For those unfamiliar with the Raspberry Pi, let me just bring you up to speed. This is a tiny computer about the size of a credit card. You’ll have to plug-in a monitor, keyboard, and probably a mouse, as well as an SD card to serve as a hard disk. This is a full-fledged computer, and it runs Linux. How much does it cost? Just S$45 (before GST).
The new Raspberry Pi 2 Model B differs from the older generation B+ model in that it has a much more powerful Broadcom BCM2836 900MHz quad-core system-on-chip (i.e. the CPU), as well as 1GB of RAM. The older B+ model used a Broadcom BCM2835 700MHz system-on-chip, and had 512MB of RAM.
One of the great things with the new Raspberry Pi 2 Model B is that it will run Windows 10. Microsoft announced that they will make Windows 10 free on the Raspberry Pi 2.
Other hardware features on the new Pi 2 Model B are:
- 4x USB 2.0 ports
- HDMI output up to 1920×1200 resolution
- Composite video output via 3.5 mm TRRS jack shared with audio output
- Analog audio output
- Onboard storage via microSD card slot
- 10/100 Mbps Ethernet
- 17x GPIO
- CSI port for attaching camera
- 600 mA power rating
- Powered by 5 VDC via MicroUSB or GPIO header
Here’s a comparison of the old Raspberry Pi Model B+ (top) and new Raspberry Pi 2 Model B (bottom).
The system-on-chip is noticeably bigger on the new Raspberry Pi 2 Model B, and apart from several other changes in the individual component parts, the board layout remains the same. More importantly, the ports, interfaces, and various other pinouts, including the mounting holes, are all in identical positions. You can use the same casing for the old Model B+ with the new Model B.
The Raspberry Pi Foundation claims the new system-on-chip is six times faster than the older one. I’ve used the old Model B+ to run a media centre, using RaspBMC, and I think its performance is already comparable to other TV set top boxes that you can buy off-the-shelf. I’d expect the new Model B to fly.
I’ve longed bemoaned how the Raspberry Pi’s price had remained constant, with meagre hardware changes, for the last 2 years or so. You know Moore’s law. He didn’t actually say it this way, but the modern-day interpretation is that every 18 months, the same hardware should be half the price, or the performance should be doubled. Well, finally, the Raspberry Pi Foundation has delivered something exciting.
Will you be getting the Raspberry Pi 2 Model B?