Raspberry pi 5 launched, available this October
, by Sukanya Eiampinit, 6 min reading time
Raspberry Pi 5
The Raspberry Pi 5, which is set to launch in late October, starts at $60 for the 4GB model and $80 for the 8GB model.
Specification
- Broadcom BCM2712 2.4GHz quad-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A76 CPU, with cryptography extensions, 512KB per-core L2 caches and a 2MB shared L3 cache
- VideoCore VII GPU, supporting OpenGL ES 3.1, Vulkan 1.2
- Dual 4Kp60 HDMI® display output with HDR support
- 4Kp60 HEVC decoder
- LPDDR4X-4267 SDRAM (4GB and 8GB SKUs available at launch)
- Dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi®
- Bluetooth 5.0 / Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
- microSD card slot, with support for high-speed SDR104 mode
- 2 × USB 3.0 ports, supporting simultaneous 5Gbps operation
- 2 × USB 2.0 ports
- Gigabit Ethernet, with PoE+ support (requires separate PoE+ HAT)
- 2 × 4-lane MIPI camera/display transceivers
- PCIe 2.0 x1 interface for fast peripherals (requires separate M.2 HAT or other adapter)
- 5V/5A DC power via USB-C, with Power Delivery support
- Raspberry Pi standard 40-pin header
- Real-time clock (RTC), powered from external battery
- Power button
New platform, new chipset
Three new chips, each specifically designed for the Raspberry Pi 5 program, come together to deliver a significant performance leap forward.
BCM2712
The BCM2712 is a new 16nm Application Processor (AP) from Broadcom, based on the 28nm BCM2711 AP that powers the Raspberry Pi 4, but with several structural improvements.
At the heart of the BCM2712 is a 64-bit Arm Cortex-A76 processor, which has four cores and is clocked at 2.4 GHz. It has a 512 KB L2 cache per core and a 2 MB total L3 cache. The Cortex-A76 is a subset of the Cortex-A72 and features higher instructions per core (IPC) performance and lower power consumption per instruction. The combination of newer cores, higher clock speeds, and a smaller manufacturing process means that the new Raspberry Pi is much faster and uses less power when running.
Our faster CPU also features a faster GPU: Broadcom's VideoCore VII, developed in Cambridge, and featuring a full Mesa driver from Igalia, with an upgraded Hardware Video Scaler (HVS) that can drive two 4Kp60 HDMI displays simultaneously. There's also a new 4Kp60 HEVC video decoder, and a new Raspberry Pi-developed Image Sensor Pipeline (ISP) to handle image and video processing. For the RAM bandwidth allocation system, we use a 32-bit LPDDR4X memory system that operates at 4267 billion operations per second, compared to the 2 billion operations per second used in the previous Raspberry Pi 4.
Accessories
Every flagship Raspberry Pi product comes with new accessories, and the Raspberry Pi 5 is no exception. Layout changes, a new interface, and much higher maximum performance (and slightly increased maximum power consumption) have led us to redesign existing accessories and develop entirely new, updated devices for the Raspberry Pi 5.
Case
The updated case for the Raspberry Pi 5, priced at $10, builds on the aesthetics of its predecessor, the Raspberry Pi 4, but adds a host of new usability and thermal management features.
Built-in 2.79 (max) CFM fan with selected fluid dynamic ball bearings to reduce noise and extend lifespan. Connects to the four-pin JST connector on the Raspberry Pi 5 to provide temperature-controlled cooling. Air is drawn in through 360-degree vents under the cover, blows through a heatsink attached to the BCM2712 AP, and exhausted through the connector openings and vents in the base.
We have lengthened the case and improved the mounting features to allow the Raspberry Pi 5 board to be inserted without removing the SD card, and by removing the top of the case, multiple cases can now be stacked, including HATs on top of the fans, using spacers and GPIO header extensions.
Summary: The updated case for the Raspberry Pi 5 adds a number of new usability and thermal management features, such as a built-in temperature-controlled fan, an easily accessible SD card slot, and the ability to stack multiple cases or mount HATs on top of the fan.
27W USB-C Power Supply
The Raspberry Pi 5 consumes significantly less power and runs noticeably cooler than the Raspberry Pi 4 when running identical workloads. However, the much higher performance ceiling means that for the most intensive workloads, and particularly demanding workloads, peak power consumption increases to around 12W, compared to 8W for the Raspberry Pi 4 when using the standard 5V, 3A (15W) USB-C power adapter. By default, we had to limit the USB downstream current to 600mA to ensure we had enough margin to support these workloads. This is lower than the 1.2A limit on the Raspberry Pi 4, but is generally enough to power mice, keyboards, and other low-power peripherals. For users who need to drive high-power peripherals such as hard drives and SSDs, while still maintaining margins for peak workloads, we offer a $12 USB-C power adapter that supports the 5V, 5A (25W) operation mode if the Raspberry Pi 5 firmware detects this power supply. It increases the USB current limit to 1.6A, providing an extra 5W of power for downstream USB devices and an additional 5W of onboard power budget, which is useful for those looking to experiment with overclocking their Raspberry Pi 5. It should be noted that users have the option to override the current limit by specifying a higher value, even when using a 3A adapter.
Active cooling fan
The Raspberry Pi 5 is designed to handle typical client workloads without a case or active cooling fan. However, users who want to use the board without a case under continuous heavy workloads without sacrificing speed can add an optional 5uUSD active cooling fan. This cooling fan mounts to the board via two new mounting holes and connects to the same four-pin JST connector as the case fan.
The Raspberry Pi Active Cooling Fan features a radial fan, which has been re-selected to reduce noise and extend its lifespan. It pushes air through an extruded and milled aluminum heatsink. Both the case and the active cooling fan are able to keep the Raspberry Pi 5 below its thermal cutoff point for typical ambient temperatures and worst-case workloads. The active cooling efficiency is slightly better, making it particularly suitable for overclocking.
Summary: The Active Cooling Fan is an optional accessory that can be attached to the Raspberry Pi 5 to improve cooling performance. It is suitable for users who want to use the board without a case under continuous heavy loads without reducing speed, or for users who want to overclock the board.