Introduction:

Hello everyone and welcome. Today, we’re going to be taking a closer look at the Raspberry Pi 5. We do a quick overview of the hardware, breaking down each component.

We will also be comparing it to its predecessor, the Raspberry Pi 4.

We’ll look at performance, connectivity, and power efficiency. Whether you're looking to upgrade or just curious, keep reading as we cover all the important differences and upgrades between these two boards.

https://youtu.be/NzSF0Tljgsw?feature=shared

Side By Side Comparison - What's changed?

Feature	Raspberry Pi 5	Raspberry Pi 4
Processor	2.4GHz quad-core Cortex-A76	1.8GHz quad-core Cortex-A72
Graphics	VideoCore VII	VideoCore VI
RAM Options	2GB, 4GB, 8GB LPDDR4X	2GB, 4GB, 8GB LPDDR4
Storage Interface	PCIe 2.0 (for NVMe SSD)	microSD
Camera & Display Ports	Dual 4-lane MIPI CSI/DSI ports	Single MIPI CSI/DSI port
Display Output	Dual 4K @ 60Hz micro-HDMI	Single 4K @ 60Hz micro-HDMI
USB Ports	2 x USB 3.0 (Improved speed), 2 x USB 2.0	2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0
Ethernet & I/O Chip	Separate RP1 I/O chip	Integrated with CPU
Power Supply	27-watt USB-C	15-watt USB-C
Audio Output	HDMI, Bluetooth	3.5mm audio jack, HDMI
Thermal Performance	Active cooler available, better cooling performance	Thermal throttling starts at 80°C (limited cooling options)
GPIO Header	40-pin (PoE header relocated)	40-pin (Standard placement)

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Raspberry Pi 5 Components Breakdown:

CPU/GPU:

Let’s start with the CPU and GPU. The Raspberry Pi 5 is powered by a quad-core Cortex-A76 processor clocked at 2.4GHz and paired with a VideoCore VII GPU. Compared to the Pi 4’s 1.8GHz Cortex-A72 and VideoCore VI GPU, the Pi 5 offers around 2 to 3 times the processing power and significantly better graphics performance for tasks like 4K video playback, light gaming, and multitasking.

Ram:

The Pi 5 also features 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM, which is faster than the Pi 4’s LPDDR4 RAM. This results in smoother performance, especially in memory-intensive tasks like databases and AI projects.

Power Button & PCIe 2.0:

A major new addition to the Raspberry pi 5 is the On Board power button and the single lane PCIe 2.0 interface, enabling the connection of high-speed NVMe SSDs for faster storage, which is a massive upgrade from the Pi 4’s reliance on microSD cards. This is perfect for users who want more storage speed for things like media servers and web hosting.

Dual 4-lane MIPI CSI/DSI Ports:

The Raspberry Pi 5 now includes dual 4-lane MIPI CSI/DSI ports, delivering increased bandwidth for both cameras and displays. This allows users to connect and run two Raspberry Pi cameras simultaneously, a significant improvement over the Pi 4, which was limited to one camera at a time. The higher bandwidth also enhances support for more advanced, high-resolution cameras or dual displays, making it ideal for complex projects such as multi-camera setups in robotics, machine vision, or surveillance systems.

Dual 4K @60Hz Micro HDMI:

The Raspberry Pi 5 offers dual 4K @ 60Hz micro-HDMI ports, providing the ability to output two 4K displays simultaneously right out of the box. This is a notable upgrade from the Pi 4, which only supported a single 4K @ 60Hz output by default.

RP1 I/O chip:

There’s also the new RP1 I/O chip, which handles USB and Ethernet tasks, offloading these from the CPU, ensuring overall better system performance.

USB 3.0 & 2.0 Ports:

The Raspberry Pi 5 retains the familiar configuration of two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports from the Raspberry Pi 4. However, thanks to the new RP1 I/O controller, the Pi 5 significantly improves data handling. This allows the USB 3.0 ports to fully support simultaneous 5Gbps speeds on both ports. On the Pi 4, while the USB 3.0 ports were fast, there were bandwidth limitations when using multiple devices, which could cause a slowdown in data transfer.

With the Pi 5, you can expect more consistent and faster speeds when transferring large amounts of data, particularly when using devices like external SSDs or high-speed peripherals. This improved performance makes the Pi 5 better suited for tasks that require sustained high-speed data transfers, such as media centers or home server setups​

40-pin GPIO Header:

The Raspberry Pi 5 retains the standard 40-pin GPIO header, ensuring compatibility with most existing HATs from previous Raspberry Pi models, including the Pi 4. However, there are some exceptions, particularly with PoE (Power over Ethernet) HATs. On the Pi 5, the PoE header has been relocated, so PoE HATs designed for the Pi 4 or Pi 3B+ will not be compatible with the Raspberry Pi 5 due to this new placement.

For general GPIO-based HATs, there should be no issues in terms of compatibility, but it’s always a good idea to check the specific requirements of more advanced HATs to ensure smooth functionality.

Removal Of The Audio Jack:

Another important change is the removal of the 3.5mm audio jack. Audio now comes through HDMI or Bluetooth, so if you’re using legacy audio devices, you’ll need to adjust your setup.

27-watt USB-C Power Supply:

Power management has seen an upgrade. The Pi 5 now requires a 27-watt USB-C power supply, offering more headroom for high-performance tasks.

Active Cooler:

An optional active cooler is available to maintain performance under heavy load, which will help avoid thermal throttling.

Thermal Performance:

This leads us into our final topic: the thermal performance of the Raspberry Pi 5. Let’s take a closer look at how it handles heat and what advancements have been made to keep it cool, even during heavy workloads.

The Raspberry Pi 5 has significantly improved thermal management over the Raspberry Pi 4. Without cooling, the Pi 5 idles around 65°C, slightly warmer than the Pi 4. Under load, it can reach 85°C, triggering thermal throttling. However, even when throttled, it still performs faster than the Pi 4.

With an active cooler, the Pi 5 idles at 45°C and stabilizes around 62-63°C under heavy load, avoiding throttling. For normal use, adding cooling is optional, as it will only throttle under sustained heavy workloads, making cooling unnecessary for lighter tasks.

Should You Upgrade?

So, should you upgrade to the Raspberry Pi 5?.

It really depends on what you plan to do with it. If you're primarily using your Raspberry Pi for basic tasks like web browsing or light IoT projects, the Pi 4 remains a reliable and cost-effective choice

However, if you're working on more intensive projects like media servers, AI applications, or need faster data handling, the Raspberry Pi 5 is a significant upgrade.

With a more powerful CPU and GPU, support for PCIe storage, enhanced connectivity, and better thermal management, the Pi 5 is ideal for advanced users or anyone who requires additional power for demanding workloads. If your projects are pushing the limits of the Pi 4’s capabilities, the Pi 5 is well worth considering.

Closing:

The Raspberry Pi 5 offers significant improvements over the Pi 4, making it an exciting option for tech enthusiasts and hobbyists alike.

What do you think? Will you be upgrading to the Pi 5? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!.

And If you found this video helpful, don’t forget to share our content online. Feel free to check out our YouTube channel for more resources and project ideas.

Sources:

Thermal Tests - https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/heating-and-cooling-raspberry-pi-5/