Raspberry Pi 5: Reasons to Upgrade?

If you already own a Raspberry Pi 4, upgrading to the Raspberry Pi 5 is worth it when you need roughly double the CPU performance, faster storage and I/O, or support for two simultaneous 4K displays. For basic projects like a simple web server or GPIO blinking, the Pi 4 remains perfectly adequate, so the decision hinges on whether your workload is bottlenecked by speed, memory bandwidth, or connectivity.

What Changed with the Raspberry Pi 5

The Raspberry Pi 5, released in late 2023, is a significant generational leap. The most obvious upgrade is the new Broadcom BCM2712 quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 processor running at 2.4 GHz. Compared to the Pi 4’s Cortex-A72 cores, the A76 cores offer a substantially higher instructions-per-clock (IPC) and a higher clock speed, resulting in a real-world performance increase of roughly 2–3× for CPU-bound tasks. The GPU is also new, with a VideoCore VII that supports OpenGL ES 3.1 and Vulkan 1.2, making it more capable for lightweight gaming and graphical applications.

Beyond raw compute, the Pi 5 introduces a custom RP1 I/O controller chip. This chip handles USB, GPIO, and other low-level interfaces, freeing the main CPU from that overhead. The practical result is that USB 3.0 ports now run at full 5 Gbps speeds, and the GPIO pins have much faster and more consistent timing, which matters for projects like high-speed data logging or driving WS2812B LED strips without external hardware.

Performance Gains: CPU and GPU

For most users, the CPU improvement is the primary reason to upgrade. The Cortex-A76 cores are not just faster clock-for-clock; they also support features like out-of-order execution, which the A72 lacks. This means single-threaded performance is significantly better, and multi-threaded workloads scale more efficiently. In practice, tasks like compiling code, running a Jupyter notebook, or using a desktop browser feel noticeably snappier.

The GPU upgrade is also substantial for media center use. The VideoCore VII supports HEVC (H.265) hardware decoding for 4K video at 60 frames per second, which the Pi 4 could only handle at 30 fps. This makes the Pi 5 a much better choice for a Kodi or Plex client on a modern 4K TV. Additionally, the new GPU supports dual 4K output via two micro-HDMI ports, both running at 60 Hz, whereas the Pi 4 could only drive one 4K display at 60 Hz (the second was limited to 30 Hz).

Memory and Storage Upgrades

While the Pi 5 offers the same RAM options as the Pi 4 (4GB and 8GB, with a 2GB variant later added), the memory itself is faster. The LPDDR4X SDRAM runs at 4267 MT/s, compared to the Pi 4’s 3200 MT/s. This increased memory bandwidth helps in memory-intensive tasks like image processing or running multiple virtual machines.

Storage is a major upgrade point. The Pi 5 supports booting from an NVMe SSD via the new PCIe 2.0 x1 connector (using an HAT or a simple adapter). This is a huge improvement over the Pi 4, which relied on USB-attached SSDs that were limited by USB 2.0 speeds (around 35 MB/s) or USB 3.0 (around 350 MB/s). With NVMe, you can achieve read speeds of 400–500 MB/s, making the system feel much more responsive. The microSD card slot also now supports SDR104 mode, allowing faster card speeds (up to 100 MB/s).

Connectivity and I/O

The Pi 5 retains the same 40-pin GPIO header, but the RP1 chip makes the pins more reliable and faster. The UART, I2C, and SPI interfaces now have more accurate timing, which is critical for projects like 3D printer controllers or precise sensor reading. The USB ports are also upgraded: two USB 3.0 ports and two USB 2.0 ports, all with better power management.

Another notable addition is the power button. The Pi 5 includes a physical on/off button, which was missing on all previous models. This might seem minor, but it avoids the need to unplug the power cable every time you want to shut down. The Pi 5 also has a real-time clock (RTC) connector for a battery, allowing it to keep time when powered off—a feature many industrial and logging projects need.

Power Requirements and Cooling

One of the most important considerations when upgrading is power. The Pi 5 is more power-hungry than the Pi 4. It requires a 5V/5A (25W) USB-C power supply, and it will not boot with a standard 5V/3A phone charger unless you restrict the current via software (which limits performance). The Pi 5 also gets noticeably hotter under load, so a fan or heatsink is essential for sustained workloads. The official Active Cooler is a good solution, but any decent heatsink with a fan will work.

If you are upgrading from a Pi 4, you will likely need to replace your power supply and add cooling. This adds to the total cost of the upgrade, so factor that into your decision. Also note that the Pi 5 uses a different micro-HDMI port layout (still two ports, but they are now closer together), so your cables may need adjusting.

Software Compatibility and OS

Raspberry Pi OS (based on Debian) has full support for the Pi 5 since its release. However, some third-party operating systems and software may not yet be fully optimized for the new hardware. For example, early versions of Ubuntu and other distros had issues with the RP1 chip, but these have largely been resolved. If you rely on a specific OS or kernel module, check its compatibility before upgrading.

Another software consideration is that the Pi 5 does not support the legacy Raspberry Pi OS Bullseye (based on Debian 11) with the older X11 graphics stack; it requires the newer Bookworm release (Debian 12) with Wayland. This change may affect some older scripts or applications that depend on X11. Most users will not notice, but it is worth being aware.

When You Should NOT Upgrade

There are several scenarios where upgrading to the Pi 5 is not worth the cost. If your project is simple—like a basic GPIO sensor reader, a Pi-hole DNS blocker, or a retro gaming console running 16-bit emulators—the Pi 4 (or even Pi 3) is more than enough. The Pi 5’s extra performance would go unused, and you would be spending money on a new board, power supply, and cooler.

Also, if you rely on the Pi’s 3.3V GPIO pins for analog output or other specific features, note that the Pi 5’s GPIO is not 5V tolerant (same as Pi 4), but it has improved drive strength. If your project uses a lot of GPIO pins and requires precise timing, the Pi 5 is better, but for simple on/off control, the Pi 4 works fine.

Finally, if you are on a tight budget, consider that the Pi 4 is still available and often cheaper. For many educational projects, the Pi 4 is the better value.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my Raspberry Pi 4 power supply with the Pi 5?

No, the Pi 5 requires a 5V/5A USB-C power supply. A standard 5V/3A supply may not provide enough current, especially with USB peripherals attached. You can force the Pi 5 to run with a 3A supply by setting a config option, but this limits the USB ports to 600mA each and may cause instability under load.

Does the Pi 5 support NVMe SSDs without an HAT?

No, you need a PCIe HAT or a simple adapter that connects to the Pi 5’s PCIe connector. The official Raspberry Pi M.2 HAT+ is one option, but there are third-party alternatives. The connector is a standard PCIe x1, so many adapters work.

Is the Pi 5 backward compatible with Pi 4 cases and accessories?

Most cases are not compatible because the Pi 5 has a different board layout, moved the USB and Ethernet ports, and added a power button. However, the GPIO header is in the same location, so HATs (add-on boards) that use the GPIO should fit, but you may need to check for clearance with the new components.

Can I run 64-bit operating systems on the Pi 5?

Yes, the Pi 5 has a 64-bit CPU, and Raspberry Pi OS has a 64-bit version. Most third-party OSes like Ubuntu also offer 64-bit images. It is recommended to use 64-bit for better performance and compatibility with modern software.

Does the Pi 5 have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth?

Yes, the Pi 5 has dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) and Bluetooth 5.0, same as the Pi 4. The antennas are built into the board, so no external antenna is needed.

Is the Pi 5 good for a desktop computer?

Yes, the Pi 5 is the best Raspberry Pi for desktop use so far. With 8GB of RAM and an NVMe SSD, it can handle web browsing, office productivity, and even light video editing. However, it is still not a replacement for a modern x86 desktop for heavy multitasking or gaming.

Related

• Sony VAIO: The Most Beautiful Sony Laptops Ever?
• Raspberry Pi’s Reign Quietly Ending?
• Vision Pro Future After visionOS: Real Concerns