Your Essential Raspberry Pi 5 Shopping List: A Complete Buyer’s Guide
The Raspberry Pi 5 has arrived, and it represents a significant leap forward in single-board computing. With a 2-3x performance increase over its predecessor, it opens up new possibilities for everything from powerful desktop replacements to complex server projects. However, this boost in power means that some of your old Raspberry Pi 4 accessories may no longer be suitable.
To ensure you get the best possible performance right out of the box, it’s crucial to pair your new board with the right components. This guide will walk you through everything you need to build a stable and powerful Raspberry Pi 5 setup.
The Board Itself: Choosing Your RAM
First, you need the Raspberry Pi 5 board. It comes in two main variations, differing only by the amount of RAM:
- 4GB Model: Perfect for most embedded projects, media centers, and light server tasks.
- 8GB Model: The ideal choice if you plan to use the Pi 5 as a desktop computer, for heavy multitasking, or for running memory-intensive applications like virtualization.
For most users, the 8GB version offers the most flexibility and future-proofing for a relatively small price increase.
The Non-Negotiable Essentials
These are the components you absolutely need to get your Raspberry Pi 5 up and running. Skimping on these can lead to instability, poor performance, and a frustrating experience.
1. A Proper Power Supply
This is the single most important accessory for the Raspberry Pi 5. Due to its increased power consumption, your old Pi 4 power adapter will not be sufficient to unlock its full potential.
- Requirement: You need an official 27W USB-C Power Delivery (PD) power supply. This adapter can provide the 5 Amps at 5.1 Volts (5.1V/5A) necessary for the Pi 5 and its connected USB peripherals to operate at peak performance.
- Why it’s critical: Using an older or underpowered supply will cause the Raspberry Pi 5 to automatically limit the power available to its USB ports, potentially causing external drives or other accessories to fail. You will also likely encounter performance throttling and instability warnings. Do not reuse an old power adapter if you want to avoid these issues.
2. A Case and Active Cooling
The powerful new processor in the Raspberry Pi 5 generates more heat than previous models. While it can run without cooling for brief, light tasks, it will quickly overheat and slow down (a process called thermal throttling) under any sustained load.
- Recommendation: Active cooling is essential for consistent performance. You have two main options:
- The Official Raspberry Pi 5 Case: This newly designed case includes a built-in, speed-controlled fan that connects directly to a dedicated fan header on the board. It offers good protection and sufficient cooling for most use cases.
- The Raspberry Pi Active Cooler: This is an open-style solution consisting of a large heatsink and a powerful fan that also connects to the dedicated fan header. It provides superior cooling performance and is highly recommended for users who plan to overclock or run the Pi 5 under heavy, continuous load.
3. A High-Quality microSD Card
The microSD card acts as the hard drive for your Raspberry Pi, storing the operating system and your files. The speed of this card directly impacts boot times and application loading.
- Requirement: For the best experience, choose a high-quality microSD card with an A2 (Application Performance Class 2) rating. A2-rated cards are optimized for running applications and handling small read/write operations efficiently, which makes a noticeable difference in overall system responsiveness.
- Capacity: A 32GB card is a good starting point, but 64GB or 128GB cards offer more space for projects and are reasonably priced.
Peripherals for Setup and Use
Once you have the core components, you’ll need these items to interact with your new computer.
- Micro-HDMI to HDMI Cable: The Raspberry Pi 5 features two micro-HDMI ports, capable of driving dual 4K displays. Make sure you have the correct cables to connect to your monitor(s). A standard HDMI cable will not fit.
- Keyboard and Mouse: Any standard USB or Bluetooth keyboard and mouse will work perfectly.
Recommended Upgrades and Accessories
Take your Raspberry Pi 5 to the next level with these powerful, optional additions.
- NVMe SSD for Ultra-Fast Storage: One of the most exciting new features is the exposed PCI Express (PCIe) connection. With a compatible “M.2 HAT” adapter, you can connect an NVMe solid-state drive (SSD). Booting from an NVMe SSD provides a massive speed improvement over a microSD card, making the system feel incredibly fast and responsive.
- Real-Time Clock (RTC) Battery: The Pi 5 now includes a dedicated header for an RTC battery. This small, inexpensive add-on allows the device to keep accurate time even when it’s powered off and disconnected from the internet. This is particularly useful for time-sensitive logging or offline applications.
- New Camera and Display Cables: The MIPI camera and display connectors on the Pi 5 are smaller than on previous models. If you plan to use an older official Raspberry Pi camera or display, you will need to purchase a new adapter cable to ensure compatibility.
By investing in the correct power supply and an active cooling solution, you set the foundation for a stable and high-performing Raspberry Pi 5 experience. From there, you can build out your system to create anything from a silent, efficient home server to a surprisingly capable desktop workstation.
Source: https://linuxblog.io/what-to-buy-raspberry-pi-5/
