The Raspberry Pi 5 is the most powerful single-board computer in the Raspberry Pi lineup. It keeps the familiar credit-card format but adds a much faster processor, a new graphics core and a set of connectors that open the door to faster storage and more demanding projects.
What's new compared with the Pi 4
- Faster processor: a 2.4 GHz quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 CPU, a big step up in speed over the Pi 4.
- New graphics: VideoCore VII GPU with dual micro-HDMI outputs supporting 4K at 60 Hz.
- PCIe connector: a single-lane PCI Express interface for NVMe SSDs and other fast peripherals through compatible accessories.
- Two USB 3.0 ports and two USB 2.0 ports, plus Gigabit Ethernet.
- Two 4-lane MIPI connectors that can be used for cameras or displays.
- Real-time clock with a battery connector, and a power button.
Which RAM size should you choose?
- 1 GB / 2 GB: light tasks such as a small server, network tools, IoT gateways and learning projects.
- 4 GB: the best balance for most people: desktop use, Home Assistant, media centres, development and small containers.
- 8 GB: heavier multitasking, several services at once, virtual machines and computer vision work.
- 16 GB: demanding workloads, larger databases and memory-hungry software.
What to buy together with the board
- Power supply: the Pi 5 needs a good USB-C power supply; the official 5 V / 5 A (27 W) one is recommended to avoid limits on USB devices.
- Cooling: an active cooler keeps performance steady under load.
- Storage: a fast microSD card, or an NVMe SSD with a compatible adapter for much better speed.
- Case and cables: a case that leaves room for cooling, and a micro-HDMI cable for the display.
Project ideas
- Home server, network storage and media centre.
- Smart home hub.
- Robotics and companion computer for drones and rovers.
- Computer vision and edge AI experiments with a camera.
- A compact desktop computer for work and learning.
Which model suits you?
If you are not sure, start with the 4 GB version for general use, and take 8 GB or 16 GB when you already know your workload will be heavy. See all boards in our Raspberry Pi collection, and read our comparison of all Raspberry Pi models.