A new demonstration shows the Arduino Uno Q board, a hybrid SoC/MCU device from Qualcomm, capable of running Linux and even 3D games despite its limited resources. The board, priced at $44, uses translation layers to emulate x86 games on its ARM architecture. While functional, it requires additional hardware and cooling for sustained performance.
The Arduino Uno Q board emerged following Qualcomm's acquisition of Arduino, targeting an unclear market segment as a hybrid single-board computer and microcontroller unit. It combines a quad-core Cortex-A53 system-on-chip (SoC) with a Cortex-M33 microcontroller core (MCU) in the familiar Uno form factor. All SoC input/output occurs through a single USB-C port, necessitating a docking station for expanded connectivity, though the board includes 16 GB of eMMC storage for operating system installation. A Debian-based Linux image comes preinstalled, facilitating setup.
In a video by Bringus Studios, the board's capabilities were tested by installing Linux and attempting to run Steam games. Due to the scarcity of native ARM versions, the setup employed FEX, an x86-to-ARM emulator, alongside Steam's Proton layer for non-Linux titles. This configuration allowed gameplay of 3D video games, positioning the Uno Q as a potential alternative to Raspberry Pi single-board computers. However, with only 2 GB of LPDDR4 RAM, desktop Linux operation demands patience, and the SoC heats up significantly during intensive tasks like gaming at full CPU and GPU utilization, suggesting the addition of a heatsink for prolonged use.
Priced at $44, the Uno Q matches the cost of a 1 GB Raspberry Pi 5 but falls short compared to the 2 GB model, which offers better value without needing a dock, though it lacks onboard eMMC and a dedicated MCU. Overall desktop performance on the board is described as underwhelming. The successful FEX implementation bodes well for broader ARM compatibility, including in Valve's forthcoming Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered Steam Frame VR headset.
