The Raspberry Pi is a popular go-to for people trying to set up an affordable, low-power, and completely modifiable web server. But there are other worthy alternatives such as the recent ZimaBoard, which claims to be the world’s first hackable single-board server.
How does the Raspberry Pi hold up against such stiff competition? Join us as we find out which single-board computer is the best option for hosting your new web server.
What Is the ZimaBoard?
TheZimaBoard is a hybrid single-board computer/mini-serverfrom IceWhale Tech, a technology group based in China. It is billed as a “single-board server exclusively designed for makers and geeks.” Fun fact: the word “Zima” actually comes from a character in the animated series “Love, Death, and Robots.”
ZimaBoard was first launched on Kickstarter in January 2021 and was quite successful, with the total pledge being significantly more than the funding goal. Currently, there are three versions of the product: ZimaBoard 216, 432, and 832, with the first digits signifying the amount of RAM on the boards and the last two representing the amount of onboard storage. It is a well-built board that comes embedded in a heatsink with a futuristic theme.
Unlike the Raspberry Pi, the ZimaBoard was created to host servers and is not intended to serve as a desktop replacement (though, it could probably work as one). It also lacks a GPIO (general-purpose input/output) header, making it unsuitable for physical computing projects.
What Is a Raspberry Pi?
The Raspberry Pi is the most popular single-board computer ever, now in its fourth generation. The Raspberry Pi was created to be a low-cost but capable general-purpose computer, with an expansion header that makes it suitable for electronics tinkering.
Raspberry Pi boards are perfect for server hosting, due to their low cost, minimal power consumption, and the level of customizability they offer. Although there are certainthings to consider when using a Raspberry Pi as a server, it is one of the best ways to self-host a server.
ZimaBoard vs. Raspberry Pi 4: Which One Is Cheaper?
The Raspberry Pi is priced considerably lower than the ZimaBoard. The cheapest version of theZimaBoard single-board computer, the 216, costs about $120, more than twice the price of the 2GB version of the Raspberry Pi 4. As for the most expensive variants, the 8GB Raspberry Pi 4B is officially sold at $75 while the ZimaBoard 832 is priced at about $200, not including shipping fees.
Even when you consider scalper pricing and stock availability, the Raspberry Pi is still much cheaper than the ZimaBoard. This is primarily because x86 processors tend to cost much more than Arm processors. Therefore, if price is the biggest factor for you, then a Raspberry Pi should be your first choice.
ZimaBoard vs. Raspberry Pi 4: Performance
The ZimaBoard models feature two different x86 processors. The 216 model comes with a dual-core Intel Celeron N3350 capable of a burst frequency of 2.4GHz while the ZimaBoard 432 and 832 models feature a quad-core Intel Celeron N3450 with a burst frequency of 2.2GHz.
The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B is based on the Broadcom BCM2711 SoC and has a quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 CPU with a standard clock speed of 1.8GHz. While the clock speed is higher than the ZimaBoard’s, the Raspberry Pi will perform much slower in most tasks due to itsARM architecture. ARM processors are designed to use less power overall, meaning they sacrifice performance for low power consumption.
The more powerful processors in the ZimaBoard models allow them to run much more intensive and graphically demanding tasks, compared to the Raspberry Pi. If you’re hosting a server with a consistently heavy workload, the ZimaBoard 832 model would be the best option for you.
ZimaBoard vs. Raspberry Pi 4: Storage and Memory
Unlike the Raspberry Pi which lacks onboard storage, the ZimaBoard offers two different sizes of eMMC (embedded Multi-Media Card) storage. In addition, the two SATA ports on the board allow up to 36TB of storage. ZimaBoard also sells an expansion card that breaks out the PCIe slot into five SATA ports, if you want to add even more storage (although you’ll need to power the drives externally). Needless to say, the Raspberry Pi is heavily outclassed in this category.
The Raspberry Pi 4B comes with four different RAM options: 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB LPDDR4 RAM. The ZimaBoard has three different RAM configurations: 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB LPDDR4 RAM, omitting a 1GB variant. Both boards are pretty evenly matched when it comes to memory and cover a wide range of users with different needs, although the absence of a 1GB model for the ZimaBoard might exclude people who are in the market for a low-cost and less powerful single-board computer to host their web server.
ZimaBoard vs. Raspberry Pi 4: Ports and Networking
Both the Raspberry Pi and ZimaBoard feature an extensive range of ports and interfaces that make them suitable for multimedia purposes. There are two USB 3.0 ports on both devices, but that’s about all they have in common.
The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B has two micro-HDMI ports while the ZimaBoard features a Mini-DisplayPort 1.2; both are capable of 4K video output at 60Hz. The ZimaBoard has two Gigabit Ethernet ports while the Raspberry Pi only has one. you’re able to find a list of the ports and interfaces available on both devices in the next section.
You should note that you will have to remove the bracket on most PCIe cards to fit them into the slot provided on the ZimaBoard. It will be a mild annoyance for most people, but it is something to keep in mind if you’re buying one for the PCIe slot.
The Raspberry Pi supports Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 5.0, and dual-band Wi-Fi. The ZimaBoard has two Gigabit Ethernet ports but lacks onboard Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. You need to use a USB dongle for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi or insert a Wi-Fi card in the PCIe slot.
ZimaBoard vs. Raspberry Pi 4: Technical Specifications
The key technical specifications of both boards are listed below, side by side:
Raspberry Pi 4
Broadcom BCM2711, quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 @ 1.5GHz
Intel Celeron N3350 dual-core, @ 1.1-2.4GHz (216 Model) or Intel Celeron N3450 quad-core @1.1-2.2GHz (432 & 832 Model)
Broadcom VideoCore VI
Intel HD Graphics 500
1GB/2GB/4GB/8GB LPDDR4
2GB/4GB/8GB LPDDR4
microSD card slot
16GB/32GB eMMC, 2 x SATA ports
Networking
Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0, BLE
2 x Gigabit Ethernet ports
Connectivity
2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, 2 x micro-HDMI 2.0, DSI, CSI, 3.5mm composite video/stereo audio port
2 x USB 3.0, 2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s, 1 x PCle 2.0 4x, 1 x Mini-DisplayPort 1.2 4K@60Hz
Dimensions
3.4 x 2.2 x 0.6 inches
5.46 x 3.2 x 1.37 inches
5V DC (minimum 3A) via USB-C or GPIO header; Power over Ethernet (using PoE HAT)
12V DC via power jack
Other Features
40-pin GPIO header
Passive cooling, supports 4K video transcoding
ZimaBoard vs. Raspberry Pi 4: Software Compatibility and Power Consumption
The Raspberry Pi is a well-supported computer, and you’re likely to find a full port or a close alternative for the applications you use frequently. However, the ZimaBoard is an x86 computer, so you get the richer support and experience offered by the more popular system architecture. If your favorite apps don’t run on ARM, that in itself is a very good reason to opt for the ZimaBoard.
The ZimaBoard comes bundled with CasaOS, an open-source cloud operating system functioning around the Docker ecosystem, and with Debian Linux running in the backend. It allows you to install Docker apps in one click and monitor them via a dashboard. But you can use any operating system you prefer, as on the Raspberry Pi.
When it comes to power consumption, the Raspberry Pi wins hands-down. There’s no comparison between the trickle power consumption of an ARM-based processor and the guzzling intensity of an x86-based one. However, the ZimaBoard is quite power-efficient for an x86 computer, with a Thermal Design Power (TDP) of 6W.
Which One Is Right for You?
Overall, the choice between ZimaBoard and Raspberry Pi boils down to your specific application or the project’s needs. The ZimaBoard is a more expensive but more powerful x86 alternative to the Raspberry Pi. It is the ideal choice for hosting servers that need more processing power or faster input/output bandwidth. However, if your primary concern is keeping cost or power consumption low, a Raspberry Pi is the better option.
