Fast delivery, well-protected packaging, and a brand-new, unopened official Raspberry Pi board. Everything went smoothly, and the installation was hassle-free. The plastic case is sufficient, as metal cases may interfere with WiFi and Bluetooth signals. For a 70s old boy like me, this feels like a LEGO set. I wrote the official image to the board, successfully booted it up, then carefully put it back into the packaging and placed it on my bookshelf alongside collections of nearly ten different Raspberry Pi versions 1 ~ 4 , where it will quietly gather dust. Then, I started thinking about how to write today’s daily report for my boss.

Originally bought to run Home Assistant, which runs well. Did eventually upgrade to an NVME hat as SD cards are simply not meant for the constant read/writes and will eventually fail. I've since moved on to a mini-PC, but I'll find something to use this RPi for eventually.

I’ve used this kit for a home media server, and it’s performed flawlessly.The Raspberry Pi 5 8GB Kit is a powerhouse for developers and hobbyists!The 8GB RAM and 64GB storage effortlessly handle multitasking, coding projects, and even lightweight server applications. The 27W USB-C power supply delivers fast, reliable charging, and the inclusion of quality cables and heatsinks shows thoughtful design.

My fiance absolutely loves this. I bought it for him for Christmas and he is constantly using it. Said for being a small unit it's got a lot of storage and does a lot of things that he needs to do as a computer programmer. I would definitely recommend for your computer geek.

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Don't waste your money go get a tiny workstation that can handle much more than this.If you want an emulator that doesn't work correctly will waste over 20 hours of your time and still not save, run games past SNES, and be told an update may come waste your money and time on a raspberry...piI heard they were great for emulating then when it didn't work and read the recalbox (in the raspberry imaging software) it said that these don't run smoothly and are not strong enough for anything past SNES and Sega. I'm a 90's kid and love those, but also want my high school/college memories please.

I started with Raspberry Pi 3 years ago with a bare board. However, with Raspberry Pi 4 and 5, you'd need more powerful power supply and proper heat control. This set is great for anyone who do not want to walk through different aisles to pick up power adapters, heat sinks, and SD card.I can set up a functional and reliable Raspberry Pi 5 system with this set for less than 10 mins. I don't have to worry about whether the power adapter is muscle enough or if the Pi will get over heated. With the case, it also prevents accidental circuit short and make it look stylish.Overall this is a great set for beginners who do not need a lot of GPIO connections.

The Raspberry Pi 5 is an impressive and versatile piece of hardware that builds on the legacy of its predecessors while introducing meaningful upgrades across the board. As someone who enjoys retro gaming and media streaming, I’ve had the chance to put the Pi 5 through its paces in both areas, and I’ve come away with a mix of highlights and minor frustrations.Performance and Retro Gaming:First and foremost, the Raspberry Pi 5 shines as a retro gaming device. With its upgraded quad-core Cortex-A76 CPU running at 2.4GHz and 4GB or 8GB RAM options, it effortlessly emulates games up to the Dreamcast generation. This is a significant leap from previous iterations where Dreamcast emulation, in particular, often struggled. The Pi 5 handles complex 3D games from the Dreamcast library with ease, delivering smooth gameplay and minimal input lag. Systems like the NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, and PlayStation 1 all run flawlessly, and thanks to the Pi’s powerful GPU, even PSP titles are playable without significant hiccups. If you’re looking for a single-board computer that doubles as a retro gaming powerhouse, the Pi 5 is more than up to the task.Cons and Media Playback:However, while the Raspberry Pi 5 excels in gaming, its media playback capabilities leave something to be desired, particularly at higher resolutions. One of the biggest disappointments is its handling of 4K video. Despite the fact that the Pi 5 supports 4K, actual playback is quite choppy, making it difficult to enjoy ultra-high-definition content smoothly. In testing, 2K videos were watchable but still had occasional frame drops and stutters that detract from the viewing experience. For 1080p, though, the Pi 5 handles it perfectly—no frame drops, smooth playback, and overall a great experience. This makes it more than capable for 1080p streaming and media center use, but if you’re expecting seamless 4K playback, you’ll likely be disappointed. The Pi 5’s GPU, while powerful for gaming and low-to-mid-range video tasks, just isn’t quite robust enough for fluid 4K video performance.Build, Design, and Connectivity:Another area where the Raspberry Pi 5 excels is in its design and connectivity. The inclusion of dual 4K display outputs, USB 3.0 ports, and Gigabit Ethernet makes it versatile enough for a range of projects beyond just gaming and media. Whether you’re setting it up as a personal computer, a media center, or a headless server, the array of connectivity options makes the Pi 5 adaptable to various needs. The new, faster SD card interface also speeds up file transfers and boot times, which is especially useful when running emulators and large libraries of ROMs.Power and Cooling:One consideration with the Raspberry Pi 5 is its power requirements and heat generation. The Pi 5 requires more power than previous models, and under heavy loads—such as while gaming or multitasking—there is noticeable heat buildup. If you plan to use the Pi 5 for extended gaming sessions or as a desktop replacement, I highly recommend investing in an active cooling solution. While it’s possible to run it without additional cooling for lighter tasks, performance can throttle under extended load due to heat.Conclusion:The Raspberry Pi 5 is a significant upgrade from previous models, and for retro gaming, it’s an absolute beast. It can emulate consoles up to the Dreamcast generation without breaking a sweat and serves as a versatile platform for other projects like home automation, media centers, or even light desktop use. However, its shortcomings in 4K video playback are a bit disappointing, especially given the expectations set by its specs. If you’re looking for a reliable 1080p media player and a powerful retro gaming device, the Pi 5 is still an excellent choice. But if 4K video playback is high on your priority list, you might want to explore other options or wait for future software optimizations. Overall, the Raspberry Pi 5 remains a fantastic piece of kit for enthusiasts and makers alike, but with a few notable limitations in the media department.