Tips for choosing a Raspberry RP2xxx board
Pico Pi Parade
© Lead Image © donatas_1205, 123RF.com
The Pi Pico chips are pretty cheap, which has made them hugely popular with hobbyists. This overview helps you decide which of these tiny computers to pick for your project.
Makers are delighted with the huge selection of miniature boards, as this gives them access to a broad range of different breakouts. The processor is the most important selection criterion. Although Raspberry Pi's RP2040 is no longer new, it is cheaper than its successor, the RP2350 [1], and the RP2040's speed and memory are fine for many requirements.
The main memory goes hand in hand with the processor. The RP2040 has a standard 256KB, while the RP2350 has at least 520KB. The newer MCU lets you supplement the built-in RAM with external Pseudostatic RAM (PSRAM), whose content is volatile and is lost when the operating voltage is switched off. Although PSRAM is slower than the main memory, it's still far faster than flash. That is why there are also RP2350 boards with an additional 8MB main memory.
This ability proves particularly useful when you need to process large volumes of data, such as those associated with large displays. The other part of the memory, the flash memory, is used to store programs and other data, especially media. Audio and video files in particular can quickly use up the 2MB, but even the maximum possible 16MB does not give you massive scope.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
New Linux Flaw Lets Attackers Escape VMs
A 16-year-old vulnerability allows an attacker to escape a virtual machine, gain access to the host, and execute malicious code.
-
Hannah Montana Linux Is Back!
Developer Noah Cagle decided the world needed the once obscure but beloved Linux distribution and gave it a decidedly pink refresh.
-
System76 Refreshes the Lemur Laptop
If you're looking for a laptop with tons of power and battery, look no further than the latest iteration of the System76 Lemur Pro.
-
More than 43 Million Lines of Code in Linux Kernel 7.2
Using the cloc utility, Michael Larabel of Phoronix discovered that Linux kernel 7.2 has over 43 million lines of code.
-
Kubuntu Focus Goes Ultra
The Kubuntu Focus team has upped the performance ante of its M2 and Zr laptops with the latest, greatest CPUs from Intel.
-
Linux Gamers May Soon See Less Mouse Lag in KDE Plasma
Gamers using KDE’s Plasma desktop have been suffering from a slight input delay in mouse movement that could lead to getting fragged.
-
Three Lines of Code Improve Linux Storage Performance
A developer changed three lines of code, giving Linux storage performance a 5% bump.
-
AUR Hit Again with Malicious Packages
Once again the Arch User Repository is plagued by a high volume of malicious packages.
-
Alpine Linux 3.24 Features Fresh Desktops and a Newer Kernel
If you're a fan of Alpine Linux, it's time to upgrade because the latest version has been released with KDE Plasma 6.6, Gnome 50, and Linux kernel 6.18 LTS.
-
EU Open Source Strategy Plays Key Role in Tech Sovereignty Package
Comprehensive measures adopted by the European Commission aim to reduce dependency on non-EU countries.