this post was submitted on 19 Aug 2024
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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ndlug.org/post/1001830

Today, we’re happy to announce the launch of the 2GB Raspberry Pi 5, built on a cost-optimised D0 stepping of the BCM2712 application processor, and priced at just $50.

The new D0 stepping strips away all that unneeded functionality, leaving only the bits we need. From the perspective of a Raspberry Pi user, it is functionally identical to its predecessor: the same fast quad-core processor; the same multimedia capabilities; and the same PCI Express bus that has proven to be one of the most exciting features of the Raspberry Pi 5 platform. However, it is cheaper to make, and so is available to us at somewhat lower cost. And this, combined with the savings from halving the memory capacity, has allowed us to take $10 out of the cost of the finished product.

So, while our most demanding users — who want to drive dual 4Kp60 displays, or open a hundred browser tabs, or compile complex software from source — will probably stick with the existing higher memory-capacity variants of Raspberry Pi 5, many of you will find that this new, lower-cost variant works perfectly well for your use cases.

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[–] [email protected] 38 points 2 months ago (6 children)

I don't see any reason to use a Raspi instead of an used thin client for selfhosting.
They use about the same energy, but the Mini-PC has x86, which has better software support, has more ports, and runs more stable.

I have a RPI for my 3D-printer (Octoprint), and I will soon replace it with a "proper" PC, because it always crashes.

Raspberry Pis are good for very small appliances, but for anything more, they suck imo

[–] [email protected] 27 points 2 months ago (3 children)

They are what you make of them. I have three 3b+ units sitting upstairs, one of which runs my entire media stack, and the second is mostly just for Pihole, and the last is for general tinkering I might need. The pin array is awesome to have.

No one's arguing they are low performance (although a 5 is practically 5x the performance of a 3b+ unit), but they definitely don't suck

[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 months ago (4 children)

I don't even mean performance in terms of computing power.

RPIs are, imo, not meant as a server. It might (and will) work fine, but one of the main problems I have is the power supply. As soon as I send a more advanced print job to my RPI, it crashes. Even though I have the official power cord.

If it works for you - fine! I don't want to tell badly about them. They are great.

It's just that they are very inflexible.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

RPIs are, imo, not meant as a server.

That's not just your opinion, it's a fact.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

Could also be your sd card btw.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

NGL, changing the computer instead of the power supply seems a bit expensive if that's the problem

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Could be a bad board. I have a Pi 3B+ that intermittently crashes and shows insufficient voltage no matter what power supply is used.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

At least your 3B+ doesn't cost $50.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I bought a couple a few years ago, the only one I still use is the PiHole, which has been phenomenal. I did try to use one as a media server but turned out to be more of a pain than it was worth.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

I handle everything through docker, and a Portainer agent on top of that, so it's actually been quite painless. Would definitely recommend

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

We used a RPi 4 for a Plex server for a while. It was fine except it couldn't do any live transcoding or handle h265 worth beans.

I upgraded to an OrangePi 5. I'm on a sata drive for the OS and a external USB disk for media. The thing is amazing!

No, it's not a $50 computer. Yes, it works great.

I love RPi boards, but their hardware limitations are quick to be found as you move past simple hobbyist projects.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

I agree, once you factor in a power supply (or PoE hat), case and storage a Raspberry Pi really isn't all that cheap anymore nowadays. Unless you have a project that specifically benefits from the GPIO pins or the form factor, just get a cheap barebones mini PC or a used one with RAM and SSD already included.

This will get you a system that's way more powerful even if it's a couple of years old (the Pi's SoC is fairly weak) and I/O throughput is no contest, normally with at least a dozen PCIe lanes to use for NVMe storage or 10 gigabit network cards, if you so desire.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

I've actually been considering getting a mini-pc. My old setup at home used to be my main PC hooked up to my TVs in the living room with a wireless keyboard. Id do some low end gaming on it and mostly streaming. Im in process of selling that house and looking to go back into a more traditional setup, with my main PC In a den with actual monitors, but still want to consider the option of having a mini PC in the living room TV for the occasional PC needs, and running lower end party games from steam like Jack Box.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Which mini pc? I have an Intel NUC Intel i5 and looking for something smaller but can run a dev desktop (xfce, vscode, node, docker).

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

I use Intel NUC boards for desktop systems. The form factor is nice and compact. The only limiting factor would be the volume limits the GPU, but that's not a requirement for me.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

They're good for media centers, since the support 4k HDR. Can also use Moonlight to stream games from a PC. GPIO is useful, but I guess the PI is overpowered for most GPIO use cases at this point.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (3 children)
[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago

A low-power computer typically used just to remotely connect to a proper server

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

Think of a browser and nothing else. Computation happens somewhere else (except JS)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (3 children)

A small form factor PC. Think of a Mac Mini. Small, often not-high-performance, low-powered PCs that are often used in business environments.

I use one as my home server.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

That's not what a thin client, that's just a mini PC. A thin client is a computer that connects to remote sessions, and since that's their main function, they're they don't need more computing power than you need to connect to a report desktop environment.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

that is not a thin-client in the traditional sense, just a small form factor (1liter) pc. Thin clients were minimal spec machines that were made to connect to a much more powerful server somewhere on the network that did all the work. The thin client handled the display and I/O.

Mini PCs are generally a far better deal than a Pi and much more powerful for any kind general computing use.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

Ah, okay. I thought OP was referring to a thinkpad/thinkcentre