Skip to content

TechRepublic

  • Top Products Lists
  • Developer
  • 5G
  • Security
  • Cloud
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Tech & Work
  • Mobility
  • Big Data
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • CES
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Top Products Lists
  • Developer
  • 5G
  • Security
  • Cloud
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Tech & Work
  • Mobility
  • Big Data
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • CES
  • See All Topics
  • Sponsored
  • Newsletters
  • Forums
  • Resource Library
TechRepublic Premium
Join / Sign In
Hardware

Photos: What is the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B? A closer look at the new board and what it can do

By Nick Heath June 24, 2019, 6:31 AM PDT

Image
1
of 9

pic2.jpg
pic2.jpg
Photos: What is the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B? A closer look at the new board and what it can do

Same size, different layout

Same size, different layout

As you can see, while the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, on the left, is the same size as the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+, it has a different layout.

The change has been necessary to incorporate the dual micro-HMDI ports on the board.

The new layout means side panels in cases for older Pi boards won’t fit correctly. I also found the board overheated when playing video while using an older case, with the computer throttling performance to reduce temperature.

SEE: Raspberry Pi 4 Model B review: This board can really replace your PC

pic3.jpg
pic3.jpg
Photos: What is the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B? A closer look at the new board and what it can do

On the back

On the back

The underside of the Pi 4 is more bare than previous boards, housing only the microSD card reader. 

SEE: Raspberry Pi 4 Model B review: This board can really replace your PC

pic5.jpg
pic5.jpg
Photos: What is the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B? A closer look at the new board and what it can do

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Wireless connectivity is similar to the Pi 3 B+, with the Raspberry Pi 4 offering dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, but Bluetooth is upgraded to 5.0, compared to the Bluetooth 4.2 found in the Pi 3 B+.

Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic
pic6.jpg
pic6.jpg
Photos: What is the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B? A closer look at the new board and what it can do

Dual-screen support

Dual-screen support

The board can be used with two monitors at once via its dual micro-HDMI ports. These are able to support up to twin 4K@30Hz screens or a single 4K@60Hz monitor. 

As with previous boards, the Pi 4 also includes a 4 pole stereo audio output and composite video jack.

pic7.jpg
pic7.jpg
Photos: What is the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B? A closer look at the new board and what it can do

USB 3.0 arrives

USB 3.0 arrives

The Pi gets faster ports for hooking up storage and other peripherals, with 2 x USB 3.0 and 2 x USB 2.0 ports.

The position of the USB and Ethernet ports has changed, with the USB ports now to the left of the Ethernet.

pic8.jpg
pic8.jpg
Photos: What is the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B? A closer look at the new board and what it can do

Better hardware support

Better hardware support

Like the Pi 3 B+, the Pi 4 also sports a 40-pin, general purpose input-output (GPIO) header for hooking up other boards, sensors, motors, and homemade hardware to the Pi.

The pin layout is identical to earlier versions of the Raspberry Pi and the Pi 4 should be compatible with many hardware add-ons for earlier boards. 

The Pi 4’s GPIO header also supports more connections, with UART, SPI and I2C interfaces each supported on four additional pins, and with fixed support for clock stretching over I2C interfaces.

pic9.jpg
pic9.jpg
Photos: What is the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B? A closer look at the new board and what it can do

True Gigabit Ethernet

True Gigabit Ethernet

Like the Pi 3 B+, the Pi 4 has a Gigabit Ethernet port, however, unlike the previous board, the Pi 4 offers true Gigabit Ethernet speeds due to not being constrained by a shared USB 2.0 bus.

pic10.jpg
pic10.jpg
Photos: What is the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B? A closer look at the new board and what it can do

More display options

More display options

Useful for hooking up small LCD screens to the Pi, the usual DSI connector found on Pi boards is also present.

pic11.jpg
pic11.jpg
Photos: What is the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B? A closer look at the new board and what it can do

USB-C power

USB-C power

The Pi 4 is the first board to use USB-C for its power, and requires a 5V/3A power supply, giving the Pi 4 an extra half amp power compared to earlier boards.

  • Hardware
  • Open source
  • Account Information

    Share with Your Friends

    Photos: What is the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B? A closer look at the new board and what it can do

    Your email has been sent

Share: Photos: What is the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B? A closer look at the new board and what it can do
Image of Nick Heath
By Nick Heath
Nick Heath is a computer science student and was formerly a journalist at TechRepublic and ZDNet.
  • Account Information

    Contact Nick Heath

    Your message has been sent

  • |
  • See all of Nick's content

TechRepublic Premium

  • TechRepublic Premium

    Hiring kit: Business information analyst

    PURPOSE A large segment of internal and external modern business now takes place on computers, tablets and other mobile devices. The information technology infrastructure that has sprung up around that business can be daunting in its scope. This Hiring Kit from TechRepublic Premium provides an adjustable framework your business can use to find, recruit and ...

    Published:  March 26, 2023, 12:00 PM EDT Modified:  March 27, 2023, 7:00 PM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Grant writing guide

    PURPOSE This grant writing guide from TechRepublic Premium will help you identify a grant that fits your idea, build a team to help you compile a proposal, and set a timeline to meet the application deadline. From the guide: BEFORE YOU START This list of steps will help the grant writing process go more smoothly. ...

    Published:  March 26, 2023, 12:00 PM EDT Modified:  March 27, 2023, 6:00 PM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Guidelines for building security policies

    PURPOSE These guidelines from TechRepublic Premium will help you define the necessary ingredients of a security policy and assist in its proper construction. They’re designed to work hand in hand with the subjective knowledge you have of your company, environment and employees. Using this information, your business can establish new policies or elaborate on those ...

    Published:  March 23, 2023, 12:00 PM EDT Modified:  March 24, 2023, 1:00 PM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Hiring kit: Artificial intelligence architect

    PURPOSE Recruiting an Artificial Intelligence Architect with the right combination of technical expertise and experience will require a comprehensive screening process. This Hiring Kit from TechRepublic Premium provides an adjustable framework your business can use to find, recruit and ultimately hire the right person for the job. From the hiring kit: DETERMINING FACTORS, DESIRABLE PERSONALITY ...

    Published:  March 23, 2023, 12:00 PM EDT Modified:  March 24, 2023, 1:00 PM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium

Services

  • About Us
  • Newsletters
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Site Help & Feedback
  • FAQ
  • Advertise
  • Do Not Sell My Information

Explore

  • Downloads
  • TechRepublic Forums
  • Meet the Team
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Resource Library
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • TechRepublic
  • TechRepublic on Twitter
  • TechRepublic on Facebook
  • TechRepublic on LinkedIn
  • TechRepublic on Flipboard
© 2023 TechnologyAdvice. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Property of TechnologyAdvice