Raspberry Pi 5 vs Raspberry Pi 4: In-Depth Comparison and Unique Advantages

June 14th, 2024

As technology continues to evolve, so do the tools and devices that empower innovation and creativity. Among these, the Raspberry Pi series stands out as a versatile and powerful platform for a wide range of applications, from simple DIY projects to complex computing tasks. With the recent release of the Raspberry Pi 5, enthusiasts and professionals alike are curious about how it stacks up against its predecessor, the Raspberry Pi 4. This article delves into a detailed comparison of these two models, highlighting their differences and unique advantages to help you make an informed decision.

1.Processor

Raspberry Pi 5 has a more powerful ARM Cortex-A76 processor clocked at 2.4GHz, compared to the Cortex-A72 at 1.5GHz in the Raspberry Pi 4.

ARM Cortex-A72

ARM Cortex-A76

2.Memory

Both models offer similar memory configurations, but the Raspberry Pi 5 uses LPDDR4X-4266 SDRAM, which is faster than the LPDDR4-3200 used in the Raspberry Pi 4.

3.GPU Difference

The GPU in the Raspberry Pi 5 has seen some notable improvements, with VideoCore VII at 1.1 GHz replacing VideoCore VI at 800 MHz in the Raspberry Pi 4.

4.Networking

The Raspberry Pi 5 features a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port, providing significantly faster wired network speeds compared to the Gigabit Ethernet port on the Raspberry Pi 4.

5.Connectivity

Both models offer similar wireless and Bluetooth capabilities, but the Raspberry Pi 5 adds USB 3.0 OTG functionality.

Raspberry Pi 5 comes with two 4-lane MIPI connectors, each of which can support a camera or display.

Raspberry Pi 5 doesn’t have an audio output Jack like that Raspberry Pi 4. It has been completely removed from the board. This means that the only remaining options to get audio out of the Raspberry Pi 5 are HDMI and Bluetooth.

two 4-lane MIPI connectors

audio composite video

6.Storage
The Raspberry Pi 5 introduces a PCIe 2.0 interface, allowing the use of NVMe SSDs for much faster storage compared to the microSD card slot on the Raspberry Pi 4.

7.Power button

Raspberry Pi 5 include a power button for the first time. It is a push-button type and also works with the official Raspberry Pi 5 case.

8.Real time clock

The Raspberry Pi 5 has a built-in RTC (real-time clock) and a port to connect an RS2025/2032 button cell battery to keep it powered when the Raspberry Pi 5 is powered off. Another requested improvement over previous versions that had to connect to the global NTP protocol servers shortly after boot to update the time.

9.Power Requirements

The Raspberry Pi 5 requires a higher power input of 5V/5.0A via USB-C, compared to 5V/3.0A for the Raspberry Pi 4.

Raspberry Pi 5 vs Raspberry Pi 4 - Temperature & Coolling

The Raspberry Pi 4 and 5 can reach high temperatures, especially under heavy loads. Without adequate cooling, the CPU can hit temperatures that trigger thermal throttling (around 80°C), reducing performance to manage heat. Passive cooling methods like heatsinks are often necessary for moderate use, while active cooling solutions such as small fans or active cooling cases are recommended for sustained high-performance tasks.

Raspberry Pi 5 have a Official Active Cooler. It’s a dedicated clip-on cooling solution and combines an aluminium heatsink with a temperature-controlled blower fan.

Raspberry Pi 5 vs Raspberry Pi 4 - Table Comparation

Raspberry Pi 5 vs Raspberry Pi 4 Comparison 

Performance 

Temperature and Cooling

Storage Speed

Networking Speed

Power Usage

Unique Advantages of Raspberry Pi 5 in Specific Tasks

High-Performance Computing: With a more powerful ARM Cortex-A76 processor and improved GPU, Raspberry Pi 5 is suitable for tasks requiring high computational power, such as scientific computing, data analysis, and complex automation tasks.

Network Attached Storage (NAS): The 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port and PCIe 2.0 interface (supporting NVMe SSDs) make Raspberry Pi 5 excellent for building high-performance NAS.

Media Server: Enhanced processor and GPU enable Raspberry Pi 5 to better handle 4K video streaming and multimedia applications.

Internet of Things (IoT) and Edge Computing: Faster processing speed and improved connectivity make it ideal for real-time data processing and complex IoT applications.

Education and Programming: Higher performance and flexibility make it a powerful tool in computer science and engineering education, especially for programming tasks requiring real-time feedback and complex computations.

Raspberry Pi 5 vs Raspberry Pi 4 - Choosing the Right Model

When deciding between the Raspberry Pi 4 and Raspberry Pi 5, consider your specific needs and use cases:

Raspberry Pi 4: Ideal for general-purpose computing, educational projects, media centers, and lightweight server applications. Its affordability and sufficient performance make it a popular choice for many DIY and educational endeavors.

Raspberry Pi 5: Better suited for more demanding tasks that require higher performance and faster networking capabilities. It is perfect for advanced projects such as high-performance computing, NAS, and applications that benefit from faster storage options.