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cyberdeck/docs/sbc-selection.md
BarnacleBoy 8b41038be7 Initial commit: cyberdeck project planning docs 
- Salvage analysis of K501U components
- Orange Pi 5 SBC selection rationale
- Storage architecture (SD card + USB)
- USB hub expansion plan
- Parts list and cost estimates
2026-05-08 22:48:30 +00:00

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SBC Selection: Orange Pi 5

Decision: Orange Pi 5 (base model, non-Plus) 16GB RAM

Options Considered

Board RAM Price NVMe WiFi Notes
Orange Pi 5 16GB 16GB $70-100 PCIe 2.0 M.2 No Selected
Orange Pi 5 Plus 16GB 16GB $130-150 PCIe 3.0 M.2 E-key slot Better specs, higher cost
Raspberry Pi 5 8GB 8GB $80 HAT required No Familiar ecosystem, less RAM
Rock 5B 16GB 16GB $140 PCIe 3.0 M.2 No Higher cost

Orange Pi 5 Specifications

Model Variants

Model NVMe Slot WiFi Slot NVMe Speed
Orange Pi 5 (base) M.2 M-key (PCIe 2.0) None ~300 MB/s
Orange Pi5 Plus M.2 M-key (PCIe 3.0) + E-key E-key for WiFi ~2000 MB/s

RK3588S SoC

Attribute Value
CPU 8-core (4× Cortex-A76 + 4× Cortex-A55)
GPU Mali-G610 MC4
NPU 6 TOPS AI accelerator
Process 8nm

Memory

Attribute Value
Configurations 4/8/16/32GB
Type LPDDR4/LPDDR4X
Selected 16GB

Storage Support

Interface Speed
MicroSD Up to 512GB
M.2 NVMe (base) PCIe 2.0 x1 (~300 MB/s)
M.2 NVMe (Plus) PCIe 3.0 x2 (~2000 MB/s)
USB 3.0 5 Gbps

Connectivity (Base Model)

Port Count Speed
USB 3.0 1 5 Gbps
USB 2.0 2 480 Mbps
USB-C 1 Power + DisplayPort
Ethernet 1 1 Gbps
HDMI 1 4K60
MIPI DSI 1 Display
MIPI CSI 2 Camera
GPIO 26-pin I2C, SPI, UART, PWM

Power

Attribute Value
Input USB-C PD or barrel jack
Voltage 12V (barrel), 5V (USB-C)
Current 2A recommended
Typical draw 5-8W under load

Rationale

Why Orange Pi 5 (Base)

  1. Cost: $70-100 vs $130-150 for Plus
  2. RAM: 16GB excellent for desktop Linux, dev work
  3. Performance: RK3588S significantly faster than Pi 5
  4. Availability: Widely available on eBay with bid flexibility

Why Not Orange Pi 5 Plus

  • NVMe speed improvement (2000 MB/s) not critical for cyberdeck use
  • WiFi card slot (E-key) not needed - USB dongle acceptable
  • Price difference ($30-50) better spent on storage and peripherals

Speed Reality Check

Use Case Base (PCIe 2.0) Plus (PCIe 3.0)
Boot time ~10s ~8s
App load Adequate Faster
File transfer ~300 MB/s ~1500 MB/s
Development Fine Fine

For a cyberdeck used as portable workstation, PCIe 2.0 NVMe is adequate.

eBay Bid Strategy

Auction Bid Limit Shipping Total Max
Orange Pi 5 16GB $99 $5 $104

Bid late, bid once. Set max bid and let proxy handle it.

Accessories Needed

Required

Item Cost
Power supply (USB-C PD or 12V barrel) $8-12
MicroSD card (64GB Endurance) $10-12

Recommended

Item Cost
Heatsink + fan $5-10
Case (or custom build) TBD

Resources