Raspberry Pi 4 Model B - 8GB

After much waiting and anticipation, we’re excited to announce that the 8GB version of the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B is finally available in SA, and we’ve been having a lot of fun experimenting with the full power of the Raspberry Pi 4, backed with the full memory size that we’ve been eagerly waiting for.

To begin, we must admit that we have been very impressed with the capabilities of the Raspberry Pi 4 2GB and 4GB version, and this is likely due to not only having more power in almost every regard, but also due to the modern components and software support that have been developed and improved since the Raspberry Pi 3. However, in our modern world, if we want to use single board computers like these for more functional purposes, like building a travel-laptop, custom smart device or other computing-intensive applications, 8GB has become a new benchmark, and having any less than that can quickly become frustrating. This is precisely why we love the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 8GB version, as it offers all of the fantastic benefits of the 4GB and 2GB versions, but is actually equipped with the right stuff to take it to the next level, where it can actually be used for more powerful projects and substantially better handling for multi-process applications.

So How is the Raspberry Pi 4 Better than the Raspberry Pi 3 B+?

This is the question in everyone’s minds right now, and we’re quite excited to tell you all about the many small and large improvements that the Pi 4 is ready to bring to the table. So, in terms of upgrades since the Pi 3 B+, the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 8GB SBC has been improved in every single way, from a more powerful CPU, to more RAM, to more video outputs, and so much more. However, to just mention these upgrades without digging further into the juicy details would do the Pi 4 a great disservice, so let’s explore the fancy, functional and fantastic upgrades a little more – in a convenient and easy to read bullet point format:

• Vastly More Powerful CPU – As the main brains behind these little single-board-computers, the Raspberry Pi 4 has been equipped with an extremely powerful Broadcom BCM2711B0 Cortex A-72processor. This is around 4 times more powerful than the Cortex-A53 on the Pi 3 B+, and achieves this power increase by catering to many of the small bottle-necking problems that were simply unavoidable with the previous chip architecture. This means that you can expect much more power from the Pi 4, without any drawbacks, allowing you to really step up your projects in terms of both processing speed, as well as complexity.
  
  
• Higher Capacity AND Quality Memory – While a lot of people will initially look at the increased RAM and simply think that it’s a larger size, some may not realise that the new type of memory (LPDDR4 SDRAM) also makes a huge difference. Additionally, with a full 8GB of RAM on this model, you can expect a lot more speed, especially since these newer models use a more modern type of RAM. This makes the RAM both larger than previously, as well as faster with a higher frequency, which of course translates to reliable speed and a genuinely amazing benefit that anyone who has worked with previous Pi Boards will appreciate.
  
  
• More Serial Capabilities for Makers – As you will all know, Raspberry Pi Boards are designed for Makers and those interested in learning, and as such always featured convenient UART, I2C and SPI buses to communicate or interface with various low-level modules, sensors and other components. And as Makers, we can’t help but drool over the enhanced serial functionality of the Pi 4, with 4 UART Buses, 4 SPI Buses and 4 I2C Buses – allowing us to really take advantage of the processing power for our strange, wonderful and sometimes whacky Electronics projects.
  
  
• A MAJOR Step Up for Audio/Video Output – Raspberry Pi has always been a great development platform to work with, offering an incredibly wide range of functionality from basic low-level peripheral projects all the way up to full computer capabilities. However, one area in which Pi boards have always left users wanting more is in the audio/video output. With the Raspberry Pi 4 and the integrated VideoCore VI (6), however, this is a thing of the past, and you can now enjoy Dual 4K30 HDMI Outputs or a Single 4K60 Output via the Micro HDMI ports. Additionally, the PWM functionality of the Pi 4 is no longer shared with the analogue audio output on the 3.5mm AV jack, as it was on previous models, allowing users to take full advantage of all of the different audio/video output options – without having to compromise or sacrifice functionality in other areas.

Now, don’t get us wrong, there are certainly many other awesome upgrades that have been made to the new Pi 4, but we felt that the above were the most exciting few that we as Makers can really take advantage of. As such, let’s take a look at a brief summary of all of the new features and specifications of the Pi 4, and then some of the awesome use cases that you can expect to enjoy when you finally get your hands on one of these beautiful boards.

Please Note: This model of the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B is the 8GB version, which is most powerful of the three options available. However, if you think you might not need the full 8GB of RAM, then we also stock the 2GB Raspberry Pi 4 Model B and the 4GB Raspberry Pi 4 Model B as well, so that you can save on costs for small to moderate projects while reserving the 8GB version for power-hungry projects.

Awesome Applications for the Powerful Raspberry Pi 4 with 8GB RAM:

As you may expect, with 8GB of RAM at its disposal, you know that the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 8GB edition is ready to deliver in terms of power, speed and functionality. This means that it can finally be used for a reasonably powerful desktop or laptop custom computer without most people even knowing it’s a Pi, and as software and ideas get developed and refined, you can be sure that this little beauty is destined for some truly great things.

With this in mind, we’ve taken the time to find some projects that we think are really awesome, and that we will probably end up Making, re-Making and, finally, perfecting as we experiment, play and push our Pi’s to the limits:

• With so much success and development on this idea in the past, we can’t go without mentioning the awesome Raspberry Pi Media Centre Project, which turns a tiny Raspberry Pi SBC into a sleek media centre, capable of playing Kodi, videos from the web, audio and video streams, as well as a few extra features that add some nice finishing touches.
  
  
• For the next awesome example, we love the idea of the Raspberry Pi “MagicMirror” Project, which involves a discretely hidden screen behind a semi-reflective glass pane, so as to create a mirror effect with a sleek user interface to tell you the time, remind you of memos, or possibly even give you some fashion tips you integrate some Smart Vision Sensing into it.
  
  
• Next up, we feel that this new 8GB edition is finally ready to be the Ultra-Low-Cost Desktop PC that we’ve wanted for so long, allowing you, your family or employees to work from home – without the frustrating lag and crashes that demanding tasks caused for previous models. This is a really good Raspberry Pi 4 8GB PC Hands-On Review, showing how this fancy little board just needs a good case like The Argon One Case and some basic peripherals in order to provide all the digital functionality you would need in a typical office environment.
  
  
• Finally, with a good amount of power, speed and computing versatility, the Pi 4 8GB is the perfect board to be used for a cool Pi-Powered Pocket Laptop, which can be 3D Printed to suit your tastes, and can be equipped with not only standard computing functionality, but also extra features like a built-in game arcade, AI Camera capabilities, and even multiple displays to create a truly customised portable device. This Raspberry Pi Laptop Guide is a great example of just how easy it can be, and it wisely uses a wireless keyboard to give it a pretty darn sleek aesthetic.

It's always difficult to narrow down these examples to just a few, given the fact that there are just so many different amazing projects that Raspberry Pi Boards can be used for. However, those that we have mentioned are certainly some projects that we are eager to test out, and of course, if you’re ever stuck for ideas on what you want to do with your Pi, there are countless resources and entire monthly magazines dedicated purely to ideas, development, software and more, all easy to find and ready for you to get involved in.

The primary aim of The Raspberry Pi Foundation is to enable people from all walks of life to understand, learn and develop our digital world with ideas that actually matter to them. Their single-board computers are designed with an open-source style, while being both easy to use and versatile. This allows people to build their own systems to cater to unique problems within their environment, while allowing them to share with and learn from others who are building similar types of systems – growing and developing the open-source movement in every step of the way.

The Raspberry Pi Foundation also takes their initiative a step further by building accessories like cameras, control interfaces and other products that can be seamlessly integrated into projects, made with high quality components but without the unnecessary frills that many brands choose to add on for “extra value”. This “no frills” approach makes their products more affordable while catering to consumers throughout the world, regardless of their financial condition. In doing so, people in almost any situation can use these products to improve their lives, better the world around them, and help develop both their local communities, as well as online communities of Makers.

Finally, like the cherry (or perhaps raspberry) on top of an already-great Sundae, The Raspberry Pi Foundation utilises the profits that they make to sponsor and host outreach and education efforts, with the intent to help people by making computing and digital development more accessible. They train educators and offer free resources online for people to learn from, giving consumers the power to change the world around them, and ultimately do their small part in developing the ever-expanding digital world too.