I am living out of my van and was thinking of a low consumption machine to use.

2 options. Either thinking super low consumption bare necessities internet browsing and terminal coding. Just be able to watch videos.

other option enough juice to run less demanding indie games and isometric rpgs like baldurs gate. Will even this require more specs and power consumption? I am able to play up to things like pathfinder kingmaker on my 2013 pc amd fx 8320 with geforce 660. I guess sbcs will not handle even those type of games without a basic dedicated graphics card?

Actually maybe I could scrap the above idea and just use emulators for old school consoles like n64 as on my quick research yesterday I saw some videos stating even the sbcs are quite capable of emulating those.

Gaming is not central, I do it only rarely so not the main focus. That would more be a bonus. Main requirements are low power consumption due to very limited power from solar/leisure battery and basic internet capability oh and also compact due to space limitations.

Depending upon exactly what you want, either a Raspberry Pi or an Intel NUC.

How are the other sbcs these days? I see there are lots of them banana pi, orange pi, droid and such.

If they are more compeitively priced I would take one of those but do wonder about the support and community of alternative ones. I remember years ago I first bought an orange pi however I sold it quite quickly and went with a pi 3, both of which are long sold, since the orange had much less documentation.

If it is and x86 it might be simpler since you could probably install linux like normal. I can't remember the specific issues I had with it.

How much do those little screens take power consumption wise? Don't want too small though. I think the screen will be the greatest cost both in price and power consumption. Had a look and 10 inch was about 80 pounds uk.

Anyway to salvage an old screen from elsewhere for cheaper or too much hassle than its worth?

If in the UK, go with a RPi, low power consumption ARM processor, & maybe one of those portable screens, (but they do look to be susceptible to damaging quite easily, if not careful).

I used to use some small Eyoyo monitors with mine, (8"/11.6"/12"), but they have mains adapters to drop the voltages down to 9v/12v dc, so could be an option.

Uk yes.

I like to think I am careful and am thinking I will make a wooden case for it like a diy laptop. Much more accessible to me than 3d printing.

I have part watched this video and seems pi zero is the way to go for low power consumption. I wonder if it will be enough power though. What is its maximum capability? I guess games are out the window and it would just be a barebones linux terminal? Could youtube videos run ok on it? Can any pi run games like isometric rpgs or are non of them capable of much 3d processing, even if the games are a decade or more old? Just deciding if that is a bell/whistle I will just do without.

I guess Eyoyo would not be good for me given it would want its own power supply as that would indicate it would take up more power eh?

My Dell II chromebook travels well on motorcycle. S10 Samsung phone is my router when I am off grid in the middle of desert. My thread below.
https://www.antixforum.com/forums/to...l-iso-install/
Dos Box comes included on my install. Certain Debian games will play on there also. Super Tux, Endless sky, O.A.D., Flight gear simulator.
My cost was under 40 bucks. Used chromebooks are going for cheap here in the states.
About as low cost as you can go.

I picked up a Stumpy Chromebox. Procrastinating with it since a jumper is required to change the bios to usb boot.
I has decent specs for a desktop box to run linux. Paid under 30 bucks for it. Runs EOL chromeOS OK.
Screen. keyboard, wireless usb, periphial stuff. Will drive the price up. So procrastinating.

Dell small form factor PC's. SFF Dell. Are going for cheap here in the states also. Like 7020, 5040, 790.
Ebay

Just my thoughts on
low cost traveling linux.

I am thinking I might try eink 7 colour display as they are low power and also seem cheaper than standard backlit displays. I also love the eink on my ereader. Not sure how it will be for every day use. Quite interested to try. Saw a youtube video of some hipster guy using a 20 something inch display as his main desktop monitor and after some getting used to he said he could do pretty much everything he wanted to and used full color display only for backup for minor edits of videos and stuff.