Raspberry Pi 4 Model B
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| Raspberry Pi 4 Model B | |
|---|---|
| Name | Raspberry Pi 4 Model B |
| Released | 2019 |
| Manufacturer | Raspberry Pi Foundation |
| Soc | Broadcom BCM2711 |
| Cpu | Quad-core Cortex-A72 |
| Memory | 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB LPDDR4 |
| Storage | microSD |
| Gpu | VideoCore VI |
| Connectivity | Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Ports | 2× micro-HDMI, USB-C power, 2× USB 3.0, 2× USB 2.0 |
Raspberry Pi 4 Model B The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B is a single-board computer introduced by the Raspberry Pi Foundation in 2019 as a general-purpose platform for hobbyist, educational, and industrial use. It expanded the Raspberry Pi family with upgraded processing, memory, connectivity, and multimedia capabilities to address demands from makers, researchers, and commercial integrators. The device influenced computing projects across communities associated with the Open Source Initiative, academic institutions, and industry partners.
Overview
The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B was announced by the Raspberry Pi Foundation alongside initiatives linked to the University of Cambridge, the BBC micro:bit collaboration, and the Ada Lovelace Day outreach, reflecting ties with University of Cambridge, BBC, and Ada Lovelace. Its launch followed prior models that traced lineage to projects involving Eben Upton and organizations such as the Computing At School network. The board's introduction intersected with communities around Arduino, BeagleBoard, and makerspaces like Hackerspace chapters globally. Commercial partners including Sony, RS Components, and Farnell distributed the product to educational programs in countries like United Kingdom, United States, and India.
Specifications
The system-on-chip is the Broadcom BCM2711, integrating a quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 CPU clocked at 1.5 GHz and a VideoCore VI GPU, comparable in lineage to architectures from ARM Limited and vendors such as Broadcom. Memory options shipped at 1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GB, and later 8 GB of LPDDR4 SDRAM, reflecting market segments served by distributors like Digi-Key and Mouser Electronics. I/O includes dual micro-HDMI ports supporting 4K output, two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports influenced by standards from the USB Implementers Forum, Gigabit Ethernet, and USB-C power delivery aligning with specifications from USB-C Promoters Group. Wireless connectivity implements IEEE 802.11ac and Bluetooth 5.0, technologies standardized via institutions like the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and storage relies on microSD cards conforming to SD Association specifications.
Hardware revisions and variants
Revisions to the board were documented by the Raspberry Pi Foundation and by third-party media such as Ziff Davis publications and reviewers from The MagPi magazine. Variants included the 1 GB through 8 GB RAM options, with a significant 2020 firmware update addressing USB-C power peripheral compatibility issues discussed in forums tied to Stack Overflow and technical posts by Eben Upton. Community-driven hardware add-ons and HATs referenced standards from the Crownstone ecosystem and accessory vendors like Adafruit Industries and SparkFun Electronics. Industrial derivative boards and compute modules drew influence from embedded platforms such as NVIDIA Jetson and Intel NUC in certain deployments.
Software and operating systems
Officially supported software included Raspberry Pi OS (formerly Raspbian), a Debian-derived distribution developed in concert with Debian developers and the Raspberry Pi Foundation, alongside third-party systems such as Ubuntu, Fedora, and media-center projects like Kodi. Development tools and languages commonly used on the platform include Python (programming language), Node.js, and C++, with education initiatives linked to the Scratch (programming language) project and curricula produced by Code Club. Community contributions and package management practices referenced the Debian Project and repositories mirrored by organizations like GitHub and GitLab.
Performance and benchmarks
Benchmarking compared the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B to contemporaneous single-board computers and low-power desktops from vendors such as Intel and AMD. CPU performance gains over previous Raspberry Pi models were often quantified using SPEC benchmarks and synthetic tests reported by outlets like Phoronix Media and reviewers at AnandTech. Multimedia benchmarks highlighted 4K video playback and hardware-accelerated decoding facilitated by the VideoCore VI GPU, with comparisons to streaming devices from NVIDIA and Apple in media-center contexts. Thermal performance and throttling behaviors were analyzed in community testing documented on platforms including YouTube channels run by technology reviewers.
Uses and applications
The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B found deployment in educational programs run by entities like Raspberry Pi Foundation itself, makerspaces associated with Maker Faire, and research projects at institutions such as MIT and Stanford University. Industrial and commercial uses appeared in IoT gateways, digital signage, and thin clients alongside solutions from Cisco and Siemens partners. Hobbyist projects ranged from retro gaming emulation leveraging RetroArch and RetroPie to home automation integrating with Home Assistant and OpenHAB. Scientific instrumentation and citizen science initiatives used the board in conjunction with projects from NASA, European Space Agency, and environmental monitoring groups.
Reception and impact on computing
Reception among technology press and educational communities cited by outlets like Wired, The Verge, and BBC News emphasized the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B's role in democratizing access to capable computing hardware. Its impact inspired curriculum development in schools influenced by standards from organizations such as Ofsted in the United Kingdom and contributed to the maker economy highlighted at events like South by Southwest. The platform's ubiquity affected supply chains and component markets covered by analysts at Gartner and IDC, and it stimulated open hardware and software discussions within the Open Source Initiative community.