Orange Pi for $39.
Link: http://www.orangepi.org/index.html


4. BeagleBone Green

The board features an AM335x 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor, 512 MB DDR3 RAM, 3D graphics accelerator and 4GB eMMC flash storage. You can buy for $39.
Link: http://www.seeedstudio.com/recipe/315-intelligent-alarm-system-made-with-bbg-iot.html


5. ODROID-XU4

ODROID-XU4 features Samsung 2GHz Exynos5422 Cortex-A15 and A7 Octa core CPUs, Mali-T628 MP6, 2GB LPDDR RAM PoP, USB 3.0 & 2.0 ports, HDMI connectivity and a cooling fan. You can buy for $74.
Link: http://www.hardkernel.com/main/products/prdt_info.php
Source : Here