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Raspberry Pi computer now available with 8GB RAM

A new version of the Raspberry Pi -- the credit-card-size computer that has been so popular among business developers, DIYers, and students alike -- now offers double the on-board memory of the existing Pi 4 Model B latest model.

The additional memory improves the performance of data-intensive applications for the best-selling single board computer of all time. Price-wise, the upgrade will cost you an extra 20 smackers from the 4GB model. It's $75 from Newark.

Raspberry Pi's hardware speeds up development and prototyping of complex applications, greatly reducing costs for professionals and start-ups. Developers can now focus less on hardware and spend more time focusing on value-added software elements.

Offering a great balance of processing, storage, and cost, the new 8GB board is ideal for applications that require real-time processing of large amounts of data with minimal latency, such as edge gateways, machine vision, and facial recognition. For imaging applications, its functionality can be further enhanced by the addition of the recently released Raspberry Pi 12MP High Quality Camera with interchangeable lenses, ideal for both professional computer vision applications and photography enthusiasts.

Desktop PC users will appreciate having the greater capacity of the 8GB board to support web browsing, ultra-high-definition video streaming, cloud gaming, and image processing without time delay or latency.

The 8GB Raspberry Pi 4 Model B computer retains the key performance and connectivity features customers have come to expect, including:

• Efficiency: The 28nm BCM2711 system-on-chip delivers a significant increase in energy efficiency over previous models.
• Processor: A quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 64-bit processor clocked at 1.5GHz enables the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B computer to run up to three times faster than its predecessor.
• Video and Sound: Two micro HDMI ports support dual-display output at resolutions up to 4K.
• Connectivity:
  • Two SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ports, enabling faster transfer rates to mass-storage devices (up to 5 Gbps).
  • True Gigabit Ethernet connectivity delivering network data rates of up to 1 Gbps.
  • Dual-band wireless networking at 2.4GHz and 5GHz, delivering real-world data rates in excess of 100 Mbps. Modular compliance certification allows the board to be designed into end products with significantly reduced compliance testing, improving both cost and time to market.
• Memory: 2GB, 4GB, and now 8GB LPDDR4 memory options.

Other key features include:

• Multimedia: H.265 decode (4kp60), H.264 decode (1080p60), and H.264 encode (1080p30); OpenGL ES 3.0 graphics; hardware image sensor pipeline.
• GPIO: User-definable GPIO on standard 40-pin header with full backward compatibility and additional multiplexed UART, I2C, and SPI peripherals.
• SD card support: Micro SD card slot for loading operating system and data storage.
• Power over Ethernet: PoE support using separate HAT accessory.

Newark stocks all versions of the Raspberry Pi single board computer, alongside a diverse ecosystem of accessories, including a case, power supplies, micro HDMI cables, and the new-to-market Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera. Customers can benefit from 24/5 technical support, alongside free access to valuable online resources on the Newark website and the engineering and maker community called element14.

Learn more at the Raspberry Pi overview page on the Newark site here. (NOTE: Please check "Stock & Lead Times" on the Newark site. They should have thousands more in by June 4, 2020.)

Go directly to the new 8GB model here.

You can also try Digi-Key for this item.

The Raspberry Pi Foundation also lists certified U.S. sellers here. Make sure you choose 8GB if that is what you want. Note: If you buy this on eBay or the like, you will most likely pay a hefty premium.

Source: Newark, Raspberry Pi Foundation

Published June 2020

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