In a recent article, I compared the hardware of two thin clients, the Raspberry Pi 500 and HP t660. I called the Pi 500 “Beauty” due to its low price and elegance as a computer with a keyboard powered by a four-core Arm Cortex-A76 processor featuring 8GB RAM and MicroSD storage. In contrast, I called the HP t660 a “Beast” as it is a powerhouse of a thin client, featuring an Intel U300E processor, up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and 512GB of NVMe storage. The only thing that they have in common is that they both run Stratodesk NoTouch OS.
In this article, I will run various use cases on these two devices to assess their performance in three everyday scenarios: local RDP, SaaS applications, and coast-to-coast DaaS.
Local RDP Connection
In an article that I previously wrote for Stratodesk on the PI 500, I tested it using a local RDP connection. One of the more interesting EUC use cases I have seen recently is engineers and media creators using thin clients to access expensive workstation PCs located in the same area as the user but housed in an environment-controlled and secure location within the site. To simulate this, I will use a Windows 10 2h22 virtual machine (VM) running locally and connect to it using RDP.
These workers often find it more productive to use two or more monitors, so I attached two 2K monitors to work with the thin clients. I will use a Jabar USB headset for audio with the systems, as the Pi 500 does not have a built-in speaker. On both systems, Stratodesk immediately recognized and passed the monitors and headset to the remote desktop seamlessly.
My first test involved streaming a video and monitoring the system’s performance using the top command.
Top is a standard Linux performance tool. However, you should be aware that it can report more than 100% CPU usage, as it accounts separately for each CPU core. The Pi has four CPU cores, and the t660 has five, so the maximum total CPU usage can be 400% and 500%, respectively.
At 1080p, the video on the Pi 500 was slightly grainy, but the audio was clear and crisp. As reported earlier, the CPU usage on the Pi reached as high as 110%. TJF—The video and audio on the t660 were crystal clear. When I ran the same test, the CPU usage on the t660 never went above 30%.
I then brought up and worked with Office 365 documents on the other monitor. The t660 handled the load without any issues, while I occasionally noticed a slight lag in the responsiveness of Office 365 on the Pi 500. There was no noticeable change in the video quality of the two systems.
SaaS Applications
As SaaS applications are becoming increasingly popular, I bypassed the virtual desktop for the next test and used Stratodesk’s built-in Chromium browser to work with Office 365 documents. After logging into Office 365, I opened a Word document and a PowerPoint slide deck and worked with them without any issues.
I then played videos in the background while working on documents. The videos and audio played flawlessly.
The top command showed more than 200% CPU usage on the Pi device. The HP device showed only 60% usage.
Finally, I played a video in full-screen mode on a 2K monitor with a 2K resolution.
The CPU usage was ~150% on the Pi system and 35% on the HP device.
I was impressed with how well Office 365 worked and the videos played using Stratodesk’s built-in Chromium browser.
It is worth noting that Stratodesk supports various enterprise web browsers for those who require additional security and manageability. You can read more about those in my article here: https://www.stratodesk.com/enterprise-browsers-and-vdi-reduction/
Coast-to-Coast DaaS Connection
One problem with Arm devices is that, due to their limited use as thin clients, not all remote display protocols are compatible with them. I encountered this issue when attempting to test the devices with a coast-to-coast DaaS connection using the remote protocol. Since NICE DCV was not supported on the Pi device, I could only test the HP t660.
To test this, I contacted one of Stratodesk’s longtime partners, Leostream, to create a DaaS solution that would deliver an AWS desktop running in an AWS East data center to a thin client in the Pacific Northwest.
For those unfamiliar with Leostream, they provide connection management software for virtual desktops, remote workspaces, and hybrid IT environments. Their software provides secure, scalable, and flexible access to digital resources across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid infrastructures, featuring robust security and policy-based control.
Leostream set up a virtual desktop and connection broker for me in the AWS East data center. I initially tested the t660 using a single 2K monitor.
I connected to the Leostream connection broker without any issues.
A few seconds later, I was presented with a Windows desktop. It was based on a t2.medium AWS instance with 4 GB of RAM.
I streamed a 1080p YouTube video and played it full-screen to stress the network, CPU, and video.
The video and audio played without any jitters or hiccups.
I then accessed Office 365 documents and worked with them without hesitation or issues.
I plugged in a second 2K monitor; NoTouch OS seamlessly extended the remote desktop to the second monitor, and both were instantly usable.
I played a streaming video on one monitor while working on Office 365 documents on another monitor.
The videos were of outstanding quality, and the responsiveness I experienced while working on documents was impressive.
The CPU usage was so low that I had to double-check it, as it never exceeded 25%. That is 25% of a single processor, not the four t660 processors. Very impressive!
When I contacted Leostream about the outstanding video quality and low CPU usage, they said they had also been impressed with the performance of the NICE DCV protocol.
Device Management
One of the significant benefits of running NoTouch OS on your thin clients is that it is hardware-agnostic. Yet, all the devices running it, regardless of their manufacture, location, or even processor type, can be managed from a central location with Stratodesk, which greatly eases the burden on IT staff.
For those who want to manage their endpoints in-house, Stratodesk has NoTouch Center. It enables you to configure, sync, and monitor your endpoints easily. It also has role-based access control (RBAC), asset management, and advanced AI-enabled helpdesk capabilities.
For those looking for a SaaS, cloud-based management solution, Stratodesk offers NoTouch Cloud endpoint management. It brings the same great capabilities as the Stratodesk NoTouch Center to the cloud.
The Power of One OS
I would have been hard-pressed to pick two more different thin clients. One is very inexpensive, based on an SBC, powered by a four-core Arm processor, and utilizes a MicroSD card for persistent storage. The other is a top-of-the-line thin client with a penta-core Intel processor, 32 GB of RAM, and NVMe for storage.
Going into this mental exercise, I knew it would be an apples-to-oranges comparison, as each of these systems was designed for entirely different use cases; the only thing they had in common was that they ran NoTouch OS.
Both devices performed admirably, but they have inherently different use cases. The Pi 500 is a very affordable option for task workers who require a maximum of two monitors to complete their work, as well as for companies that are comfortable with Pi hardware support options. While working with the devices, the Pi 500 had considerably higher CPU usage than the t660. It suits very small businesses, educational institutions, home users, and those who are price-sensitive and prefer a computer in the keyboard form factor.
The t660, on the other hand, is suitable for a broader range of users, including engineers, media professionals, and others who can take advantage of its support for four 4K monitors. Its more powerful hardware would suit office workers who need multimedia redirection for unified communication applications and other functions that can be offloaded to the thin client hardware.
HP thin clients have a solid reputation for being reliable, secure, and highly manageable devices in enterprise environments. Their robust build quality and advanced security features, such as HP Sure Start (a self-healing BIOS), ensure they can withstand cyber threats and hardware failures. This makes them a good choice for businesses prioritizing performance and security over lower initial costs.
At the extremes of the thin client hardware spectrum, these two devices represent only a small fraction of the multitude of Intel and Arm devices available for thin clients. Whatever device you choose, Stratodesk supports NoTouch OS running on it.
