The Raspberry Pi 2 Model B is the latest version of the Raspberry Pi, a tiny credit card size computer. Just add a keyboard, mouse, display, power supply, micro SD card with installed Linux Distribution and you’ll have a fully fledged computer that can run applications from word processors and spreadsheets to games.
As the Raspberry Pi 2 supports HD video, you can even create a media centre with it. The Raspberry Pi 2 Model B is the first Raspberry Pi to be open-source from the get-go, expect it to be the defacto embedded linux board in all the forums.
The Raspberry Pi foundation has finally released an upgraded version of the Raspberry Pi. Raspberry Pi 2 model B features much of the same ports and form factor as Raspberry Pi Model B+, by replaces Broadcom BCM2835 ARM11 processor with 700 MHz with a much faster Broadcom BCM2836 quad core ARMv7 processor with 900 MHz, and with an upgrade to 1GB RAM.
What’s the same:
- Same form factor as the model B+ (your enclosures and daughter boards should still fit).
- Same full size HDMI port
- Same 10/100 Ethernet port
- Same CSI camera port and DSI display ports
- Same micro USB power supply connection
What has changed:
- A new turbocharged Broadcom BCM2836 900MHz quad-core system-on-chip with performance at least 6x that of the B+.
- 1GB of RAM
Raspberry Pi 2 Model B specifications:
- SoC – Broadcom BCM2836 quad core Cortex A7 processor @ 900MHz with VideoCore IV GPU
- System Memory – 1GB SDRAM (PoP)
- Storage – micro SD card slot (push release type)
- Video & Audio Output – HDMI and AV via 3.5mm jack.
- Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet
- USB – 4x USB 2.0 ports, 1x micro USB for power
- Expansion
- 2×20 pin header for GPIOs
- Camera header
- Display header
- Power – 5V via micro USB port.
BCM2836 is quite similar to BCM2835, but with 4 Cortex A7 cores with 900 MHz (overclockable to 1.1 GHz), the same VideoCore GPU, and 6 times faster according to Sysbench. Raspberry Pi 2 Model B is also mechanically and electrically compatible with Raspberry Pi Model B+, so enclosure, and add-ons board should still work, although the latter may require some software works. The other implicit good news is that the Raspberry Pi should be finally properly support Android and Ubuntu thanks to its more powerful and recent processor.
Price is really what made the original Raspberry Pi popular, and the large community around it came about thanks to its affordability. Raspberry Pi 2 Model B will just costs the same $35 plus shipping and taxes. It should soon show up for sale on Element14, RS Components, and other distributors.
