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In 2023, the single-board computer manufacturer Raspberry Pi launched the Raspberry Pi 5, a device that comes with 4GB of memory by default, though an 8GB version is also available. For most users, the 4GB version is considered the minimum required to meet usage needs.
However, the Raspberry Pi Foundation believes that 2GB of memory is still sufficient for certain scenarios. As a result, the Foundation has introduced a 2GB version of the Raspberry Pi 5, with some changes to the SoC, reducing the overall price to $50.
For comparison, the Raspberry Pi 5 with 4GB of memory is priced at $60, while the 8GB version costs $80. All the prices mentioned refer to the bare board, meaning they do not include any additional accessories such as power supplies, data cables, or cases.
The Raspberry Pi Foundation states that Raspberry Pi OS, the Debian-based operating system tailored for Raspberry Pi, has been optimized to run smoothly even on the 2GB version of the Raspberry Pi, making it suitable for specific use cases.
To cut costs, not only was the memory reduced, but the SoC chip in the 2GB version also changed. The chip remains Broadcom’s BCM2712, but it now uses the D0 stepping version, which omits certain features that are not utilized by Raspberry Pi.
This optimized version is named Broadcom BCM2712C1, built on the Arm Cortex-A76 architecture, still offering four cores at a frequency of 2.4GHz and the latest version of the VideoCore multimedia platform.
In other versions of the Raspberry Pi 5, the BCM2712 chip includes some features that are permanently disabled due to their lack of use, yet they still occupy chip space and increase costs. Now, these unused features have been completely removed.
As a result, the optimized chip is essentially identical to the one used in other versions of the Raspberry Pi 5, providing the same functionality and performance but at a lower manufacturing cost. Coupled with the reduction in memory to 2GB, the Raspberry Pi 5 2GB version is $10 cheaper.
It is worth noting that the memory on the Raspberry Pi is not easily replaceable, and the higher-spec versions offer better performance. For example, if you plan to connect dual 4K@60P displays, the lower-spec versions may struggle to cope. Although the higher-spec versions are more expensive, they might better meet future needs, so careful consideration is advised before purchasing.
Lastly, the new version of the Raspberry Pi 5 is now available in major markets worldwide. Initially, prices may be subject to a premium, but the 2GB version is expected to have limited demand, so significant price deviations are unlikely.
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