Today saw the release of a new faster Raspberry Pi. This time it’s the Raspberry Pi 2 Model B. It now replaces the Model B+ that was released in February 2014 as the front-line model for the Raspberry Pi Foundation.
The main changes are :
- 900MHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 CPU
- 1GB RAM
The current Model b+ had a Broadcom BCM2835 700MHz processor and 512 MB RAM. The Pi 2 now uses a Broadcom BCM2836.
All the other features remain unchanged :
- HD 1080p video output
- Composite video output (PAL / NTSC)
- Stereo audio output
- Ethernet port 10/100 BaseT RJ45
- Video / audio HDMI 1.3 and 1.4
- 4-pin Audio/Composite -Video Out jack, 3.5 mm
- 4 USB 2.0 ports
- 15-pin MPI CSI-2 connector for Raspberry Pi HD Video Camera
- 15-pin serial display interface connector
- MicroSD card slot
- Power supply: +5 V @ 2 A via microUSB jack
- 40-pin connector for GPIO and serial buses
The price point hasn’t changed at $35.
Here it is.
Dimensions
The PCB is 85 x 56 x 17 mm.
Power Consumption
In order reduce power consumption the CPU can reduce its clock speed to 600MHz.
Operating Systems
Due to the upgraded System-on-a-chip (SoC) the Pi 2 will be able to a wider range of operating systems including Windows 10. That will either have you laughing or crying with delight depending on your view of Windows. As a Windows 7 user it’s great news as far as I am concerned.
It will also be free of charge and there are more details on the Windows Developer Center.
Official Launch Press Conference
Here is a video of the press conference given at the launch of the Pi 2 :
The improved speed and power of the ARM A7 is only going to improve a whole host of appliances especially for users using the Pi for media applications. Benchmarks vary but it is being described by some as 6x faster than the previous Pi.
The Raspberry Pi 2 Model B is now listed on the Foundation’s Official Products Page.