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Hardware

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

By Nick Heath February 26, 2016, 9:42 AM PST

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

Raspberry Pi 3

Image: Matt Richardson [email protected]

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 [email protected]
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Raspberry Pi 3 photos: A closer look at the new board

Faster CPU

Image: The Raspberry Pi Foundation

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
pi3-7.jpg
pi3-7.jpg
Raspberry Pi 3 photos: A closer look at the new board

Wi-fi comes to the Pi

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
pi3-4.jpg
pi3-4.jpg
Raspberry Pi 3 photos: A closer look at the new board

Audio and video

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
pi3-13.jpg
pi3-13.jpg
Raspberry Pi 3 photos: A closer look at the new board

Peripherals and networking

Image: The Raspberry Pi Foundation

Peripherals and networking

The four USB2 portsrnand 10/100 Ethernet remain the same as the Pi 3’s predecessor.

Image: The Raspberry Pi Foundation
pi3-5.jpg
pi3-5.jpg
Raspberry Pi 3 photos: A closer look at the new board

Camera interface

Image: The Raspberry Pi Foundation

Camera interface

The board’srncamera interface, also found on the Pi 2.

Image: The Raspberry Pi Foundation
pi3-10.jpg
pi3-10.jpg
Raspberry Pi 3 photos: A closer look at the new board

Expandability

Image: The Raspberry Pi Foundation

Expandability

The Pi 3’srn40 general purpose input-output pins expand the range of hardwarernthat can be used with the board, as was the case with the Pi 2.

Image: The Raspberry Pi Foundation
pi3-6.jpg
pi3-6.jpg
Raspberry Pi 3 photos: A closer look at the new board

Display interface

Image: The Raspberry Pi Foundation

Display interface

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

Image: The Raspberry Pi Foundation
pi3-9876.jpg
pi3-9876.jpg
Raspberry Pi 3 photos: A closer look at the new board

Pi base

Image: The Raspberry Pi Foundation

Pi base

The underside of the new board.

Image: The Raspberry Pi Foundation
pi3-9892.jpg
pi3-9892.jpg
Raspberry Pi 3 photos: A closer look at the new board

New power supply

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

Pi case

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.

The Raspberry Pi Foundation
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Nick Heath is a computer science student and was formerly a journalist at TechRepublic and ZDNet.
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