Single Board Computers

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Getting Started - Navigation Menu

  1. Prerequisites - Make sure you have the tools you need to make a gaming SBC.
  2. Single Board Computers - Become familiar with these miniscule marvels of modern technology.
  3. Images - Learn about the various preconfigured OS builds.
  4. Cases - Choose a case that meets your needs.
  5. Storage - Figure out how much space you really need.
  6. Power Supplies - A bad power supply is the easiest mistake you can make.
  7. Input - How do you want to control your games?
  8. Imaging - A simple guide to putting your chosen Image on your chosen storage option.
  9. Assembly - Various guides for assembling SBCs and cases together.
  10. Game Sources - A rough collection of links to free and paid games you can legally get for your SBC.



There are numerous SBCs out there, but only some are easy to turn into a gaming SBC. The way we have sorted the SBCs here is to present them in a way that showcases their capabilities alongside their usability.



General Performance Comparison of Common Gaming SBCs

Consoles

Raspberry Pi SBC Info Note: Information may be slightly incorrect as little to no optimizations were done on a standard RetroPie install (barring doing so for SNES on the RPi0): some systems may perform better if resolution is decreased for them.

Legend

πŸ’š = Good - Emulation is largely known to be full speed without bugs.

πŸ’› = Fair - Emulation is generally full speed without bugs, but there are exceptions.

❀️ = Poor - Emulation is generally not full speed with bugs, but there are exceptions.

πŸ–€ = Bad - Emulation is largely known not to be full speed and/or buggy, or nonexistent.

❓ = Unknown - No user data available.

System [*https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-zero-w/ RPi0W] [*https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-3-model-b/ RPi3B] [*https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-3-model-b-plus/ RPi3B+] ODROID-XU4
3DO - 3DO Interactive Multiplayer πŸ–€ πŸ–€ πŸ–€ πŸ’›
Atari - 2600 πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
Atari - 5200 πŸ’› πŸ’› πŸ’› πŸ’›
Atari - 7800 πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
Atari - Jaguar πŸ–€ πŸ–€ πŸ–€ πŸ–€
Coleco - ColecoVision πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
Fairchild - Channel F πŸ–€ πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
GCE - Vectrex πŸ–€ πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
Magnavox - OdysseyΒ² πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
Mattel - Intellivision πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
NEC - PC Engine SuperGrafx πŸ–€ πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
NEC - PC-FX πŸ–€ πŸ–€ πŸ–€ ❓
NEC - TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
NEC - TurboGrafx-CD/PC Engine CD πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
Nintendo - Famicom Disk System πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
Nintendo - NES πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
Nintendo - Nintendo 64 πŸ–€ πŸ–€ ❀️ πŸ’›
Nintendo - Satellaview πŸ–€ πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - Regular Games πŸ’› πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - SA1 Games πŸ–€ πŸ’› πŸ’š πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-1 Games πŸ–€ πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-2 Games πŸ–€ πŸ’› πŸ’› πŸ’š
Nintendo - Virtual Boy πŸ–€ πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
Philips - Videopac ❀️ ❀️ ❀️ ❀️
Philips - Videopac+ ❀️ ❀️ ❀️ ❀️
Sega - 32X πŸ–€ πŸ’› πŸ’› πŸ’›
Sega - Dreamcast πŸ–€ πŸ–€ ❀️ πŸ’›
Sega - Genesis/Mega Drive πŸ’› πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
Sega - Master System πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
Sega - Saturn πŸ–€ πŸ–€ πŸ–€ πŸ’›
Sega - Sega CD/Mega CD πŸ’› πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
Sega - SG-1000 πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo πŸ’› πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
Sony - PlayStation ❀️ πŸ’› πŸ’› πŸ’›

Handhelds

Legend

Raspberry Pi SBC Info Note: Information may be slightly incorrect as little to no optimizations were done on a standard RetroPie install: some systems may perform better if resolution is decreased for them.

πŸ’š = Good - Emulation is largely known to be full speed without bugs.

πŸ’› = Fair - Emulation is generally full speed without bugs, but there are exceptions.

❀️ = Poor - Emulation is generally not full speed with bugs, but there are exceptions.

πŸ–€ = Bad - Emulation is largely known not to be full speed and/or buggy, or nonexistent.

System [*https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-zero-w/ RPi0W] [*https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-3-model-b/ RPi3B] [*https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-3-model-b-plus/ RPi3B+] ODROID-XU4
Atari - Lynx πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
Bandai - WonderSwan πŸ–€ πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
Bandai - WonderSwan Color πŸ–€ πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game & Watch πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy Advance πŸ’› πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy Color πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
Nintendo - Nintendo DS πŸ–€ πŸ’› πŸ’› πŸ’›
Nintendo - PokΓ©mon Mini πŸ’› πŸ’› πŸ’› πŸ’›
Sega - Game Gear πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket πŸ–€ πŸ’š πŸ’š πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket Color πŸ–€ πŸ’› πŸ’› πŸ’›
Sony - PSP πŸ–€ πŸ–€ ❀️ πŸ’›

Beginner SBCs

These SBCs are generally recommended due to their company and/or community support.

Raspberry Pi Foundation


Raspberry Pi 3B+

The best Raspberry Pi model you can buy currently.

RPi3B+ - System Emulation Performance

Information may be slightly incorrect as no optimizations were done on a standard RetroPie install: some systems may perform better if resolution is decreased for them.

Legend

πŸ’š = Good - Emulation is largely known to be full speed without bugs.

πŸ’› = Fair - Emulation is generally full speed without bugs, but there are exceptions.

❀️ = Poor - Emulation is generally not full speed with bugs, but there are exceptions.

πŸ–€ = Bad - Emulation is largely known not to be full speed and/or buggy, or nonexistent.

Consoles

System Status
3DO - 3DO Interactive Multiplayer πŸ–€
Atari - 2600 πŸ’š
Atari - 5200 πŸ’›
Atari - 7800 πŸ’š
Atari - Jaguar πŸ–€
Coleco - ColecoVision πŸ’š
Fairchild - Channel F πŸ’š
GCE - Vectrex πŸ’š
Magnavox - OdysseyΒ² πŸ’š
Mattel - Intellivision πŸ’š
NEC - PC Engine SuperGrafx πŸ’š
NEC - PC-FX πŸ–€
NEC - TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine πŸ’š
NEC - TurboGrafx-CD/PC Engine CD πŸ’š
Nintendo - Famicom Disk System πŸ’š
Nintendo - NES πŸ’š
Nintendo - Nintendo 64 ❀️
Nintendo - Satellaview πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - Regular Games πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - SA1 Games πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-1 Games πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-2 Games πŸ’›
Nintendo - Virtual Boy πŸ’š
Philips - Videopac ❀️
Philips - Videopac+ ❀️
Sega - 32X πŸ’›
Sega - Dreamcast ❀️
Sega - Genesis/Mega Drive πŸ’š
Sega - Master System πŸ’š
Sega - Saturn πŸ–€
Sega - Sega CD/Mega CD πŸ’š
Sega - SG-1000 πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo πŸ’š
Sony - PlayStation πŸ’›

Handhelds

System Status
Atari - Lynx πŸ’š
Bandai - WonderSwan πŸ’š
Bandai - WonderSwan Color πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game & Watch πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy Advance πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy Color πŸ’š
Nintendo - Nintendo DS πŸ’›
Nintendo - PokΓ©mon Mini πŸ’›
Sega - Game Gear πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket Color πŸ’›
Sony - PSP ❀️

Emulation Testing

For a better idea of what the RPi3B+ is capable, MajorDangerNine has taken it upon himself to document the emulation status of every system's entire library available on the RPi3B+ that he cares about.

  • [*https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17v-87MEeZtVNNL26pKaWqpaf1-yXwr9pGdiVvXjHwrk/edit?usp=sharing Arcade] - Keep in mind that arcade emulation development is always proceeding with Final Burn Neo so more games may be playable in the emulator at any time and some running in MAME 2003 Plus or MAME 2010 may run better in Final Burn Neo at some point (if not already). MajorDangerNine has no interest in keeping up with said development and devotes his time to making more of these spreadsheets for consoles or handhelds.



[*https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-3-model-a-plus/ Raspberry Pi 3A+]

Same emulation capabilities as a RPi3B+ outside of needing to alter the default CPU/GPU memory split if attempting N64 emulation. Mostly useful for those aiming to build a decent handheld gaming SBC, though could be used as a console gaming SBC if not severely limited in case choices outside of 3D printing and the fact it only has one USB port for input.

collapsible show="+ RPi3A+ - System Emulation Performance" hide="- RPi3A+ - System Emulation Performance"

Information may be slightly incorrect as no optimizations were done on a standard RetroPie install: some systems may perform better if resolution is decreased for them.

Legend

πŸ’š = Good - Emulation is largely known to be full speed without bugs. πŸ’› = Fair - Emulation is generally full speed without bugs, but there are exceptions. ❀️ = Poor - Emulation is generally not full speed with bugs, but there are exceptions. πŸ–€ = Bad - Emulation is largely known not to be full speed and/or buggy, or nonexistent.

Consoles

System Status
3DO - 3DO Interactive Multiplayer πŸ–€
Atari - 2600 πŸ’š
Atari - 5200 πŸ’›
Atari - 7800 πŸ’š
Atari - Jaguar πŸ–€
Coleco - ColecoVision πŸ’š
Fairchild - Channel F πŸ’š
GCE - Vectrex πŸ’š
Magnavox - OdysseyΒ² πŸ’š
Mattel - Intellivision πŸ’š
NEC - PC Engine SuperGrafx πŸ’š
NEC - PC-FX πŸ–€
NEC - TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine πŸ’š
NEC - TurboGrafx-CD/PC Engine CD πŸ’š
Nintendo - Famicom Disk System πŸ’š
Nintendo - NES πŸ’š
Nintendo - Nintendo 64 ❀️
Nintendo - Satellaview πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - Regular Games πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - SA1 Games πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-1 Games πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-2 Games πŸ’›
Nintendo - Virtual Boy πŸ’š
Philips - Videopac ❀️
Philips - Videopac+ ❀️
Sega - 32X πŸ’›
Sega - Dreamcast ❀️
Sega - Genesis/Mega Drive πŸ’š
Sega - Master System πŸ’š
Sega - Saturn πŸ–€
Sega - Sega CD/Mega CD πŸ’š
Sega - SG-1000 πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo πŸ’š
Sony - PlayStation πŸ’›

Handhelds

System Status
Atari - Lynx πŸ’š
Bandai - WonderSwan πŸ’š
Bandai - WonderSwan Color πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game & Watch πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy Advance πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy Color πŸ’š
Nintendo - Nintendo DS πŸ’›
Nintendo - PokΓ©mon Mini πŸ’›
Sega - Game Gear πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket Color πŸ’›
Sony - PSP ❀️

/collapsible


[*https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-3-model-b/ Raspberry Pi 3B]

This SBC is only recommended if a RPi3B+ or RPi3A+ can't be obtained. Largely emulates the same systems, but SA1/SFX2 enhancement chip games on the SNES would suffer performance issues, forget about N64/Dreamcast/PSP, and the extra power of the RPi3B+ or RPi3A+ allows for hacks like RetroArch's RunAhead latency removal.

Overclocking could be done to get this model closer to the performance of a RPi3B+ or RPi3A+, which would clear up on slowdown in SA1 enhancement chip games on the SNES, improve SFX2 enhancement chip games on the SNES, and allow for RetroArch's RunAhead latency removal, but any possible overclocking potential of any Raspberry Pi should never be considered a certainty.

collapsible show="+ RPi3B - System Emulation Performance" hide="- RPi3B - System Emulation Performance"

Information may be slightly incorrect as no optimizations were done on a standard RetroPie install: some systems may perform better if resolution is decreased for them.

Legend

πŸ’š = Good - Emulation is largely known to be full speed without bugs. πŸ’› = Fair - Emulation is generally full speed without bugs, but there are exceptions. ❀️ = Poor - Emulation is generally not full speed with bugs, but there are exceptions. πŸ–€ = Bad - Emulation is largely known not to be full speed and/or buggy, or nonexistent.

Consoles

System Status
3DO - 3DO Interactive Multiplayer πŸ–€
Atari - 2600 πŸ’š
Atari - 5200 πŸ’›
Atari - 7800 πŸ’š
Atari - Jaguar πŸ–€
Coleco - ColecoVision πŸ’š
Fairchild - Channel F πŸ’š
GCE - Vectrex πŸ’š
Magnavox - OdysseyΒ² πŸ’š
Mattel - Intellivision πŸ’š
NEC - PC Engine SuperGrafx πŸ’š
NEC - PC-FX πŸ–€
NEC - TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine πŸ’š
NEC - TurboGrafx-CD/PC Engine CD πŸ’š
Nintendo - Famicom Disk System πŸ’š
Nintendo - NES πŸ’š
Nintendo - Nintendo 64 πŸ–€
Nintendo - Satellaview πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - Regular Games πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - SA1 Games πŸ’›
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-1Games πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-2Games πŸ’›
Nintendo - Virtual Boy πŸ’š
Philips - Videopac ❀️
Philips - Videopac+ ❀️
Sega - 32X πŸ’›
Sega - Dreamcast πŸ–€
Sega - Genesis/Mega Drive πŸ’š
Sega - Master System πŸ’š
Sega - Saturn πŸ–€
Sega - Sega CD/Mega CD πŸ’š
Sega - SG-1000 πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo πŸ’š
Sony - PlayStation πŸ’›

Handhelds

System Status
Atari - Lynx πŸ’š
Bandai - WonderSwan πŸ’š
Bandai - WonderSwan Color πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game & Watch πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy Advance πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy Color πŸ’š
Nintendo - Nintendo DS πŸ’›
Nintendo - PokΓ©mon Mini πŸ’›
Sega - Game Gear πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket Color πŸ’›
Sony - PSP πŸ–€

/collapsible


== Hardkernel

==

[*https://wiki.odroid.com/odroid_go/odroid_go ODROID-GO]

A handheld you can build with ease.

Pros:

  • Cheap.
  • Emulates NES, Master System, Game Boy, Game Gear, and Game Boy Color.
  • Has some community support adding emulation for other systems.

Cons:

  • Screen tearing with some emulation, though reduced after updates and changing the video mode to original aspect ratio instead of fullscreen.
  • Slowdown with some emulation, though reduced by changing the video mode to original aspect ratio instead of fullscreen.

Buy: [*https://www.hardkernel.com/shop/odroid-go/ Hardkernel] [*https://ameridroid.com/products/odroid-go-game-kit Ameridroid]


= Advanced SBCs

=

These SBCs are generally recommended for emulation of systems that weaker SBCs can't handle or for special purposes.

== PINE64

==

ROCKPro64

  • Has more power than the XU4
  • No Built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
  • Uses at least 12v/3a Power Supply, can buy on Pine64's page.
  • No current stable release of retropie, but there are builds of Recalbox, Lakka, Batocera Linux, and preview build of Odroid Retro Arena.
  • Can go up to PSP and run smoothly.

== Hardkernel

==

ODROID-XU4

  • Additional option of eMMC storage.
  • No built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
  • 5V/4A Power supply recommended.
  • Best current choice for emulation of N64 and up.
  • Can build Retropie using Ubuntu Minimal, but there are other options.

collapsible show="+ ODROID-XU4 - System Emulation Performance" hide="- ODROID-XU4 - System Emulation Performance"

Legend

πŸ’š = Good - Emulation is largely known to be full speed without bugs. πŸ’› = Fair - Emulation is generally full speed without bugs, but there are exceptions. ❀️ = Poor - Emulation is generally not full speed with bugs, but there are exceptions. πŸ–€ = Bad - Emulation is largely known not to be full speed and/or buggy, or nonexistent. ❓ = Unknown - No user data available.

Consoles

System Status
3DO - 3DO Interactive Multiplayer πŸ’›
Atari - 2600 πŸ’š
Atari - 5200 πŸ’›
Atari - 7800 πŸ’š
Atari - Jaguar πŸ–€
Coleco - ColecoVision πŸ’š
Fairchild - Channel F πŸ’š
GCE - Vectrex πŸ’š
Magnavox - OdysseyΒ² πŸ’š
Mattel - Intellivision πŸ’š
NEC - PC Engine SuperGrafx πŸ’š
NEC - PC-FX ❓
NEC - TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine πŸ’š
NEC - TurboGrafx-CD/PC Engine CD πŸ’š
Nintendo - Famicom Disk System πŸ’š
Nintendo - NES πŸ’š
Nintendo - Nintendo 64 πŸ’›
Nintendo - Satellaview πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - Regular Games πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - SA1 Games πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-1 Games πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-2 Games πŸ’š
Nintendo - Virtual Boy πŸ’š
Philips - Videopac ❀️
Philips - Videopac+ ❀️
Sega - 32X πŸ’›
Sega - Dreamcast πŸ’›
Sega - Genesis/Mega Drive πŸ’š
Sega - Master System πŸ’š
Sega - Saturn πŸ’›
Sega - Sega CD/Mega CD πŸ’š
Sega - SG-1000 πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo πŸ’š
Sony - PlayStation πŸ’›

Handhelds

System Status
Atari - Lynx πŸ’š
Bandai - WonderSwan πŸ’š
Bandai - WonderSwan Color πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game & Watch πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy Advance πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy Color πŸ’š
Nintendo - Nintendo DS πŸ’›
Nintendo - PokΓ©mon Mini πŸ’›
Sega - Game Gear πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket Color πŸ’›
Sony - PSP πŸ’›

/collapsible

Buy: [*https://www.hardkernel.com/shop/odroid-xu4-special-price/ Hardkernel] [*https://ameridroid.com/products/odroid-xu4 ameriDriod]


== Raspberry Pi Foundation

==

[*https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-zero-w/ Raspberry Pi Zero W]

Mostly useful for building a low power consumption handheld, though a RPi3A+ is a better choice for something custom outside of less battery life.

collapsible show="+ RPi0W - System Emulation Performance" hide="- RPi0W - System Emulation Performance"

Information may be slightly incorrect as the only optimizations done on a standard RetroPie install was lowering the resolution on all SNES emulation: some systems may perform better if resolution is decreased for them as well.

Legend

πŸ’š = Good - Emulation is largely known to be full speed without bugs. πŸ’› = Fair - Emulation is generally full speed without bugs, but there are exceptions. ❀️ = Poor - Emulation is generally not full speed with bugs, but there are exceptions. πŸ–€ = Bad - Emulation is largely known not to be full speed and/or buggy, or nonexistent.

Consoles

System Status
3DO - 3DO Interactive Multiplayer πŸ–€
Atari - 2600 πŸ’š
Atari - 5200 πŸ’›
Atari - 7800 πŸ’š
Atari - Jaguar πŸ–€
Coleco - ColecoVision πŸ’š
Fairchild - Channel F πŸ–€
GCE - Vectrex πŸ–€
Magnavox - OdysseyΒ² πŸ’š
Mattel - Intellivision πŸ’š
NEC - PC Engine SuperGrafx πŸ–€
NEC - PC-FX πŸ–€
NEC - TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine πŸ’š
NEC - TurboGrafx-CD/PC Engine CD πŸ’š
Nintendo - Famicom Disk System πŸ’š
Nintendo - NES πŸ’š
Nintendo - Nintendo 64 πŸ–€
Nintendo - Satellaview πŸ–€
Nintendo - SNES - Regular Games πŸ’›
Nintendo - SNES - SA1 Games πŸ–€
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-1 Games πŸ–€
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-2 Games πŸ–€
Nintendo - Virtual Boy πŸ–€
Philips - Videopac ❀️
Philips - Videopac+ ❀️
Sega - 32X πŸ–€
Sega - Dreamcast πŸ–€
Sega - Genesis/Mega Drive πŸ’›
Sega - Master System πŸ’š
Sega - Saturn πŸ–€
Sega - Sega CD/Mega CD πŸ’›
Sega - SG-1000 πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo πŸ’›
Sony - PlayStation ❀️

Handhelds

System Status
Atari - Lynx πŸ’š
Bandai - WonderSwan πŸ–€
Bandai - WonderSwan Color πŸ–€
Nintendo - Game & Watch πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy Advance πŸ’›
Nintendo - Game Boy Color πŸ’š
Nintendo - Nintendo DS πŸ–€
Nintendo - PokΓ©mon Mini πŸ’›
Sega - Game Gear πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket πŸ–€
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket Color πŸ–€
Sony - PSP πŸ–€

/collapsible


[*https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-zero/ Raspberry Pi Zero]

Mostly useful for building a low power consumption handheld, though a RPi3A+ is a better choice for something custom outside of less battery life, and lack of wireless access would make doing everything software-side more difficult.

collapsible show="+ RPi0 - System Emulation Performance" hide="- RPi0 - System Emulation Performance"

Information may be slightly incorrect as the only optimizations done on a standard RetroPie install was lowering the resolution on all SNES emulation: some systems may perform better if resolution is decreased for them as well.

Legend

πŸ’š = Good - Emulation is largely known to be full speed without bugs. πŸ’› = Fair - Emulation is generally full speed without bugs, but there are exceptions. ❀️ = Poor - Emulation is generally not full speed with bugs, but there are exceptions. πŸ–€ = Bad - Emulation is largely known not to be full speed and/or buggy, or nonexistent.

Consoles

System Status
3DO - 3DO Interactive Multiplayer πŸ–€
Atari - 2600 πŸ’š
Atari - 5200 πŸ’›
Atari - 7800 πŸ’š
Atari - Jaguar πŸ–€
Coleco - ColecoVision πŸ’š
Fairchild - Channel F πŸ–€
GCE - Vectrex πŸ–€
Magnavox - OdysseyΒ² πŸ’š
Mattel - Intellivision πŸ’š
NEC - PC Engine SuperGrafx πŸ–€
NEC - PC-FX πŸ–€
NEC - TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine πŸ’š
NEC - TurboGrafx-CD/PC Engine CD πŸ’š
Nintendo - Famicom Disk System πŸ’š
Nintendo - NES πŸ’š
Nintendo - Nintendo 64 πŸ–€
Nintendo - Satellaview πŸ–€
Nintendo - SNES - Regular Games πŸ’›
Nintendo - SNES - SA1 Games πŸ–€
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-1 Games πŸ–€
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-2 Games πŸ–€
Nintendo - Virtual Boy πŸ–€
Philips - Videopac ❀️
Philips - Videopac+ ❀️
Sega - 32X πŸ–€
Sega - Dreamcast πŸ–€
Sega - Genesis/Mega Drive πŸ’›
Sega - Master System πŸ’š
Sega - Saturn πŸ–€
Sega - Sega CD/Mega CD πŸ’›
Sega - SG-1000 πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo πŸ’›
Sony - PlayStation ❀️

Handhelds

System Status
Atari - Lynx πŸ’š
Bandai - WonderSwan πŸ–€
Bandai - WonderSwan Color πŸ–€
Nintendo - Game & Watch πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy Advance πŸ’›
Nintendo - Game Boy Color πŸ’š
Nintendo - Nintendo DS πŸ–€
Nintendo - PokΓ©mon Mini πŸ’›
Sega - Game Gear πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket πŸ–€
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket Color πŸ–€
Sony - PSP πŸ–€

/collapsible



= Problematic SBCs

=

These SBCs aren't generally recommended due to: not emulating more than what a common SBC can, having poor company support, having poor community support, being hard to use, and/or simply being outdated.

== Hardkernel

==

ODROID-C2

  • Older than ODROID-XU4.
  • Probably not as good of a choice as the ODROID-XU4 for N64 Emulation, but will still handle SNES and below well.
  • Does not come with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
  • Can build RetroPie for this like the ODROID-XU4, but there are other options.

== Asus

==

Tinker Board S

  • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built-in.
  • Same form factor as Raspberry Pi 3B.
  • Unlike the Tinkerboard, it includes eMMC.
  • Not as much developer support, but has a decent fan community.
  • Special build of Retropie done by fans.
  • Runs N64 better than Raspberry Pi.

Tinker Board

  • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built-in.
  • Same form factor as Raspberry Pi 3B.
  • Not as much developer support, but has a decent fan community.
  • Special build of Retropie done by fans.
  • Runs N64 better than Raspberry Pi.

== Raspberry Pi Foundation

==

[*https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-2-model-b/ Raspberry Pi 2B]

No reason to use due to the existence of the RPi3B/RPi3A+/RPi3B+.

collapsible show="+ RPi2B - System Emulation Performance" hide="- RPi2B - System Emulation Performance"

Information may be slightly incorrect as no optimizations were done on a standard RetroPie install: some systems may perform better if resolution is decreased for them.

Legend

πŸ’š = Good - Emulation is largely known to be full speed without bugs. πŸ’› = Fair - Emulation is generally full speed without bugs, but there are exceptions. ❀️ = Poor - Emulation is generally not full speed with bugs, but there are exceptions. πŸ–€ = Bad - Emulation is largely known not to be full speed and/or buggy, or nonexistent.

Consoles

System Status
3DO - 3DO Interactive Multiplayer πŸ–€
Atari - 2600 πŸ’š
Atari - 5200 πŸ’›
Atari - 7800 πŸ’š
Atari - Jaguar πŸ–€
Coleco - ColecoVision πŸ’š
Fairchild - Channel F πŸ’š
GCE - Vectrex πŸ’š
Magnavox - OdysseyΒ² πŸ’š
Mattel - Intellivision πŸ’š
NEC - PC Engine SuperGrafx πŸ’š
NEC - PC-FX πŸ–€
NEC - TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine πŸ’š
NEC - TurboGrafx-CD/PC Engine CD πŸ’š
Nintendo - Famicom Disk System πŸ’š
Nintendo - NES πŸ’š
Nintendo - Nintendo 64 πŸ–€
Nintendo - Satellaview πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - Regular Games πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - SA1 Games πŸ’›
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-1 Games πŸ’›
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-2 Games ❀️
Nintendo - Virtual Boy ❀️
Philips - Videopac ❀️
Philips - Videopac+ ❀️
Sega - 32X πŸ’›
Sega - Dreamcast πŸ–€
Sega - Genesis/Mega Drive πŸ’š
Sega - Master System πŸ’š
Sega - Saturn πŸ–€
Sega - Sega CD/Mega CD πŸ’š
Sega - SG-1000 πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo πŸ’š
Sony - PlayStation πŸ’›

Handhelds

System Status
Atari - Lynx πŸ’š
Bandai - WonderSwan πŸ’š
Bandai - WonderSwan Color πŸ’›
Nintendo - Game & Watch πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy Advance πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy Color πŸ’š
Nintendo - Nintendo DS πŸ’›
Nintendo - PokΓ©mon Mini πŸ’›
Sega - Game Gear πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket Color πŸ’›
Sony - PSP πŸ–€

/collapsible


[*https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-1-model-b-plus/ Raspberry Pi 1B+]

No reason to use due to the existence of the RPi3B/RPi3A+/RPi3B+.

collapsible show="+ RPi1B+ - System Emulation Performance" hide="- RPi1B+ - System Emulation Performance"

Information may be slightly incorrect as the only optimizations done on a standard RetroPie install was lowering the resolution on all SNES emulation: some systems may perform better if resolution is decreased for them as well.

Legend

πŸ’š = Good - Emulation is largely known to be full speed without bugs. πŸ’› = Fair - Emulation is generally full speed without bugs, but there are exceptions. ❀️ = Poor - Emulation is generally not full speed with bugs, but there are exceptions. πŸ–€ = Bad - Emulation is largely known not to be full speed and/or buggy, or nonexistent.

Consoles

System Status
3DO - 3DO Interactive Multiplayer πŸ–€
Atari - 2600 πŸ’›
Atari - 5200 πŸ–€
Atari - 7800 πŸ’›
Atari - Jaguar πŸ–€
Coleco - ColecoVision πŸ’š
Fairchild - Channel F πŸ–€
GCE - Vectrex πŸ–€
Magnavox - OdysseyΒ² πŸ’š
Mattel - Intellivision πŸ’›
NEC - PC Engine SuperGrafx πŸ–€
NEC - PC-FX πŸ–€
NEC - TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine πŸ–€
NEC - TurboGrafx-CD/PC Engine CD πŸ–€
Nintendo - Famicom Disk System πŸ–€
Nintendo - NES πŸ’›
Nintendo - Nintendo 64 πŸ–€
Nintendo - Satellaview πŸ–€
Nintendo - SNES - Regular Games ❀️
Nintendo - SNES - SA1 Games πŸ–€
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-1 Games πŸ–€
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-2 Games πŸ–€
Nintendo - Virtual Boy πŸ–€
Philips - Videopac ❀️
Philips - Videopac+ ❀️
Sega - 32X πŸ–€
Sega - Dreamcast πŸ–€
Sega - Genesis/Mega Drive πŸ’›
Sega - Master System πŸ’›
Sega - Saturn πŸ–€
Sega - Sega CD/Mega CD πŸ–€
Sega - SG-1000 πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo πŸ’›
Sony - PlayStation ❀️

Handhelds

System Status
Atari - Lynx πŸ’š
Bandai - WonderSwan πŸ–€
Bandai - WonderSwan Color πŸ–€
Nintendo - Game & Watch πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy Advance πŸ’›
Nintendo - Game Boy Color πŸ’š
Nintendo - Nintendo DS πŸ–€
Nintendo - PokΓ©mon Mini πŸ’›
Sega - Game Gear πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket πŸ–€
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket Color πŸ–€
Sony - PSP πŸ–€

/collapsible


[*https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-1-model-a-plus/ Raspberry Pi 1A+]

No reason to use due to the existence of the RPi3B/RPi3A+/RPi3B+.

collapsible show="+ RPi1A+ - System Emulation Performance" hide="- RPi1A+ - System Emulation Performance"

Information may be slightly incorrect as the only optimizations done on a standard RetroPie install was lowering the resolution on all SNES emulation: some systems may perform better if resolution is decreased for them as well.

Legend

πŸ’š = Good - Emulation is largely known to be full speed without bugs. πŸ’› = Fair - Emulation is generally full speed without bugs, but there are exceptions. ❀️ = Poor - Emulation is generally not full speed with bugs, but there are exceptions. πŸ–€ = Bad - Emulation is largely known not to be full speed and/or buggy, or nonexistent.

Consoles

System Status
3DO - 3DO Interactive Multiplayer πŸ–€
Atari - 2600 πŸ’›
Atari - 5200 πŸ–€
Atari - 7800 πŸ’›
Atari - Jaguar πŸ–€
Coleco - ColecoVision πŸ’š
Fairchild - Channel F πŸ–€
GCE - Vectrex πŸ–€
Magnavox - OdysseyΒ² πŸ’š
Mattel - Intellivision πŸ’›
NEC - PC Engine SuperGrafx πŸ–€
NEC - PC-FX πŸ–€
NEC - TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine πŸ–€
NEC - TurboGrafx-CD/PC Engine CD πŸ–€
Nintendo - Famicom Disk System πŸ–€
Nintendo - NES πŸ’›
Nintendo - Nintendo 64 πŸ–€
Nintendo - Satellaview πŸ–€
Nintendo - SNES - Regular Games ❀️
Nintendo - SNES - SA1 Games πŸ–€
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-1 Games πŸ–€
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-2 Games πŸ–€
Nintendo - Virtual Boy πŸ–€
Philips - Videopac ❀️
Philips - Videopac+ ❀️
Sega - 32X πŸ–€
Sega - Dreamcast πŸ–€
Sega - Genesis/Mega Drive πŸ’›
Sega - Master System πŸ’›
Sega - Saturn πŸ–€
Sega - Sega CD/Mega CD πŸ–€
Sega - SG-1000 πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo πŸ’›
Sony - PlayStation ❀️

Handhelds

System Status
Atari - Lynx πŸ’š
Bandai - WonderSwan πŸ–€
Bandai - WonderSwan Color πŸ–€
Nintendo - Game & Watch πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy Advance πŸ’›
Nintendo - Game Boy Color πŸ’š
Nintendo - Nintendo DS πŸ–€
Nintendo - PokΓ©mon Mini πŸ’›
Sega - Game Gear πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket πŸ–€
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket Color πŸ–€
Sony - PSP πŸ–€

/collapsible


Compute Module 3+ - [*https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/compute-module-3-plus-32gb/ 32GB] - [*https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/compute-module-3-plus-16gb/ 16GB] - [*https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/compute-module-3-plus-8gb/ 8GB] - [*https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/compute-module-3-plus-lite/ Lite]

Only useful for those adventurous enough to design their own handheld PCB for this to slot into. Has the same emulation capabilities as a RPi3B.

collapsible show="+ RPiCM3+ - System Emulation Performance" hide="- RPiCM3+ - System Emulation Performance"

Information may be slightly incorrect as no optimizations were done on a standard RetroPie install: some systems may perform better if resolution is decreased for them.

Legend

πŸ’š = Good - Emulation is largely known to be full speed without bugs. πŸ’› = Fair - Emulation is generally full speed without bugs, but there are exceptions. ❀️ = Poor - Emulation is generally not full speed with bugs, but there are exceptions. πŸ–€ = Bad - Emulation is largely known not to be full speed and/or buggy, or nonexistent.

Consoles

System Status
3DO - 3DO Interactive Multiplayer πŸ–€
Atari - 2600 πŸ’š
Atari - 5200 πŸ’›
Atari - 7800 πŸ’š
Atari - Jaguar πŸ–€
Coleco - ColecoVision πŸ’š
Fairchild - Channel F πŸ’š
GCE - Vectrex πŸ’š
Magnavox - OdysseyΒ² πŸ’š
Mattel - Intellivision πŸ’š
NEC - PC Engine SuperGrafx πŸ’š
NEC - PC-FX πŸ–€
NEC - TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine πŸ’š
NEC - TurboGrafx-CD/PC Engine CD πŸ’š
Nintendo - Famicom Disk System πŸ’š
Nintendo - NES πŸ’š
Nintendo - Nintendo 64 πŸ–€
Nintendo - Satellaview πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - Regular Games πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - SA1 Games πŸ’›
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-1Games πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-2Games πŸ’›
Nintendo - Virtual Boy πŸ’š
Philips - Videopac ❀️
Philips - Videopac+ ❀️
Sega - 32X πŸ’›
Sega - Dreamcast πŸ–€
Sega - Genesis/Mega Drive πŸ’š
Sega - Master System πŸ’š
Sega - Saturn πŸ–€
Sega - Sega CD/Mega CD πŸ’š
Sega - SG-1000 πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo πŸ’š
Sony - PlayStation πŸ’›

Handhelds

System Status
Atari - Lynx πŸ’š
Bandai - WonderSwan πŸ’š
Bandai - WonderSwan Color πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game & Watch πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy Advance πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy Color πŸ’š
Nintendo - Nintendo DS πŸ’›
Nintendo - PokΓ©mon Mini πŸ’›
Sega - Game Gear πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket Color πŸ’›
Sony - PSP πŸ–€

/collapsible


Compute Module 3 - [*https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/compute-module-3/ 4GB] - [*https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/compute-module-3-lite/ Lite]

No reason to use this due to the existence of the CM3+. Has the same emulation capabilities as a RPi3B.

collapsible show="+ RPiCM3 - System Emulation Performance" hide="- RPiCM3 - System Emulation Performance"

Information may be slightly incorrect as no optimizations were done on a standard RetroPie install: some systems may perform better if resolution is decreased for them.

Legend

πŸ’š = Good - Emulation is largely known to be full speed without bugs. πŸ’› = Fair - Emulation is generally full speed without bugs, but there are exceptions. ❀️ = Poor - Emulation is generally not full speed with bugs, but there are exceptions. πŸ–€ = Bad - Emulation is largely known not to be full speed and/or buggy, or nonexistent.

Consoles

System Status
3DO - 3DO Interactive Multiplayer πŸ–€
Atari - 2600 πŸ’š
Atari - 5200 πŸ’›
Atari - 7800 πŸ’š
Atari - Jaguar πŸ–€
Coleco - ColecoVision πŸ’š
Fairchild - Channel F πŸ’š
GCE - Vectrex πŸ’š
Magnavox - OdysseyΒ² πŸ’š
Mattel - Intellivision πŸ’š
NEC - PC Engine SuperGrafx πŸ’š
NEC - PC-FX πŸ–€
NEC - TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine πŸ’š
NEC - TurboGrafx-CD/PC Engine CD πŸ’š
Nintendo - Famicom Disk System πŸ’š
Nintendo - NES πŸ’š
Nintendo - Nintendo 64 πŸ–€
Nintendo - Satellaview πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - Regular Games πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - SA1 Games πŸ’›
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-1Games πŸ’š
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-2Games πŸ’›
Nintendo - Virtual Boy πŸ’š
Philips - Videopac ❀️
Philips - Videopac+ ❀️
Sega - 32X πŸ’›
Sega - Dreamcast πŸ–€
Sega - Genesis/Mega Drive πŸ’š
Sega - Master System πŸ’š
Sega - Saturn πŸ–€
Sega - Sega CD/Mega CD πŸ’š
Sega - SG-1000 πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo πŸ’š
Sony - PlayStation πŸ’›

Handhelds

System Status
Atari - Lynx πŸ’š
Bandai - WonderSwan πŸ’š
Bandai - WonderSwan Color πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game & Watch πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy Advance πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy Color πŸ’š
Nintendo - Nintendo DS πŸ’›
Nintendo - PokΓ©mon Mini πŸ’›
Sega - Game Gear πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket Color πŸ’›
Sony - PSP πŸ–€

/collapsible


[*https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/compute-module-1/ Compute Module 1]

No reason to use this due to the existence of the CM3+ and the fact a RPi0 would perform better. Has the same emulation capabilities as a RPi1.

collapsible show="+ RPiCM1 - System Emulation Performance" hide="- RPiCM1 - System Emulation Performance"

Information may be slightly incorrect as the only optimizations done on a standard RetroPie install was lowering the resolution on all SNES emulation: some systems may perform better if resolution is decreased for them as well.

Legend

πŸ’š = Good - Emulation is largely known to be full speed without bugs. πŸ’› = Fair - Emulation is generally full speed without bugs, but there are exceptions. ❀️ = Poor - Emulation is generally not full speed with bugs, but there are exceptions. πŸ–€ = Bad - Emulation is largely known not to be full speed and/or buggy, or nonexistent.

Consoles

System Status
3DO - 3DO Interactive Multiplayer πŸ–€
Atari - 2600 πŸ’›
Atari - 5200 πŸ–€
Atari - 7800 πŸ’›
Atari - Jaguar πŸ–€
Coleco - ColecoVision πŸ’š
Fairchild - Channel F πŸ–€
GCE - Vectrex πŸ–€
Magnavox - OdysseyΒ² πŸ’š
Mattel - Intellivision πŸ’›
NEC - PC Engine SuperGrafx πŸ–€
NEC - PC-FX πŸ–€
NEC - TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine πŸ–€
NEC - TurboGrafx-CD/PC Engine CD πŸ–€
Nintendo - Famicom Disk System πŸ–€
Nintendo - NES πŸ’›
Nintendo - Nintendo 64 πŸ–€
Nintendo - Satellaview πŸ–€
Nintendo - SNES - Regular Games ❀️
Nintendo - SNES - SA1 Games πŸ–€
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-1 Games πŸ–€
Nintendo - SNES - Super FX GSU-2 Games πŸ–€
Nintendo - Virtual Boy πŸ–€
Philips - Videopac ❀️
Philips - Videopac+ ❀️
Sega - 32X πŸ–€
Sega - Dreamcast πŸ–€
Sega - Genesis/Mega Drive πŸ’›
Sega - Master System πŸ’›
Sega - Saturn πŸ–€
Sega - Sega CD/Mega CD πŸ–€
Sega - SG-1000 πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo πŸ’›
Sony - PlayStation ❀️

Handhelds

System Status
Atari - Lynx πŸ’š
Bandai - WonderSwan πŸ–€
Bandai - WonderSwan Color πŸ–€
Nintendo - Game & Watch πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy πŸ’š
Nintendo - Game Boy Advance πŸ’›
Nintendo - Game Boy Color πŸ’š
Nintendo - Nintendo DS πŸ–€
Nintendo - PokΓ©mon Mini πŸ’›
Sega - Game Gear πŸ’š
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket πŸ–€
SNK - Neo Geo Pocket Color πŸ–€
Sony - PSP πŸ–€

/collapsible


collapsible show="+ Getting Started - Navigation Menu" hide="- Getting Started - Navigation Menu"

  1. Prerequisites - Make sure you have the tools you need to make a gaming SBC.
  2. Single Board Computers - Become familiar with these miniscule marvels of modern technology.
  3. Images - Learn about the various preconfigured OS builds.
  4. Cases - Choose a case that meets your needs.
  5. Storage - Figure out how much space you really need.
  1. Power Supplies - A bad power supply is the easiest mistake you can make.
  2. Input - How do you want to control your games?
  3. Imaging - A simple guide to putting your chosen Image on your chosen storage option.
  4. Assembly - Various guides for assembling SBCs and cases together.
  5. Game Sources - A rough collection of links to free and paid games you can legally get for your SBC.

/collapsible