You have seen that you can create your own console and fully enjoy retro games, that you can also create a NAS and even a system capable of blocking internet advertising. For all this and much more, it is likely that you have become interested in the Raspberry Pi. The problem is that now you don’t really know which model you need. If that’s the case, let us give you a cable.
The best investment for a geek
If you have read us for a long time, you will already know that the Raspberry Pi is a device that we love. And that is due to its great versatility when tackling numerous projects so varied that it could basically be defined as the geek’s Swiss army knife.
And it is that these plates are so cheap that the strange thing is not to fall and buy more than one. Because when you see the multiple possibilities that it offers, you want to do almost every project that you come across online.
In addition, taking into account that many of these users share as a guide the entire process, components used and even the terminal commands that you must execute to configure everything even without having code ideas, then fewer excuses for not getting one if you have Geek soul and you are passionate about technology.
The problem is that at first it can be a bit complex to know which exact Raspberry Pi model is the one that interests you the most. If you follow the instructions for each project and stick to the list of used components, there are no problems. Nor if you bet on the latest and most powerful of all Raspberry Pi models. Although sometimes it is not the smart purchase.
Despite being cheap, if you can buy two instead of the most powerful model, then better because you can do two projects instead of one. So let’s talk about all of them a bit in order to make it clear which Raspberry Pi you should buy according to your needs.
Raspberry Pi 4
It is currently the latest model released by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. It is the most powerful board and also the most versatile due to the number of connections it offers. And it is that on this board you find a GPIO connection to which you can connect a multitude of additional devices, sensors and a long list of extra components that will give it much more value as a device.
In addition to this, the Raspberry Pi 4 offers different settings at the RAM level. You can opt for a more basic model with only 2GB of RAM, another with 4GB and a last one with 8GB that would be ideal for those most demanding applications. But, for example, for emulators, the 4GB model is more than enough. And the 2GB model is more designed for home automation and robotics applications.
Raspberry Pi 3
The Raspberry Pi 3 is the generation prior to the current generation and it should be noted that there are three variants: A +. B + and B. The difference between one and the other is not only in the RAM, but also in the speed at which the processor works. It is a difference of just 200 Mhz, but it may be a small disadvantage for specific uses.
However, our recommendation is that, due to what it usually costs today, you opt for the basic model of the Raspberry Pi 4. Unless you find one of these versions at a laughable price, the possible difference that may be will compensate.
Raspberry Pi Zero and Pico
These models are much more specific and the projects that make use of them have reasons to do so. Mainly a question of size is what weighs the most when choosing between the Raspberry Pi Zero and Pico versus the Raspberry Pi 4.
In addition, taking into account that for the Raspberry Pi Zero there is a variant called Pi Zero W that incorporates Bluetooth and WiFi connection, the truth is that there are many uses that it can be given and they will make you love it almost from the beginning. For example, ideal for creating portable consoles through the use of cases that emulate a Game Boy.
There is a third model, the Raspberry Pi Zero WH that even has the GPIO connector already soldered to the board to be able to connect accessories more easily in more complex projects.
How to choose the best Raspberry Pi for your needs
At this point it is likely that you are already clear about which Raspberry Pi model you should buy. Even so, if you have any doubts, let us give you some final guidelines in order to make the best possible choice.
To begin with, the first thing you have to ask yourself is what type of use you are going to give it . You already know that you can do countless things with it, but having an initial idea helps to know if you should opt for the more powerful model or an intermediate one is enough for you. As if size is key, because to create a portable console the Raspberry Pi 4 is not the best idea due to its larger dimensions.
If you are one of those who like pottery and is not going to give it a fixed use. That is, you are not going to mount a multimedia player and you are going to always use it as such, then the Raspberry Pi 4 is better and if the configurations of 4 or 8 GB of RAM can be much better.
Lastly, keep in mind that you will also very likely need some extra components . So if you are on a budget, you are not interested in going for the highest model of the range if you are going to have plenty of power.
Raspberry Pi 400
Finally, in all this time we have not talked about the Raspberry Pi 400 because it is basically a Raspberry Pi already assembled for a case as specific as integrating it into a keyboard. It does not give the same margin when doing different projects. They can be done, but it would not be as comfortable as the previous ones.
Likewise, we always believe that it is the best option right now to start and start the little ones in its use, because it has everything you need to just connect to the power, load an operating system on an SD card and start messing with it. .
