ROCKPro64 PCIe SATA Card

[@RoboNuggie]

I love it when Christopher talks nerdy in the command line. Blurring the lines between review & tutorial since 2008. Thanks for everything you do Christopher!

[@ExplainingComputers]

Now that is a line I must remember "Blurring the lines between review & tutorial since 2008". :)

[@teebee5323]

@@ExplainingComputers Like the Reeses of tech, "hey you got your tutorial in my review!" "well you got your review on my tutorial".. "hmmmm".. HEY!!!

[@resrussia]

Thanks again for a wonderful video on single board computers. What struck me about the video is that you not only provided a look at product, but also provided an excellent Linux tutorial about mounting external drives and testing the drives. The ability to successfully integrate two topics, one specific and one more general, is a mark of excellent teacher. Once again I am thankful for the thought, time and energy you put into your videos.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks Tom.

[@leeoliver2969]

Yes Tom, right on. I couldn't think of exactly why this was a great video but you hit it perfectly.

[@binbashbuddy]

I second this. I actually dislike it when we go to the web access or worse, to windows. Of course gui is the way of the world so I don't fault EC for it, but it's always good to see the cli.

[@richegan7381]

Lee Oliver ,,,,,,,, ,,no=v==,,v,,,,,,,,,,,,,nah,.....lgvvv*vghghvnhg hv n

[@leeoliver2969]

CB's videos are so well done and packed with so much information, you need to listen again in a few days to catch everything.

[@PiperDowns]

There is no more informative English speaking people than the English. You really know how to get the point of the video across quickly and without bloated talking to extend the video. I really appreciate the way you make your videos and look forward to more!

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thank you! 😃

[@deanlawson6880]

Wonderful video on this Rock64 with add-in PCIe based SATA card! Very thorough and nicely done video Professor Chris! Thank you so much for the referral to see this video from the initial Rock64 video you did. This will be my architecture of choice for building my tiny little ARM-based NAS! I will make sure and mention your name and your KZbin channel when I check out when I purchase my Rock64 and case and accessories for my new NAS!! Thank you again for your really excellent videos!! Really nicely done!!

[@chriholt]

Thanks for the follow up on the ROCKPro. Having that PCI-e port really does open up a lot of possibilities. Also thanks for the command line tutorial!

[@perrymcclusky4695]

It is fascinating how ARM based computers evolving. Looking forward to your next video!

[@geoffreyjohnstone5465]

Got to love Sundays. A big Sunday roast dinner and an Explaining Computers videos. Best way to finish the week

[@zoldyck_uwu]

Whenever I see any of my friends talking, praising about Linus , I never fail to recommend them to checkout your channel . They are almost always so surprised to find such a quality content in a channel with less than a million subs. If someone is making a video on "top 10 underrated channels in KZbin" . This channel would be my pick for #1.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks for your kind feedback, appreciated. :)

[@ts8538]

The clearest, best-prepared explanations available. Thank you!

[@MCNOISE666]

Menacing look right at the end that truly put the willies up me.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Sorry about that -- not intentional! :)

[@MCNOISE666]

Just kidding ;) Great & informative video, as per usual!

[@GooogleGoglee]

Love the quality of your videos and tests and explanations!

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks.

Just a side note: if you plan to permanently use these drives with this setup, I would recommend reformatting the drives to ext4, because ntfs-3g - which I think is still used on Linux for NTFS access - is quiet CPU heavy, and you lose some system performance.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Very good advice, noted.

[@horstschlumma8501]

... and you could also add one of the mount-options "noatime" or "relatime" to reduce the write-stress on the SSD (reduced wear) unless your application needs accurate atimes (okay, some modern kernels already default to that). BTW, I wonder how an M.2 SSD via an PCIe-adapter would perform? Would that be possible with an RockPro64?

[@NoFrameHell]

@@horstschlumma8501 m.2 nvme needs 4x lanes to get it's max speed. This board might have 2x pci line at max.

[@Kris-jk9mq]

With NTFS my speeds peaked around 40 MBps, where as ext4 is getting 112+ MBps hitting Ethernet speed wall in my case.

[@binbashbuddy]

If I never intend to hook something up to a windows machine it's formatted ext4, which means even all of my external drives are ext4. Well I take it back, the stupid radios in my 2 cars have usb accesses but can't read ext4 (or ogg, a double whammy) so I do have two thumb drives that are exceptions to the rule.

[@blabla-rg7ky]

I have no idea what you're on about in this clip, but I still like it. Technology is awesome xD

[@extremelydave]

Yet another great video. You provide an awesome service to those who think beyond "buying a box and using it" crowd. Good on you!!!!

[@SamTornado1701]

Mmmm, coffee, SBC, and Linux command lines the only way I want to start my Sunday morning! (PST these videos post early morning)

[@twoshedsjackson6478]

It used to be "It's Friday, it's five to five, and it's Crackerjack" but now it's "Sunday, it's two o'clock and it's Explaining Computers" ( you have to be old, over 50 anyway, and be British to understand that)

[@turtleb01]

Maybe the only real 'you need to be this to understand' i have ever seen

[@john-r-edge]

Be careful. Every time you get a question wrong, or drop an item, you get given a cabbage. And if you get a third cabbage you get disqualified. Starring Eamon Andrews, Leslie Crowther, Peter Hayes.

[@geoffreyjohnstone5465]

I know exactly what you mean......unfortunately

[@jonathanmaybury5698]

@@john-r-edge To remember that you must be in your 60's like me! ........ Where did it all go?

[@MarkTheMorose]

Peter Glaze, Don Maclean and Ed Stewart when I were a lad.

[@Psychx_]

I got a RockPro64 myself. Currently it acts as a Raid 1 NAS (2 HDDs over USB3.0, using a hub) with a small NVMe SSD acting as write cache for smaller files (bcache, writeback_percent 0). I am getting 70-100mb/sek writes and a constant 100mb/sek reads (Samba, ext4). It also runs Pi-Hole and I am planning to set up a VPN server on it too. This board has nearly unlimited CPU resources for such things. As a distro I can recommend DietPI - it's so comfy and easy to set up.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Really useful feedback. Presumably you are using the PCIe to M.2 card for the SSD?

[@Psychx_]

Yes, I am using the adapter with a cheap Transcend SSD. My rockpro64 has board revision 2.1 and it's working flawlessly.

[@vibsking21]

As a member of the Comment Reading Association (CRA), I’m only here to read comments. Please keep the comments short and simple. We do appreciate your typing effort. Also please watch your spelling. Thank you and have a great day!

[@WalterLaughlinMISM]

Well done as usual Dr. Barnatt!

[@icepee9252]

I would love to see you test a number of different types of PCIE cards. I'm particularly interested in Thunderbolt.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Uhm . . . it all comes down to software support for such cards in the ARM Linux distros available for the RockPro64 . . .

[@brianwesley28]

I want to see it, as well. I can imagine that a neural accelerator or two would be amazing with Thunderbolt 3.

[@2DReanimation]

Not bad! 100MB/s over ethernet -- you could stream future 32k video with that (or something... someone else have to do the math). ^^ Great video as usual! Amazingly so, as I had little interest in yet another single-board computer as I started this. But all of your videos are enjoyable. Other creators on KZbin may be funny or all kinds of great in different ways, but to be so consistently enjoyable is phenomenal.

[@SB-qm5wg]

I really enjoy the Open Source videos.

[@treyquattro]

I've noticed a crazy situation in many of your videos: a simple cable can cost the equivalent of an expansion card or even an multi-core SBC with reasonable amounts of storage! And a fully-functioning 64-bit desktop or server operating system for free! How do these economics work? It's marvelous that we can get fully featured SBCs for so little, but how is it that a cable or a metal housing can cost the same? Something doesn't add up! Anyway, I'm very happy that SBCs are so affordable, both for me and for educational purposes in developed and also developing economies.

[@mocara11]

I noticed that you used 0.7.10 bionic minimal software that currently is not the stable release, but a pre-release candidate. I've failed miserably to get the Pine64 SATA card to work on my RockPro64 using the 0.7.9 stable release. I get lots of dump type messages and then the boot sequence hangs. This is irrespective of whether any SSDs, or even 2.5" HDDs are plugged into it. The drives that I tried work just file when connected to the USB3 port. Encouraged by your success, I gave the 0.7.10 release a go, but just get the same results. Beginning to think that my SATA card is the problem. Ah well. Thanks for another very clear and helpful video Chris.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Sounds like you may have a card problem. Fingers crossed you get this sorted out. I tried a great many distros to get things working as I did! :)

[@metalheadmalta]

Skipped a few Linux info parts, but I think you are right about ARM processors growing in use, even among desktops.

[@TechTier_]

It certainly is interesting how single board computers are starting to blur things with the use of expansion cards just like traditional computer x86 boards.

[@bhimasolberg4767]

Yo, hey Love your stuff! I teach CompTia A+, and I find that I am showing more and more of your videos to the class as you have such an array of great in depth, well made explanations that even beginners can understand them, 👌

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks.

[@mithrillis]

Here ends the era of SBC. Welcome to the era of DBC!

[@Enos666]

Any chance of you doing a video on Risc V and the Hi Five boards? Would be a fascinating watch.

[@xybersurfer]

Enos666 yeah great idea. i would love to see that :D

[@ExplainingComputers]

RISC V is on my list of possibilities for 2019.

[@elviraeloramilosic9813]

Great! Again! Two board computer or three maybe soon four, I love it!

[@y2ksw1]

SBC's have taken over PC's 😊

[@filipejsbrandao]

You ended the video with a very interesting observation! Will we see in the future sufficiency coming into the equation of the Personal Computer?

[@jonathanwarner1844]

When these videos start, it's Open University. When it's unboxing time it turns into Blue Peter, but when the name of "Mr. Scissors" is invoked, it's Play School.

[@gile849]

Tnx Chris, good video! Education and ASMR :)

[@cornfoot100]

very interesting upgrade video

[@borys666]

Speeds in last test suprised me. In such setup I often experience write speeds better than read speeds. You can have write-back buffer for write, read cache won't get you such advantage.

[@southsidedojo2]

Thank you really enjoy your content!

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks. :)

[@vel0city96]

would like to see this with a 4-port Ethernet NIC for a cheap solution to a basic network switch.

[@johncnorris]

Mr. Scissors' job has been outsourced!

[@ExplainingComputers]

It is a cruel world.

[@ecu4321]

One thing you may need to check is what the cpu utilization in sata vs usb

Ah ! more one amazing video!

[@johngermain5146]

Perhaps you could do a video of creating and using a zfs pool with parity drives, scrubs, and S.M.A.R.T. tests? That would be a real world application rather than just HD access. Enjoyed your video(s).

[@acumenium8157]

Dual SATA II is perfectly fine for non-SSDs, as HDDs don't go past 150MB/s, and SATA II's limit is like 280. Looks cool!

[@ExplainingComputers]

I totally agree. And I've never managed to get an SSD beyond 300MB/s (the top SATA II speed) on any SBC.

[@digitalizeddeath]

Pretty sure your videos are a continuing cause for my dwindling bank account I absolutely love your channel Chris And am thinking of starting one of my own after watching many of your videos More niche uses of these amazing SBCs And cool networking projects Btw do you remember Killer Networking Cards I found a stash Had an idea of making something with them if I can get Linux to play nice with there onboard out of date Linux os

[@VIPINSAINI_20]

Awesome Video. Always Loves Your Work.😄

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks.

[@seekfactsnotfiction9056]

@@ExplainingComputers *I need your help! How can I get rid of Extreme Temperatures from my laptop? Please answer...thnx* Here are the specs and a little history... I have an old 2010 Sony Vaio VPCF1390X 64-bit, Intel (R) core (TM) i7 CPU Q740@1.73GHz. 8192MB RAM 8 GB memory, Samsung SSD 256 Toshiba THNSNC256GBSJ, Nvidia GeForce GT425M, came with W7, but now running windows 10. The problem is: The Temperature is always extremely high (specially when editing) to reduce the excessive heat, I use two external coolers: 1)Cooler Master CMStorm SF-17 and 2) Opolar to suck exhaust heat utside! Despite all that the heat temperature readings on Opolar is always above 90 and up to 120f! Scary! Fan, heat sink, & battery have been replaced multiple times in the past by Sony (during warranty). And also serviced few other times for the same issues at a local computer repair shop, but still the overheating issue is still there! Plus the annoying fan loud noise whenever I turn the laptop on. Is there a reason and solution for this extreme high temperature? What can i upgrade to get rid of high temperature? Two days ago, i took it to a friend, he cleaned the dust inside, replaced the old thermal paste to thermal pad assuming it would reduce heat, but not that much of a difference except for few numbers reduction! I use my laptop mostly for editing only (not as a profession) I do not play games. Any suggestions or recommendations? Could motherboard be an issue of overheating? Some online I was reading suggested "cpu undervolt" is windows 10 the problem? I know Sony laptops or laptops in general are not good asset for editing but meanwhile is there anything I could do to reduce tempersture in order to be able to do editing a 3 hour video project for a non-profit organization? Thnx

[@ExplainingComputers]

This to me suggests either a hardware issue, or it could be a software one -- eg Windows 10 is not applying appropriate thermal management. I once had a Surface 2 Pro tablet that developed this problem (it just burned up as soon as you turned it on), and I eventually fixed it by upgrading to Windows 10. So software can be the issue. I would try writing a Linux distro (eg Mint) to a USB drive and booting from it, just to test how the machine runs with another OS on it --- and if it runs cool, it is a Windows-with-your hardware issue.

[@seekfactsnotfiction9056]

@@ExplainingComputers I'll try that if it helps. Someone else suggested "cpu undervolt" what do you think about it? Would it make a significant difference?

[@olivier2553]

DietPi supports the card and has a GUI. But the Ethernet module does not work with the SATA card...

[@ericartman0]

Command line with my cereal, it must be Sunday, thanks Chris

[@SJM2]

A short PCIe 4x riser cable could give you a low profile horizontal mounting option for the SATA card Chris...

[@arthurdent8091]

Hi Chris, It's about 1:30 in the AM here so if I sound a little less than logical I can attributate it to that; or all the diodes in my lower back. Regretfully I'm not as hoopy as I use to be these days. My meds are at a subotimal state. BTW I purchased a cd/dvd cleaner / polisher sometime ago and I had the opportunity to test it on a tempermental dvd recently and it works well. I am watching the video from where it freezes to a later point and it does wht it was designed for. I started out with one of those little hand wound crank types and it was a waste of time. This one, the JFJ Easy Pro Plus does the job. I imagine you have access to whatever you need but sometimesa file exists only on one place and you need to get ccess to it. I find it a bit pricy but a well made machine.I pass that along to you as my little tip. Good video and keep up the good work. Cheers.

[@MicrobyteAlan]

Thank you very much as always thanks from Orlando

[@ExplainingComputers]

Hi Alan. :)

[@MicrobyteAlan]

I haven’t built a computer since the end of last century. You are tempting me to do another. I’m watching.

[@TheBrightPixel]

SBC is getting super exciting. Once we get LP Alpha specs under 200 bucks, Single board computers are going to explode IMO.

[@ExplainingComputers]

With this I totally agree. Boards like the Odroid-H2 (which I hope to feature here on 2 December) are going to really shake things up.

[@TheBrightPixel]

@@ExplainingComputers Looking forward to the H2 review! I see a future where we end up with a standardised form factor that becomes a new defacto standard for home computing, with ATx motherboards being reserved only for high-end workstations. Already we are seeing the line blurred between 4k TV's and PC monitors. SBC with a TV makes a lot of sense in today's market. I just hope we never lose the GPIO from them. Funny thing is, with all this connectivity like M.2, PCIe and DIMM slots, they are technically no longer Single Board Computers! Maybe TFF (Tiny Form Factor) is a better term :)

[@TheBrightPixel]

PS. Thanks so much for all the quality edutainment content you make. It really is appreciated.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Again we are in agreement! The next year or two will I think be very interesting.

[@williamrutter3619]

Another interesting video, will there be a similar ones for this generation of arm boards, nice to see the lattepanda, another single board computer with a PCI e slot, interesting indeed, good work, looking forward to the next video.

[@spider-manthehero1664]

Pine still around i use to bulid 486 motherboards computers in 94

[@AlejandroArcade]

Congrats, great video.

[@cloneofclark4374]

Good question... does adding a bus backplane to a SBC disqualify it as a SBC? Not sure what the answer would be on that. I would like to see another video using SATA adapters with either a Tinker Board or Raspberry Pi.

[@ExplainingComputers]

I have an SBC NAS group test -- mainly connecting the drives using a USB to SATA adapter -- here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKSmmIuHn8apn68

[@SivasSavar]

That's really awesome

[@scottlinovitz2880]

Another excellent video!

[@willyarma_uk]

Thanks for showing us those useful commands in Linux for listing the drives and benchmarking. I was wondering about using the mount command, it dosen't persist across re-boots I think. Is /etc/fstab the right place to make it persist?

[@ExplainingComputers]

You are right, the mount command will not persist (though the mountpoint dirs created will). fstab is indeed the place to set up persistant mounts.

[@JoseLopez-oz1xm]

Great vid, love your channel always learn lots. Thanks Ps Mr scissor is in trouble. 😊

[@ExplainingComputers]

He will be back.

[@jonathanmaybury5698]

How on earth do you remember all those different command line commands? I get stuck just trying to use the Windows versions!

[@sheldonwhitten990]

Mr. Scissors to the rescue!😀

[@jangrewe]

For those complaining about the write speed of ~40MB/s: just tweak your OMV Samba config a bit. I got WD Red drives and the SATA II card (in their NAS case), and in CDM5 with a 1GB file i get 115.1 MB/s in Sequential Write and 109.4 MB/s in Random Write. Neither the board nor the SATA card are the bottleneck, it's the gigabit ethernet.

[@smartassist9700]

Dr Chris, Can you produce a 2nd video of this particular Rockpro64 showing how you connected all the ssd's, wiring and card? As I see it using wires you do not need the card.. or am I wrong in my assumption? the card would be for additional ssd.s.but looking at your video "after you magically connected everything "off video" the configuration you have on connections confuse me.Best regards,Alton

[@ExplainingComputers]

Hi Alton. The card is needed! I connect the power cable to the RockPro64 directly, which is then used to power the two SATA drives. But data connection to the drives is to the two SATA ports on the card. You can see this at about 4:53 where you see the SATA leads (with the cream plugs at each end) connecting the drives to the card.

[@povilasstaniulis9484]

That SATA looks identical (down to PCB component layout) to the one I've used before upgrading to an HBM card. The controller chip is ASM1061 which is a SATA 3 chip (albeit, not a very good one), not SATA 2 as stated on Pine64 website. For serious NAS usage, I would suggest you try an SAS HBM card. 2 port HBM card can be found for as little as 35 $ on eBay and can support up to 8 SATA or SAS drives.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Sounds good, though remember that ARM drivers will be needed here though.

[@freesaxon6835]

Useful Linux walk through

[@joeyscleaninglady2877]

Time to gut your old Psion 7 and put a rockpro64 in the casing.?

[@ExplainingComputers]

Now that would be an interesting project. Shame for the old Psion 7 innards though . . .

[@moonfestmadness]

@@ExplainingComputers you can allways keep the guts of it chris ..or send it to someone who can make use of it :)

[@ipeters61]

He could get a broken Psion 7 and stick a rockpro64 into it.

[@AK11020]

I wonder what the speed would be if both disks were tested concurrently.

[@getyerspn]

the sata card looks like an ASM1061 card ?? , I've got a couple in my pc (i ran out of sata ports on my mobo)...they work really well for 'older' magnetic drives...Another interesting video..thanks

[@prisonpapers765]

Another winner. Chris is the best cheers!Love that cool heat snk.But those darn Antennas to attach are enough to get one quite "cheesed off" any clues how to attach it painlessly.Or am I the only one with a problem?

[@ExplainingComputers]

You are not alone with the antennas!

[@rzlosty]

Hi Chris, do you have a NAS that you use at home? If so, is it based on as SBC running something like OMV or is it an off the shelf solution? Thanks for pointing out those cheap SSDs on Amazon. Great price. Cheers.

[@ExplainingComputers]

I have an Odroid HC1 running OMV, which I run when required, as most of my cross machine file sharing takes place using Google Drive (as it is mainly Google Docs documents). Odroid HC1 NAS video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6Wrq5uqoN18mZo

[@MahirSayar]

Would have been great if you could have got a GUI working on this. Maybe try PINN for the rpi?

[@tyttuut]

That's pretty cool! I've been wanting to set up a proper file server, I wonder if this would be a good platform.

[@2012revolution]

very informative, very nice channel.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Thanks.

[@abousono1]

I saw a video by ETAPrime where he connected a graphics card to the latte panda alpha, I thought that was very interesting.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Yes, a very cool video from ETAPrime.

[@مواويلزهور]

Put graphic card on it

[@FodrMichalych]

that one with space invaders

[@whitebeartigtig]

Jonathan Ganesh it will

[@tobyngenn8537]

@Jonathan Ganesh It has a open back so it will be reduced to a 4x bandwith but still work and 4x is not that bad

[@KenjiUmino]

@@tobyngenn8537 somewthing like a GT 1030 should be more than happy with a 4x connection - but do we have ARM drivers for it ?

[@tobyngenn8537]

@@KenjiUmino if you are running Windows or Linux I think it will work

[@99nerka]

Will you review newest lattepanda?

[@ExplainingComputers]

I have already done so -- video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJvcg6xjnNCHfs0 :)

[@LiLBitsDK]

@ExplainingComputers, should test the lattepanda alpha with the M.2->PciE 4x adapter and then use the same sata card you used on the Rockpro64

[@achan7396]

Hello Chris, thanks for the review. Wonder if you still has the setup connected and can you test the 2 gb transfer speed test like you did in the earlier sbc omv comparison review. I'm still deciding either to get the Rock64 or the rockpro 64 to replace my omv currently running on rpi3b. Thanks in advance.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Unless you need the multiple drives, the Rock64 is a better value setup.

[@achan7396]

Thank you, Chris. Looking forward for your next product review.

[@johncnorris]

I like the idea of having the PCIe slot available for periodic use but the power limitations must create a lower than perfect situation for video and other options. I wonder what their target audience is? (M.2, industrial control interfaces, etc.)

[@TheAmericanALEx]

Great video. Do you think the 5A Power Supply would be sufficient to power four 3.5" HDDs? I'd use a different PCIe SATA card of course. I didn't find anything online. If not, what alternative is there? Using a separate PSU only for the HDDs?

[@ExplainingComputers]

Probably not enough power. Note that you cannot just drop in any PCIe SATA card. This is an ARM board, and will need appropriate drivers. Given that installing PCIe cards on ARM is very rare, drivers may well not be available.

[@DoomRater]

This almost makes you wonder what an ARM based computer could do with a GTX 1050Ti in it. The LattePanda really gets a power boost from it even running from an M.2 to PCI-E 4x adapter!

[@maicod]

from PC's to SBC's to SBC's looking like PC's again (the jungle of wires and cards standing at a 90 degree angle) :)

[@ExplainingComputers]

Indeed! Cable management issues here.

[@maicod]

it's all for good 'fun' though !

[@stressedbunny]

Chris, Another great video. Have you tested the speed difference between USB-to-SATA and plug-in SATA card on the raspberry pi 3+. I purchased one of the element 14 pi desktop cases and found that the performance was not as good as I hoped and the unit got very toasty.

[@ExplainingComputers]

I have not tested that exact hardware, but any interface on the Pi will be limited by the USB 2.0 connection. I did some comparative testing of a Pi against other SBCs running OMV in this video (which includes transfer speeds): kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKSmmIuHn8apn68

[@StarRock442]

Could this be used for a sound card? Very interested in a SBC for audio applications.

[@TheTrueTeknician]

Thank you for your videos and all the information ! Officially a new subscriber ! I'm considering setting up a home cloud NAS system and i'm wondering, what is your preferred SCB (in your opinion) for this sort of application? Im deciding between a raspberry pi 4, odroid HC2 or a RockPro64 ?

[@ExplainingComputers]

Welcome aboard! :) For a single drive system, I would go for the Odroid HC2, due to its SATA connection and onboard mounting of the drive. A really neat solution. For a two drive system, a RockPro64 with SATA card (as in this video) would be my preferred option.

[@dmbrv]

loved the video

[@daogdaog]

How can we boot directly from sata drive without going thru microsd card?

[@reggiep75]

The evolution of single board computers is in a very interesting era because their applications are numerous and in the millions and in the past you'd possibly need a full XT/AT PC which was far from efficient from a manufacturing and parts perspective. Now with smaller, and more efficient SBC systems that can undertake hundreds of different jobs yet also be specific in their application, the upside is efficiency, economic, time and energy savings that will be also a positive effect of SBC's. Chris, do you have any plans to show how to make a dual-booting SBC video? This is a project I have coming up, which is also a present for my daughter, and some ideas, guidance or direction to info would be mighty helpful. I plan to make an Android/Linux dual boot setup as she's familiar with Android and it's just a natural progression to transplant it into a small desktop system where she can still use Android and can also learn her way around Linux over time using a distro suitable for kids. I'm familiar with PC hardware but SBC's are something I have little direct experience of, other than being in awe of the technology, but I know that I'd probably be okay. Other than googling everything I need to know I'm still at the starting line on this project. Another great video!

[@ExplainingComputers]

Dual booting x86 SBCs such as the LattePanda Alpha, UDOO x86 AP, and forthcoming ODROID-H2 and UDOO Bolt is just like dual booting any other PC. However, dual booting an ARM board is a totally different kettle of fish, as these boards are intended to boot directly from SD cards or flash memory (usually not USB), and do not have standard, let alone multi-boot boot loaders. This said, you may find useful Berryboot for the Pi -- see my video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHimln-ZqZqGi8k -- which does allow (close to) mult-booting. :)

[@reggiep75]

Thanks, Chris. I had thought x86 SBCs would've been very much as normal but I'll definitely look into Berryboot and rewatch your video and hopefully I can get something sorted.

[@yusdaforce]

Nice job but no test with Raid fonction..? Raid 0 with 2 sata or Raid6 with 2 more e-sata..

[@the-matrix-has-you]

Is there any Type of ramless SBC with empty ram sockets?

[@ExplainingComputers]

Technically a board needs RAM on board to be an SBC! :) But there are boards like the UDOO BOLT where RAM is socketed: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnWsf6CJar51epY

[@majorextrasun8880]

When will the next pc build be? What video is next week?

[@ExplainingComputers]

Next week's video is all about drive imaging and cloning. I am now planning a build, probably a budget(ish) Ryzen 3 or Ryzen 5 desktop.

[@majorextrasun8880]

Ok

[@tberry7348]

So how did it stack up against the other nas sbc setups...?

[@ExplainingComputers]

It has a more responsive web interface; speed up there will the best (the limitation being gigabit Ethernet).

[@MsJinkerson]

could you do a video on the beagleboard XM, please

[@Zach0711]

Love your videos! Is it possible to boot from PCIE?

[@ExplainingComputers]

I don't think so -- it certainly wasn't when I made this video. But there could have been a firmware upgrade . . .

[@Avatar2081]

Is this still a SBC?

[@pedroramirez2215]

Recalbox it's running awesome on this board, I use it as a multi purpose machine actually have 3 SD cards for it mostly its on Linux but do use Android and Recalbox as swap on the weekends.

[@ExplainingComputers]

Great feedback -- thanks for sharing here.

[@desktorp]

stuff like this needs horizontal / right-angle adapters to really shine, but then cooling might become an issue if too little space is left between 'layers' .. Interesting but it just seems like an impractical miniaturization of the current big box 'form factor' (m)ATX.. if these tiny single-board computers are ever going to take over, they will need to match or beat the overall thickness of a laptop's guts.

[@ExplainingComputers]

The new LattePanda Alpha has a jolly good attempt at this! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJvcg6xjnNCHfs0

[@sensationsuperthrust]

hey can you please share how you made the mounting plate that can also support the pcie card???

[@ExplainingComputers]

It was made from a plastic material called "plasticard", put together using a solvent adhesive -- the kind of thing used to assemble model kits.

[@stephenmiles9483]

I remember that USB ports were capable of addressing 256 devices via a suitable hub. Would it be posible to connect more external storage devices to one USB 3 port of the RockPro64 using a powered hub. Could we ask Chris maybe he could do a study of powered hubs and whether they would work on these SBC's

[@ExplainingComputers]

Certainly a USB hub would work. :)