The Hackboard 2 – the Latest, Affordable Single Board Computer with an Intel Processor – ‘From Makers, to Makers.’
Raspberry Pi, Banana Pi, RockChip, TinkerBoard, Latte Panda and many more SBCs have already claimed their positions in the Single Board Computers realm. Yes, there are dozens of Operating Systems such as many flavors of Linux (i.e. Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Debian etc.) and even Microsoft’s Windows 10 IoT core is developed to run specifically on Single Board Computers such as Raspberry Pi 3B, LattePanda Alpha etc. However, the more performance we seek, higher the price we must be willing to pay for the same. This is where Quantum Engineering comes into play, a team of passionate engineers, designers and marketers from Austin, Texas; London and Shenzhen, China. They just released the HACKBOARD 2, the dream SBC that electronic hobbyists, students and educators will soon be craving to get their hands on, once the word gets out.
You might ask, “What’s with this new SBC? How is it any different than the ones that are already in the market?”
To answer the question, in this article, let’s take a deeper look at this latest innovation, the Hackboard 2 Single Board Computer; see what it’s made of, and what are the features it packs to compete with its rivals.
Performance Features and Hardware Specifications of Hackboard 2 SBC
The Hackboard 2’s key feature is its Intel Celeron N4020 Dual-Core 64bit Processor, with a clock speed of upto 2.8GHz. The makers of the Hackboard 2 SBC have made sure that they’re designing a powerful Single Board Computer, all while maintaining its affordability, which is just $99 for the Linux version and also available with Genuine Windows 10 Pro licence for just $140 (if you look for it, Windows 10 Pro license itself alone is worth that $140.), which smokes out most of its rivals even before they could even catch up to it.
Considering the overall hardware specifications, the Hackboard 2 boasts following features:
- Processor – Intel Celeron N4020
- Dual-core, 64-bit, 4MB cache with upto 2.8GHz clock speed
- Operating System
- $140 for the
- Memory/Storage
- 4GB DDR4 RAM
- Built-in 64 Gigabytes of eMMC Flash Storage
- 2x NVMe M.2 SSD slots upto a combined storage of 4 Terabytes max
- Graphics and Audio
- Intel UltraHD (UHD) Graphics 600 – 300MHz base, 700MHz Boost Clock
- 4K HDMI 2.1 Port
- 30-pin eDP 11.6”-15.6” screen connector
- 6-pin touch screen connector
- 3.5mm audio jack (stereo + mic)
- 5-pin stereo speaker connector
- Wireless/Wired Connectivity
- Intel dual-band AC95060 WiFi (1.73Gb/s max)
- Bluetooth 5.1
- Gigabit Ethernet
- Optional 4G or 5G cellular modem upgrade
- I/O Expansions
- 3x USB 3.0 ports
- 5-pin USB 2.0 camera connection
- 40-pin GPIO header with RPi-HAT compatibility
- NVMe M.2 B key slot
- NVMe M.2 B & M key slot
- Power ( AC-DC adapter included)
- 12V DC, 3A
- 10-pin 3.7V rechargeable Li-Ion battery connector
- Processor Heatsink
- Coin Cell battery holder for BIOS backup
- Dimensions
- 120mm x 80mm
- 4x Mounting holes in the corners
Other than the above key features, the board consists of a power button, a built-in microphone, fan connector, and red and green indicator LEDs for giving visual feedback about the system’s status.
Two Kits to Get Started With!
The Hackboard 2 can be purchased in multiple options, starting from the base board itself alone, or in ready-to-assemble kits. There are two main options, one being the Hackboard 2 Starter Kit, and the other one being the Complete Kit.
The Starter Kit comes with,
- Hackboard 2 SBC with Windows 10 Pro pre-installed
- 12V 3A DC power supply
- Heatsink
- 2x Antennas
- ABS plastic protective case
- 1080p USB 2.0 Web Camera
- Wireless Keyboard+Trackpad combo
Complete Kit offers everything from the Starter Kit + few other add-ons,
- 13.3” 1080p IPS LCD display (integrated speakers, USB C and HDMI inputs)
- Protective Cover which also acts as a stand
The CrowdSupply campaign for the Hackboard 2 has already raised $50k+ funds and an exclusive, limited edition version that comes with Ubuntu preinstalled is available during the campaign period. After that, the Windows 10 Pro version will be the default edition that will be shipped for all orders.
The Potential Hackborard 2 Carries On Being an Edge Linux IoT Device
The Hackboard 2 SBC can act as an Entertainment System such as being setup as a media server, game console or a digital audio hub; or as a Home Automation System, controlling smart home gadgets such as security systems and smart bulbs; as an Industrial Sensor Gateway to monitor, obtain and process sensor data in an industrial environment. Needless to say, the Hackboard 2 contains all the necessary features to help students and DIY hobbyists to get started in the Single Board Computer world with this feature-packed device which needs no external modules such as USB WiFi/Bluetooth adapters and even 4G dongles.
Where JFrog Connect Can Help You to Manage Your Hackboard 2
Just like any other Single Board Computer on the market, Hackboard 2 SBC can run linux too, which makes it an ideal linux edge IoT device (endpoint) with a considerable amount of processing power; comparable to a desktop PC or an entry level notebook PC. Being a linux supported device, it means that JFrog Connect can manage your Hackboard 2! You can turn your Hackboard 2 into a server/IoT device and place it anywhere in the world and still have access on your fingertips to manage it remotely!
Visit our website to find out more info on how integrating our platform into your linux edge IoT devices can level up your embedded Linux IoT device management tasks!
