Raspberry Pi 5 (4GB)

The Raspberry Pi 5 (8GB) has become the central brain of my home setup, and I say this as someone who works with tech daily and builds systems not just for fun but for productivity and long-term use. I purchased this particular unit in December 2024, and since the first day, it has run 24/7 with absolute consistency. For what it offers at its price point, it truly feels like a life-changing device, especially for those who are eager to tinker, automate, learn to code, or even run serious applications from a tiny board.One of the most transformative upgrades I’ve made to my Raspberry Pi 5 is integrating a dual-NVMe expansion setup using two 4TB NVMe SSDs. This is made possible via a PCIe HAT+ adapter board that includes a switch chip to handle dual drives over the Pi 5’s single PCIe 2.0 x1 lane. Despite the bandwidth limitation (theoretical max ~500MB/s), the performance is surprisingly solid for most real-world use cases. I regularly hit sequential read speeds of around 400–430MB/s and writes of 350–390MB/s, which is more than enough for backups, local file hosting, and even video streaming directly from the Pi. I’ve configured one of the NVMe drives as the primary boot device using Raspberry Pi OS, while the second is dedicated to storage. I use it for scheduled nightly backups from both my Android phone (via Syncthing) and my wife's iPhone (using the Photosync app in SFTP mode), and the reliability has been outstanding. The dual-NVMe board I use is passively cooled with heatsinks, and both drives stay under 55°C during extended file transfers.In my case, the Pi 5 serves multiple roles simultaneously. It acts as a Pi-hole DNS sinkhole, filters and logs internet traffic for every device in the house, handles over 250 persistent Pi-Seer MQTT device connections, runs Node-RED automations, and manages two IP cameras as a local NVR. This isn’t a stretch—it’s a real test for a system that’s passively cooled and silently humming away inside a small server-grade enclosure. I paired it with the Armor Lite V5 aluminium heatsink and PWM fan (which I also reviewed), and that combination keeps temperatures below 55°C under full load. The performance delta from the Pi 4 is noticeable and significant; where the 4 might get bogged down or throttle, the Pi 5 simply pushes through.I use the official 27W USB-C power supply, which is essential for keeping things stable when peripherals are attached. This includes an NVMe SSD via the M.2 PCIe HAT+, allowing for ultra-fast read/write speeds. This alone transforms the Pi into something that behaves more like a mini desktop or server than a single-board computer. Boot times are snappy, databases load instantly, and there's no delay in system response even when under concurrent tasks.Where the Pi 5 really shines is in development and education. I’ve been writing Python scripts, working with Docker containers, and even experimenting with AI tools—all from this board. A huge part of this success is thanks to ChatGPT and similar code assistants. In the past, learning how to set up a Pi as a local LAMP server or writing Flask applications with dynamic APIs would require deep technical knowledge and time-consuming trial and error. Now, I can prompt an AI to help generate boilerplate code, troubleshoot errors, or refactor inefficient blocks. I’ve used VS Code remotely through SSH, integrated Git workflows, and set up CI pipelines with relative ease. Anyone willing to follow a couple of guides can now build incredible things in a weekend.I recently used the Pi 5 to prototype a home energy monitoring dashboard. Using InfluxDB and Grafana, I track power consumption from smart plugs around the home and visualise it beautifully. MQTT messages come in from Zigbee2MQTT and ESPHome devices, get processed by Node-RED, and are stored and visualised with zero noticeable lag. The Pi 5 handles all this with remarkable grace. CPU usage typically sits at around 35% with peaks around 70% during compilation tasks.This board is also ideal for light AI experimentation. With the right USB accelerators or the new AI HATs, you can run object detection models locally, perform facial recognition, or build smart assistants without ever sending data to the cloud. Privacy-respecting edge computing has never been more accessible. I used the Pi 5 to run a basic LLaMA 2 language model stubbed with a local API, running inference through ONNX Runtime. The board doesn’t break a sweat and remains quiet while doing it.The Raspberry Pi OS has matured significantly, and with the community providing excellent support for Ubuntu Server, DietPi, and other Linux distributions, there’s a flavour for everyone. GPIO compatibility is excellent, with plenty of updated libraries replacing RPi.GPIO for the new architecture. The new RP1 I/O controller truly unlocks the performance potential for USB 3.0 and PCIe lanes. File transfers over USB 3.0 with my SSD hit consistent 350MB/s—something unimaginable a few years ago on a Pi.This is s a capable platform that can sit at the heart of home labs, IoT systems, learning environments, or even small businesses. Whether you're an educator setting up classrooms, a parent wanting to introduce your child to computing, or a hobbyist trying to build something custom and meaningful—the Pi 5 enables it all.Power usage on the second Pi 5, configured as our NAS and photo backup server, is incredibly efficient—averaging around 3.8W at idle and peaking at about 7.2W during simultaneous file transfers and photo uploads from two devices. I measured this using a USB-C inline power meter over a full 24-hour cycle, including overnight auto-backups and daytime access from multiple devices. Even when handling encrypted file syncs, indexed thumbnails, and NVMe activity, it remains cool and stable—truly impressive for a system replacing my QNAP 872XT, which used to idle at over 50W.In my own experience, this board has dramatically changed how I think about computing. It’s made me more resourceful, more curious, and ironically, more minimalistic. I no longer reach for the heavy-duty workstation for tasks that the Pi 5 can handle quietly in the corner.To wrap it up: The Raspberry Pi 5 is a gateway. It’s the computer I wish I had as a kid, and the one that’s going to power so many more ideas in the future. I wholeheartedly recommend it for anyone even remotely interested in computing. If you’ve got an idea and a bit of time, this tiny board can make it real.

Initial Impressions:My first experience with the Raspberry Pi 5 was marred by a rough delivery—literally. The Amazon driver threw the package at my front door so hard that it bounced multiple times. This incident was captured on my Ring doorbell, and while I reported it to Amazon, nothing came of it. I mention this because, after seeing the condition of the flimsy cardboard box it came in, I was concerned about the Pi's durability. Surprisingly, despite the lack of internal protection and the rough handling, the Pi was in one piece and worked after some minor adjustments. The Pi itself came from Pimoroni, a reputable seller I highly recommend.Setup and Installation:First off, I wouldn't recommend using the Raspberry Pi 5 without a proper cooling solution. I opted for an overkill approach, purchasing the Geekworm Pi5 Case Aluminum Passive Cooling (P122-C) and some small 3v/5v fans, which I installed during a live Twitch stream. For storage, I used a SanDisk 256GB High Endurance MicroSD card, ideal for the server setup I had in mind due to its durability. Using the Raspberry Pi Imager, I flashed the card with Ubuntu Server, pre-configuring it with my WiFi settings and other essentials.The setup process was straightforward for someone familiar with the Pi ecosystem, but beginners might find it a bit challenging. However, there are plenty of tutorials and guides available to help. I set up the Pi headless (without a monitor or keyboard) to run a fully modded Minecraft Server (Java Edition), and to my surprise, it worked flawlessly. I even documented the process in a YouTube VOD, proving that running a modded Minecraft server on a Pi is not only possible but also efficient.Later, I repurposed the Pi into a web server by installing Ubuntu Server again, along with PHP, MariaDB, and Apache. It handled this transition with ease, providing a snappy and responsive performance.Performance:The Raspberry Pi 5’s performance exceeded my expectations. Compared to the Raspberry Pi 4, the improvement is significant, though perhaps not immediately noticeable in all use cases. My modded Minecraft server, running 130+ mods, handled six players simultaneously without any lag or performance issues. The TPS (Ticks Per Second) remained stable at 20, with only minor drops that weren’t noticeable during gameplay.As a web server, the Pi continued to impress, delivering fast and stable performance. I haven’t felt the need to overclock the Pi, as its stock performance is more than sufficient for my needs.Connectivity and Ports:The Raspberry Pi 5 comes with a robust set of connectivity options: Dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, and dual 4Kp60 HDMI outputs, among others. While I primarily used the GPIO pins to power the fans and the WiFi for network connectivity, these ports offer great flexibility for a wide range of projects.The CPU, a 2.4GHz quad-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A76, strikes a good balance between power and energy efficiency. It’s powerful enough for most projects while keeping power consumption low.Cooling and Power Consumption:Without additional cooling, the Pi 5 quickly overheats and throttles under load. I highly recommend investing in a cooling solution, even if it’s just the basic Raspberry Pi Cooler. My custom cooling setup, which cost around £20, kept the Pi running cool and stable, even under heavy loads.In terms of power consumption, the Pi draws around 12-14W under load in my use case, making it a cost-effective replacement for my old servers. For power, I suggest using a supply that can output at least 5V at 3A, though the official Raspberry Pi power supply (5V, 5A) is ideal.Use Cases:The Raspberry Pi 5’s potential is limited only by your imagination and its 8GB RAM. It can serve as a low-power desktop, an emulator, a home automation hub, a web server, or even a Minecraft server, as I demonstrated. Currently, I’m using mine as a local web server, running PiHole, and a Wi-Fi Authentication Portal. It’s quiet, consumes little power, and handles these tasks flawlessly.If you’re looking for a device to handle similar projects, the Pi 5 is an excellent choice. However, be mindful that it’s not a replacement for a modern desktop PC.Value for Money:The Raspberry Pi 5 offers excellent value for money, though it suffers from scalper pricing. If you find the 8GB model for more than £80, you’re likely being overcharged. Prices around £70 are reasonable, and anything below £65 is a steal. Compared to running a full desktop or server, the energy savings alone make the Pi 5 a worthwhile investment.Final Thoughts:Let’s address the Pi 5’s main limitation: 8GB of RAM should be the entry-level or mid-range option, with a 16GB model available. While 8GB is sufficient for most users right now, it won’t be long before this isn’t the case. Enthusiasts and those running more demanding applications may find this limiting.Overclocking the Pi 5 is also hit or miss. I couldn’t push mine beyond 2.6GHz without instability, and anything above 2.8GHz was a no-go. But for most users, stock performance will be more than enough.If you’re looking for a low-power device for small projects or teaching kids to code, the Pi 5 is a fantastic choice. It’s versatile, powerful for its size, and offers great value. However, if you need a desktop replacement, adjust your expectations accordingly.Overall, the Raspberry Pi 5 is an impressive piece of tech that continues to push the boundaries of what a small, affordable computer can do. It’s a must-have for enthusiasts, educators, and hobbyists alike.I give this a 4.7/5, which I'll round up.