Atomic Pi: A 'Super Raspberry Pi' with an x86 Chip

One of the most frequent complaints among Raspberry Pi users focuses on its performance. The most powerful versions deliver four cores at 1.4 GHz but for some tasks that isn't enough. There's also the ARM vs. x86 question, and the compatibility of certain programs. If your plan is to acquire a mini computer similar to the Raspberry Pi with x86 hardware and pay exactly the same, you can look for one of the brand-new Atomic Pi boards and start experimenting…

What more can we say about the Raspberry Pi at this point? We've turned it into a complete media center and a PlayStation Classic. We've observed its transformation into a pocket projector, explored various accessory kits, and searched for alternative operating systems. But at the end of the day, users' desires are stronger.

Some ask for SATA ports, others want greater flexibility, then there are those who demand superior performance, and finally we find those who need a more competitive price in their region (sometimes, 35 dollars is a very hard pill to swallow). So, what can we get for the same money as an RPi? How does an x86 computer sound?

Introducing the Atomic Pi

The folks at Digital Loggers Inc. are offering the Atomic Pi in their online store. It's a mini computer based on the Intel Atom x5-Z8350 SoC (quad-core, Turbo up to 1.92 GHz on one core), with 2 GB of DDR3L memory at 1,600 MHz, 16 GB of solid-state storage, an SD card slot supporting up to 256 GB, a Mediatek RT5572 WiFi chip, Bluetooth 4.0, an Ethernet port, USB 3.0, and a full-size HDMI port that also serves as the main audio output.

A DIY Perspective

At first glance, the Atomic Pi gives the impression of a system originally intended for Mini PCs, but it found a new place in the DIY space. As expected, the way to squeeze out all the functions of the Atomic Pi is through a breakout board that must be purchased separately.

Price and Conclusion

The price of the Atomic Pi matches that of the Raspberry Pi 3 B+ at $35, and rises to $49 with the breakout board, a number that's not at all absurd. It might not be as plug-and-play as the Pi, but if you're willing to get your hands dirty, struggle with limited documentation, adapt power supplies, and add a low-cost x86 platform to your projects, then the Atomic Pi is a very attractive option.

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