Hardware

Raspberry Pi 3 photos: A closer look at the new board

By // February 28, 2016, 11:00 PM PST // nickjheath

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  • Raspberry Pi 3

    The latest version of the the Raspberry Pi, the $35 credit card-sized computer, launches today.

    The big change is the move to a newer and faster quad-core processor -  some 50 percent faster than that in the Raspberry Pi 2 - and the addition of wi-fi and Bluetooth for the first time.

    Here you can see the new board. Step through the rest of the images to walk through what's new with the Pi 3.

    Read the full interview with Raspberry Pi co-creator Eben Upton about how the Pi 3 changes what's possible with the Pi.

    Image: Matt Richardson mrichardson23@gmail.com

  • Faster CPU

    One of the major changes from the Raspberry Pi 3's predecessor - the Raspberry Pi 2 - is the move to upgrade the core Broadcom chip.

    The Pi 3 sees the board move to a 1.2GHz quad-core 64-bit ARM cortex A53 CPU. Not only is the CPU faster than the Pi 2's 900MHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 CPU, but it is based on an architecture that can do more in each processor cycle. A 400MHz VideoCore IV multimedia processor handles the Pi 3's graphics.

    The new CPU core in the Raspberry Pi 3 performs 50-60 percent faster in 32-bit mode compared to the Raspberry Pi 2 and roughly ten times better than the original single-core Raspberry Pi in a multi-threaded CPU benchmark like SysBench. Compared to the original Pi, real world applications will see a performance increase of between 2.5x - for single-threaded applications - and more than 20x - for NEON-enabled video codecs.

    Image: The Raspberry Pi Foundation

  • Wi-fi comes to the Pi

    The biggest new addition to the board is support for wi-fi (802.11n Wireless LAN) and Bluetooth 4.1.

    The chip antenna providing this wireless connectivity can be seen behind the 'Made in the UK' stamp. The Raspberry Pi Foundation manufactures boards out of a Sony factory in Pencoed in South Wales.

    Image: The Raspberry Pi Foundation

  • Audio and video

    The Pi 3 retains the combined 3.5mm audio and composite video port found on the Pi 2.

    Image: The Raspberry Pi Foundation

  • USB hub

    As with previous Pis, the board's USB and Ethernet connections are handled by this SMSC chip.

    This shared bus limits the data that can be passed to and from the Pi and can bog down data transfer rates when a user attempts to simultaneously pass large amounts of data over Ethernet and to a USB-attached device.

    Image: The Raspberry Pi Foundation

  • Ports

    The Pi 3 keeps the micro-USB port for power and the HDMI output found in the Pi 2.

    Image: The Raspberry Pi Foundation

  • Peripherals and networking

    The four USB2 ports and 10/100 Ethernet remain the same as the Pi 3's predecessor.

    Image: The Raspberry Pi Foundation

  • Camera interface

    The board's camera interface, also found on the Pi 2.

    Image: The Raspberry Pi Foundation

  • Expandability

    The Pi 3's 40 general purpose input-output pins expand the range of hardware that can be used with the board, as was the case with the Pi 2.

    Image: The Raspberry Pi Foundation

  • Display interface

    The Pi 3 also keep the same display interface found on the Pi 2.

    Image: The Raspberry Pi Foundation

  • Pi base

    The underside of the new board.

    Image: The Raspberry Pi Foundation

  • New power supply

    Peak power consumption of the Pi 3 is about 50 - 60 percent higher than the Pi 2, so a new power supply has launched for the board.

    The new supply will be rated at 2.5A5.1V, compared to the 2A5V-rated supply used by earlier boards.

    Image: The Raspberry Pi Foundation

  • Pi case

    The layout of the Pi 3 has stayed the same, apart from the LEDs moving. This move was necessary to make space for the antenna for the wireless LAN.

    The change means some cases for older boards will not have holes in the right place to show the LEDs. The Raspberry Pi Foundation is launching a new official case for the Pi 3, seen here.

    Image: The Raspberry Pi Foundation

Raspberry Pi 3

The latest version of the the Raspberry Pi, the $35 credit card-sized computer, launches today.

The big change is the move to a newer and faster quad-core processor -  some 50 percent faster than that in the Raspberry Pi 2 - and the addition of wi-fi and Bluetooth for the first time.

Here you can see the new board. Step through the rest of the images to walk through what's new with the Pi 3.

Read the full interview with Raspberry Pi co-creator Eben Upton about how the Pi 3 changes what's possible with the Pi.

Image: Matt Richardson mrichardson23@gmail.com

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By Nick Heath

Nick Heath is chief reporter for TechRepublic. He writes about the technology that IT decision makers need to know about, and the latest happenings in the European tech scene.