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ASUS Tinker Board S vs Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8: Comparison
ASUS Tinker Board S vs Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8: the gpu model difference
The first real difference is gpu model: ASUS Tinker Board S Mali-T760 MP4 against Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 Vivante GC7000UL. There is a split on official os as well, TinkerOS , Android on the ASUS Tinker Board S versus Debian, Yocto Linux on the Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8. They differ on connectivity too, Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, HDMI, 40-pin GPIO on the ASUS Tinker Board S versus Gigabit Ethernet, RS485, CAN bus, digital I/O, optional 4G/LTE,... on the Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8.
ASUS Tinker Board S vs Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8: which one fits your build
Buy the ASUS Tinker Board S for digital signage and kiosk displays needing reliable boot storage and always-on embedded installs avoiding SD card failure, though it is not the pick for new projects needing current-generation performance and GPU-intensive or 4K video applications. The Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 suits factory floor Modbus/CAN protocol gateways and outdoor or harsh-environment IoT deployments, though it is not built for hobbyist or desktop projects and budget-constrained builds. Our rating of the ASUS Tinker Board S (6.5/10): dated performance-wise, but the onboard eMMC still makes it a sensible pick for always-on signage and kiosk deployments. Our rating of the Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 (7.5/10): A genuinely industrial-grade gateway for automation deployments, priced and built for reliability over raw performance.
ASUS Tinker Board S vs Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 price
The Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 asks 405% more, $399 against $79.00 for the ASUS Tinker Board S.
What ASUS Tinker Board S and Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 have in common
Everything else lines up. Cpu architecture, storage type, gpio header, has ai accelerator / npu and wireless read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing. They match on 1 further specification as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the ASUS Tinker Board S and Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 differ on onboard storage?
Yes. Onboard Storage reads 16GB onboard eMMC + microSD on the ASUS Tinker Board S versus 8GB to 64GB eMMC on the Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8.
Is the Use Case the same on the ASUS Tinker Board S and Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8?
It is. Both are listed at General Purpose, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- ASUS Tinker Board S
- ASUS
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- CompuLab
CPU Architecture
- ASUS Tinker Board S
- ARM
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- ARM
Model Number
- ASUS Tinker Board S
- Tinker Board S
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- IOT-GATE-iMX8
Memory
- ASUS Tinker Board S
- 2GB LPDDR3Best
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- 1GB to 4GB LPDDR4
Storage Type
- ASUS Tinker Board S
- eMMC
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- eMMC
SoC Model
- ASUS Tinker Board S
- Quad-Core Cortex-A17 up to 1.8GHz
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- Quad-Core Cortex-A53 up to 1.5GHz
Has AI Accelerator / NPU
- ASUS Tinker Board S
- No
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- No
Wireless
- ASUS Tinker Board S
- WiFi 5
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- WiFi 5
GPIO Header
- ASUS Tinker Board S
- Yes
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- Yes
Price
- ASUS Tinker Board S
- 79 USD
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- 399 USD
Use Case
- ASUS Tinker Board S
- General Purpose
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- General Purpose
GPU Model
- ASUS Tinker Board S
- Mali-T760 MP4
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- Vivante GC7000UL
Onboard Storage
- ASUS Tinker Board S
- 16GB onboard eMMC + microSD
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- 8GB to 64GB eMMC
Official OS
- ASUS Tinker Board S
- TinkerOS (Debian), Android
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- Debian, Yocto Linux
Connectivity
- ASUS Tinker Board S
- Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, HDMI, 40-pin GPIO (Pi layout)
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- Gigabit Ethernet, RS485, CAN bus, digital I/O, optional 4G/LTE, wide 9-36V DC input
Which one should you pick?
Choose ASUS Tinker Board S if you want the higher memory (2GB LPDDR3 vs 1GB to 4GB LPDDR4).
Choose Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | ASUS Tinker Board S | Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $79.00 View on Consumercarts listing | $399.00 View on Consumercarts listing |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
ASUS Tinker Board S
6.5 / 10 Expert Rating
Dated performance-wise, but the onboard eMMC still makes it a sensible pick for always-on signage and kiosk deployments.
Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
7.5 / 10 Expert Rating
A genuinely industrial-grade gateway for automation deployments, priced and built for reliability over raw performance.