What is the Advantage and Disadvantage of difference between soc and sbc

SoC stands for System on Chip it is a small integrated chip that contains all required components and circuits of a particular system. However, SBC stands for Single Board Computer it is a whole computer constructed on a single printed circuit board that contains Memory, Microprocessor, I/O devices, and other functions which are required for a functional computer. In this article, we are going to see the basic difference between SoC and SBC.

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System on chip (SoC)

The Blocks of SoC contain memory, oscillator, voltage regulator, ADC, DAC, processor, power management unit, USB, and UART. Here is the block diagram of SoC:

The processor is the heart of SoC, usually, SoC has multiple co-processors. It can be a microcontroller, microprocessor, or DSP. SoC contains memory for storage. It may have RAM, ROM, EEPROM, or Flash memory. SoC also has GPU. Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART) is included in SoC which is used to transmit or receive serial data. voltage regulators, oscillators, clocks, and ADC/DAC are also part of SoC.

Advantages of SoC

• It is small in size and includes many features and functions.
• It consumes low power.
• SoC is flexible in terms of size, and power factor.
• It is cost-effective.

Disadvantages of SoC

• Time-consuming designing process. usually, the designing process of SoC takes six to twelve months.
• Visibility of SoC is limited.

Applications of SoC

• Used in smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, and computers.
• Internet of Things applications such as home automation.
• Embedded systems applications especially where the microcontroller is used.

Single Board Computers (SBC)

The Blocks of the SBC contain a Power supply, Memory, ethernet port, GPIO pins, processor, SD card slot, HDMI connectors, and USB port. Here is the block diagram of SBC:

Processor is the heart of SBC usually ARM processor is used in SBC. The static RAM memory of size 8-bit or 16-bit is mostly used in SBC. SBC uses GPIO pins to interface with some input-output devices such as sensors, displays, and keyboards. Ethernet port is used in SBC to connect to wired networks. Usually, SBC operates on a 5V DC power supply.

Advantages of SBC

• SBCs are easy to use.
• SBCs have verified hardware.
• Low power consumption.
• Good performance at a low price.

Disadvantages of SBC

• Lots of customization on SBC can be difficult.
• SBCs have less capability than multi-board computers.

Applications of SBC

• Flexible IoT gateways.
• Smart assets monitoring.
• Artificial Intelligence

Difference between SoC and SBC

SoC and SBC differ fundamentally in their construction and application areas. SoC integrates all components onto a single chip, while SBC includes multiple components and devices on a single board. This uniqueness aids their distinct uses in various industries.

SoC is highly compact and consumes lower power, making it a go-to choice for smartphones, wearables, and embedded systems. Its flexibility regarding size and power usage, combined with being cost-efficient, offers distinct advantages. However, the design process is intricate and time-consuming, often taking six to twelve months, and its visibility is limited.

SBCs are easy to use, provide verified hardware, and bring good performance at a lower price. They are particularly useful for IoT gateways, smart asset monitoring, and artificial intelligence applications. However, SBCs can be less capable than multi-board computers and are challenging to customize extensively.

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