Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

Powerful upgrades turn 4th-gen Raspberry Pi into a more capable $35 desktop

By

Though it was originally created as a tool for hobbyists, the makers of the Raspberry Pi have transformed the latest edition of the board into a desktop PC that starts at just $35.

The latest incarnation of the Raspberry Pi essentially moves the tinkerer’s board from a hub or controller to build robotics or Internet of Things (IoT) applications into a full-fledged PC alternative, complete with a more powerful ARM processor and more ports to handle connectivity. Priced starting at $35, the Raspberry Pi 4 won’t be competing in terms of performance against the far more expensive and capable PCs on our list of the best desktops, but it’s an affordable solution for education and home use if you’re primarily working off of web apps.

Recommended Videos

What you get for that attractive price is a quad-core Broadcom 1.5Ghz ARM-based processor, 1GB of LPDDR4 system memory, a USB-C port for power, two USB-A 2 ports, two USB-A 3 ports, a Gigabit Ethernet jack, and two micro HDMI ports. Raspberry Pi replaced the single HDMI port from the prior generation board with two micro HDMI ports on the Raspberry Pi 4, which will allow adopters of this $35 PC to connect up to two 4K displays at 30 FPS or a single 4K panel operating at 60 FPS.

Related

If you need more memory, upgrading to 2GB of RAM adds an extra $10 to the price, while maxing out with 4GB of memory will take the price to $55. If you’re looking at using the Raspberry Pi 4 as a web=browsing terminal, thin client, or as a substitute to a desktop tower for light computing tasks, the upgrade in RAM should help with performance. Users coming from prior generations of the Raspberry Pi’s board have lamented about sluggishness.

“What’s changed with Raspberry Pi 4 is that in addition to being a device for learning about computing, it’s also much more suitable than its predecessors for use as a general-purpose classroom computer,” Raspberry Pi Foundation founder Eben Upton said in an interview with The Next Web.

Wireless connectivity is also supported with the inclusion of Bluetooth 5.0 and dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi. An optional $5 case helps keep the dust out and transforms the Raspberry Pi 4 from just a logic board into a desktop. If you’re looking at using the Raspberry Pi 4 as a desktop PC, be sure to also add your own monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

In addition to the upgraded hardware, Raspberry Pi will also update the Linux-based operating system, making it look and feel more like polished rivals such as Windows 10, Chrome OS, and MacOS. The Raspberry Pi 4 will be able to run Debian 10 Buster, according to Gizmodo, which will make the platform less intimidating for casual PC use.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Chuong Nguyen
Chuong Nguyen
Computing Writer
Silicon Valley-based technology reporter and Giants baseball fan who splits his time between Northern California and Southern…
Trying to buy a GPU in 2023 almost makes me miss the shortage
Two AMD Radeon RX 7000 graphics cards on a pink surface.

The days of the GPU shortage are long over, but somehow, buying a GPU is harder than ever -- and that sentiment has very little to do with stock levels. It's just that there are no obvious candidates when shopping anymore.

In a generation where no single GPU stands out as the single best graphics card, it's hard to jump on board with the latest from AMD and Nvidia. I don't want to see another GPU shortage, but the state of the graphics card market is far from where it should be.
This generation is all over the place

Read more
HP printers are heavily discounted in Best Buy’s flash sale
The HP - OfficeJet Pro 8034e Wireless All-In-One Inkjet Printer on a desk with a smartphone.

There’s good news in store if you’re looking to land a new printer at a discount this weekend. Best Buy is having a 48-hour flash sale on HP printers, with several that can compete with the best printers seeing some good prices. HP is almost always one of the best laptop brands, and it’s one of the same when it comes to printers. So if you’re looking for a new home or office printer, read onward on how to save on an HP printer at Best Buy.
HP DeskJet 2755e — $60, was $85

The HP DeskJet 2755e is a good entry-level printer. It’s got you covered if your printing needs are pretty basic, or if you don’t need to print in mass. This is a color InkJet printer, which makes it good for almost all uses. It can also make copies and scan in color, and it has mobile and wireless printing functionality. You can get set up quickly and easily with the HP Smart app that guides you through the setup process, and you can also use this app to print, scan and copy documents from your phone.

Read more
This tiny ThinkPad can’t quite keep up with the MacBook Air M2
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 3 rear view showing lid and logo.

While the laptop industry continues to move toward 14-inch laptops and larger, the 13-inch laptop remains an important category. One of the best is the Apple MacBook Air M2, with an extremely thin and well-built chassis, great performance, and incredibly long battery life.

Lenovo has recently introduced the third generation of its ThinkPad X1 Nano, one of the lightest laptops we've tested and a good performer as well. It's stiff competition, but which of these two diminutive laptops stands apart?
Specs and configurations

Read more