Is there any benefit to using the Raspberry Pi instead of a PC when mining with Block Erupters? Or is it simply a space/cost saver?
Thanks!
Using a Raspberry Pi is definitely a space/cost saver. Compared to a PC, its a fraction of the size, costs $25/$35 for 256MB/512MB models respectively, and uses much lower amount of power (5V micro-USB charger). Things like heatsinks and fans add a little bit of cost, but definitely improve the performance (I know this from experience).
If you have an old PC layout around, you could certainly use it. Over time the extra energy costs will definitely add up though.
I'll add to that that it is also a discrete package, nice and small to hide away somewhere. And also with the way I have set it up, I have every faith (touch wood) that if I had a power outage/cut it would happily turn on, boot up and start mining all by itself. Certainly a lot more confidence that it won't BSOD or someother reason why it shuts down and then doesn't come back up. Very robust I'd say