Configuring the Raspberry Pi 400

I, awhile back, set my sights on the Raspberry Pi 400, the "$80 desktop PC," and I have now had the opportunity to experience it for several weeks straight. I've dabbled around with Raspberry Pis ever since I got to know them, so these things constantly intrigue me. And, this one differs significantly from the others. Here are my experiences.

What's the deal with Raspberry Pi 400?

The modular design is by far the biggest distinction among the 400 and other Raspberry Pis. It's a coherent processor that plugs into a keypad that was driven by Amigas and ZX spectral bands (or a phone!). The new design caters to the rising number of individuals embracing Raspberry Pis to run their businesses from home.

You merely need to attach a mouse and a projector; it's a whole computer in a compact chassis. Roboticists and IoT applications are not especially targeted by the Raspberry Pi, but they are not excluded either.

Attributes

Glance over the peculiarity of the Raspberry Pi 400:

These hardware selections are intriguing since the Raspberry Pi 4 has comparable deliverables but offers 8GB of RAM instead. There is only a 4GB option for the Raspberry Pi 400. I generally favor a desktop computer with much more RAM than a hypothetical Internet of Things constituent, but I'm confident there's a valid rationale for this.

Fortunately the formidable BCM2711 CPU was utilized to help accelerate the process. Under typical use, it seems quite attuned.

It's absolutely fine if you don't recognize what a GPIO socket is. If you want to use this as a PC and experiment with IoT devices, I'm delighted they made the decision to integrate the GPIO on this product.

Where's the Dividing Line?

What sets this Raspberry Pi apart from others, then? Is it merely a stylish case for a Pi?

That isn't quite the rage.

The 400 is more than simply a Raspberry Pi board housed inside a keyboard enclosure. The base circuit was modified, and the chip spacing was improved for convective cooling or thermodynamic efficiency. To help the CPU stay cool, they also included a thermal absorbent.

Auxiliary CPU coolant for the Raspberry Pi 4

Those of you who have used traditional Raspberry Pis are aware of how scorching they can become, especially when housed in cases with inadequate airflow. Some sort of heatsink is necessary.

One of my Raspberry Pis with a sizable heat sink for intensive computation can be seen in the image above.

Since I started using the Raspberry Pi 400, I haven't noticed any serious heat-related problems. The case feels fine despite extensive installations and compilations.

With this technology, they've done a terrific job at controlling the heat. Other ancillary fasteners are available to cater a desktop PC's use case. For actuators, drones, accelerometers, and the like, the classic Raspberry Pi 4 is a superior choice. The Raspberry Pi 400 is designed with the goal of serving as a console.

The Initial Attempt at Starting It

All of the components shown in the image are included in the Raspberry Pi 400 package:

• Raspberry Pi 400 Unit
• An official Raspberry Pi mouse
• Raspberry Pi power adapter
• HDMI cable
• 2 SD Cards
• The Official Raspberry Pi Beginner's Guide

The 400's login page awaits you when you turn it on. Raspbian Buster doesn't require any special setup or SD card installation. You attach the card, turn the device on, and begin using it.

Many of the GPIO libraries and programming tools are also pre-installed on it. The experience is really seamless. Naturally, I had to get started using the Raspberry Pi for my projects. If you've ever used a traditional Raspberry Pi, it functions precisely as you would anticipate. Multiple devices are connected to the GPIO connector on a Raspberry Pi 400.

The Reasons Why You Would Consider Purchasing a Raspberry Pi 400

This device is a logical progression but is not aimed at the typical Raspberry Pi demographic. Use case focus is a big part of IoT solutions like the Arduino. They only understand algorithms created specifically for a purpose, such as processing accelerometer data or operating hydraulic actuators or solenoids.

These similar functions are carried out using the Raspberry Pi. On the microchip, it does, nevertheless, have a fully operational Linux system. A mouse may be plugged in, and a Unix graphical frontend can be used to explore the web. Therefore, building a whole PC is a tiny step. This is something that Raspberry Pi enthusiasts have been doing for years. This gadget is perfect for anyone looking for a low-cost desktop PC. The craftsmanship and form factor both astonish me. It works well, feels sturdy, and is an essential precursor to Linux and the Raspberry Pi Platform.

← Back to blog