ODROIDC1

The ODROID-C1 is a small single-board computer developed by Hardkernel for enthusiasts, developers, and educational use. Released in 2014, it is part of the ODROID family and is designed to provide a balance of low cost and practical performance for Linux and Android projects.

Hardware overview

The ODROID-C1 uses an AML8726-MX system-on-chip with ARM Cortex-A9 cores (dual-core) running at up to about 1.5 GHz and a Mali-400 MP2 GPU. It includes 1 GB of DDR3 RAM and relies on a microSD card for primary storage and booting. The board provides a 10/100 Ethernet port, two USB 2.0 host connectors, and a micro-USB port for OTG. Video output is via HDMI, and a 40-pin GPIO header offers general-purpose I/O for hardware projects. Power is supplied through a 5-volt input, typically via a standard power supply.

Software and ecosystem

ODROID-C1 supports multiple operating systems, including Linux distributions such as Debian and Ubuntu, as well as Android builds. Hardware acceleration through the Mali GPU is available with appropriate drivers, and U-Boot serves as the bootloader in many images. The platform is supported by a community of developers and enthusiasts, with various images and tutorials available to facilitate use as a media center, home server, or development platform.

Applications and reception

The ODROID-C1 was positioned as an affordable, capable SBC suitable for media playback, learning, and small-scale server or hobbyist projects. Its combination of a Linux-friendly environment, active community, and relatively compact form factor made it a popular option at the time, though it has since been succeeded by newer ODROID models offering newer CPUs and features.