SBCs and MCUs at SparkFun
Which single-board computer (SBCs) and microcontroller board is right for you? SparkFun has built out a fairly robust offering of both SBCs and microcontroller boards – ensuring our community has the most appropriate option to build their products and projects.
The need for a single-board computer (SBC) vs a microcontroller unit (MCU) depends on what you are building – complexity, power, application, cost. If you require a device that can run an operating system (OS), handle multiple tasks, and has higher processing power, an SBC is most likely the way to go. However, if your project requires low power, real-time tasks, controlling hardware directly, and cost-effectiveness, an MCU would probably be better. SparkFun works with many, many manufacturers/suppliers and has built out a fairly robust offering of both SBCs and microcontroller boards – ensuring our community has the most appropriate option to build their products and projects.
SBCs and MCUs at SparkFun
Here is a sampling of popular SBCs and microcontroller boards from SparkFun - explore their specs to see if they are a match for what you are designing.
| NVIDIAⓇ Jetson Orin™ Nano Super Developer Kit | Teensy 4.1 and 4.0 with the iMXRT1062 from NXPⓇ |
| Raspberry Pi 5 | RP2350 and RP2040 dev boards with MCUs from Raspberry PiⓇ |
| micro:bitv2 | STM32 Dev Boards with MCUs from STMicroelectronicsⓇ |
| BeagleBoneⓇ | ESP32 Dev Boards with MCUs from EspressifⓇ |
| Artemis Dev Boards with MCU from SparkFun | |
| SparkFun RedBoard with ATmega328 from MicroChipⓇ |
To explore our complete line of single-board computers and microcontroller boards visit our category pages: Single Board Computers -or- Microcontrollers.
What are Single-Board Computers and Microcontrollers?
Taking it back a step (stop reading if you are already familiar with SBCs and microcontrollers), you may be asking what exactly are single-board computers and microcontrollers. There are many digital resources that go in depth on this, but here is a very brief overview:
Single-Board Computers
A Single-Board Computer (SBC) is a complete computer built on a single circuit board. It includes a microprocessor, memory, input/output (I/O) interfaces, and other essential components required for a fully functional computer. SBCs are capable of running an operating system (OS) and can handle multiple tasks simultaneously. They are ideal for tasks that require more processing power and the ability to run complex software. SBCs can be used for a wide range of applications from educational and hobbyist projects to industrial automation and embedded systems. Common examples of SBCs include:
$80.00
Microcontrollers
A Microcontroller Unit (MCU) is a specialized integrated circuit designed for specific control tasks. It combines a microprocessor core, memory, and I/O peripherals on a single chip. Unlike SBCs, MCUs are typically used for real-time control and are ideal for low power consumption and cost-effectiveness. MCUs are commonly found in embedded systems, where they provide intelligence and control to electronic devices such as smoke detectors and TV remotes. SparkFun designs development boards to make using the microntrollers easier - this not only enables use by hobbyists, but also makes prototyping, getting to proof concept, and testing out various microcontroller options much more efficient for engineers/product design. Some popular microcontroller boards from SparkFun include:
SparkFun has worked for years to provide easy access to microcontrollers and SBCs and to make them easier to use. Our goal is to provide our community - whether a student, educator, hobbyist, or professional engineer - the option that is right for their specific project or product. We do our best to provide detailed specs and awesome documentation - we encourage you to explore our catalog of Single Board Computers -or- Microcontrollers.
