[josteink]

> They really aren't, CPU performance is really irrelevant given the RPi's architectural weaknesses

Obviously "production loads" is an undefined term and as such we can discuss infinitely back and forth exactly how much these cheap ARM machines can actually handle.

I also didn't mean to single out the Rpi3 as a universal performer, optimal for everything out there.

My point was that I'm seeing an increased amount of people who are happy with what these cheap boards can do, who 10 years ago would have been forced to buy a server of sorts to cover the same needs.

So now they don't buy servers. Instead they buy cheap, tiny and fan-less ARM-based machines and they're perfectly happy. They even think running ARM is cooler than running Intel, so it's something they brag about.

I'm absolutely not saying I'm going to replace my company's server-farm or my dev-computer with these anytime soon, but Intel cannot completely ignore the power-efficiency aspect either if they want to keep their dominance in the market.