Raspberry Pi 2

[milhouse]

Unfortunately The Register article is littered with errors and poorly worded, leading to mass confusion around the web.

The BCM2836 SoC is using four Cortex-A7 processors (ARMv7 with NEON). The minimum/maximum stock speed of the ARM cores is 600MHz/900MHz, but they overclock very nicely - the default overclock is 1100MHz ARM, 500MHz Core, 500MHz SDRAM, +2 over_voltage.

The RAM chip is on the underside of the board now.

Existing Pi1 software should run unchanged on the Pi2.

[W. H. Heydt]

Unfortunately The Register article is littered with errors and poorly worded, leading to mass confusion.

The BCM2836 SoC is using four Cortex-A7 processors (ARMv7 with NEON). The stock minimum/maximum speed of the ARM cores is 600MHz/900MHz, but they overclock very nicely - the default overclock will 1100MHz ARM, 500MHz Core/SDRAM, +2 over_voltage.

The RAM chip is on the underside of the board now.

Existing Pi1 software should run unchanged on the Pi2.

Interesting...that will make comparisons with the Odroid-C1 something to look for, since they're using a quad-core A5 chip, though clocked at 1.5GHz.

[ktb]

SpazzTechTom appears to have the only link I can find of someone selling the thing - all the other Australian resellers are still touting the Model B+ (one of them at about a 33% discount, for two days only - cheeky!)

http://tronixlabs.com/raspberry-pi/boar ... 2-model-b/

[mikronauts]

One more link:

http://www.cnx-software.com/2015/02/02/ ... 2-model-b/

I wish they would have simply called it Raspberry Pi Model C

[milhouse]

http://tronixlabs.com/raspberry-pi/boar ... 2-model-b/

Using the same picture as The Reg article... it's either a stock image, or... it may be worth confirming they actually have stock.

[ktb]

http://tronixlabs.com/raspberry-pi/boar ... 2-model-b/

Using the same picture as The Reg article... it's either a stock image, or... it may be worth confirming they actually have stock.

Good point.

[tom.k.cook]

Agreed, either SATA or USB3 would make these an almost serious desktop replacement.

I think it would take a bit more than *that* to be a "serious desktop replacement". To do so I'd want a quad-core A-57, and at least 2 SATA ports. But the Pi2 should be pretty good for a fair amount of stuff and pretty wonderful for some...including educational uses.

Depends what you use your desktop for, I guess. These days, if it runs a web browser, it's just about there.

[ktb]

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/processor ... s/8326274/

[ktb]

On the other hand, I don't see a need for GbE, but I'd sure like a native SATA connector...or later development. However, for my uses, the Pi2 has everything it needs.

Agreed, either SATA or USB3 would make these an almost serious desktop replacement.

I suppose GbE might require USB3 anyway since the ethernet runs off USB?

[nobbit]

This is pretty awesome, as far as I'm concerned.

I'm surprised that they decided to increase the power, yet stay below what competitors (i.e. O-droid) offer at the same price point. That said, I can't say I care too much. The Pi has a much larger community and more available support, which is why I've held out on buying the O-droid for so long. With four cores at 900 MHz the Pi 2 (Tau? Or maybe they should have called it B++?) should be able to run owncloud more easily, hopefully.

In any case that's a lot more computing power than the netbook that was my primary computer for three years had.

@ric96, I very much doubt there'll be an exchange programme. Considering how dirt cheap it is you can just buy a new one. I bet if you go to your local maker club someone will be willing to get your brand new B+ off your hands for a twenty, or even $25

[milhouse]

I'm surprised that they decided to increase the power, yet stay below what competitors (i.e. O-droid) offer at the same price point.

It's a bit of a numbers game, but the ODROID-C1 is based on the lower-cost Cortex-A5, while the Pi2 is based on the Cortex-A7.

According to Wikipedia, the Cortex-A5 is rated at 1.57DMIPS/MHz and the Cortex-A7 is rated at 1.9DMIPS/MHz.

So although the ODROID-C1 is clocked higher (1500MHz) than the Pi2 (900MHz, although 1100MHz is easily achievable), the performance is likely to be broadly comparable.

[Paul Webster]

I've ordered ... now off to search for the post where I suggested Pi2 (Pi squared) as the name.....

[W. H. Heydt]

I'm surprised that they decided to increase the power, yet stay below what competitors (i.e. O-droid) offer at the same price point.

It's a bit of a numbers game, but the ODROID-C1 is based on the lower-cost Cortex-A5, while the Pi2 is based on the Cortex-A7.

According to Wikipedia, the Cortex-A5 is rated at 1.57DMIPS/MHz and the Cortex-A7 is rated at 1.9DMIPS/MHz.

So although the ODROID-C1 is clocked higher (1500MHz) than the Pi2 (900MHz, although 1100MHz is easily achievable), the performance is likely to be broadly comparable.

That's pretty much what I've been thinking. It leaves the C1 with one neat--but not essential--feature that Pi lacks, an RTC built in. On the other side, the Pis, generally, have onboard audio, CSI, DSI and composite video. The other comparison is that the C1s chip uses (IIRC) the Mali-450 videocore as compared to the VC4. I do recall various people not being overly impressed by the Mali cores.

So...price the same, roughly comparable performance but with much more mature software on the Pi than the C1.

[nobbit]

Well in that case it seems they pretty much knocked competitors off the board as far as I'm concerned

[W. H. Heydt]

On the other hand, I don't see a need for GbE, but I'd sure like a native SATA connector...or later development. However, for my uses, the Pi2 has everything it needs.

Agreed, either SATA or USB3 would make these an almost serious desktop replacement.

I suppose GbE might require USB3 anyway since the ethernet runs off USB?

I don't know that Ethernet *has* to run through a USB interface. Some other chips (Allwinner A10/A20?) claim native Ethernet, as I recall. If that's the case, one could have GbE without USB 3.0. If it comes to that, the A10 & A20 SATA ports are SATA II which is 3Gb/s and that certainly isn't going to route through a USB 2 bus.

[Paul Webster]

I've ordered ... now off to search for the post where I suggested Pi2 (Pi squared) as the name.....

From a year ago http://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewt ... ed#p502358
(Yes - I know it is not using a superscript but does not stop a brief smile as RS took my order for next day delivery)
Now what will be in Pi Cubed

[BenPope]

So what's going to happen with the OS?

Presumably we just need the kernel and can essentially just use the armhf repositories of Debian?

[ktb]

So what's going to happen with the OS?

Presumably we just need the kernel and can essentially just use the armhf repositories of Debian?

That is what I expect. I'd also expect more software/packages to be compatible with it. I'm excited.

[mikerr]

Ahh - maybe this is why the b+ had significant price drop on amazon last few weeks? (Down to £20)
..clearing "old" stock.

Same for factor as B+ so there is no pain with cases.

[Tzarls]

So, Armv7...does it mean it could run Android? I really don't care much about having said OS, except for one thing - netflix.
Anyway, I think this is amazing news for many reasons. First, hobbyists are getting more for the same price, which is always good news. Second, this gives a really affordable computer to those who can't afford a "traditional" system. Combine "6x performance" with Wayland/Weston and the ( WIP) Epiphany and this is, IMHO, a good option as a desktop computer.

The articles states software will be compatible... I have some apps that use ASM... I wonder if that will need changes.

I think this will be a good time to buy 2nd hanb b+s...

[ktb]

So, Armv7...does it mean it could run Android? I really don't care much about having said OS, except for one thing - netflix.
Anyway, I think this is amazing news for many reasons. First, hobbyists are getting more for the same price, which is always good news. Second, this gives a really affordable computer to those who can't afford a "traditional" system. Combine "6x performance" with Wayland/Weston and the ( WIP) Epiphany and this is, IMHO, a good option as a desktop computer.

The articles states software will be compatible... I have some apps that use ASM... I wonder if that will need changes.

I think this will be a good time to buy 2nd hanb b+s...

I'm not sure, but I believe it means it can run recent versions of chromium. Wouldn't that help with the netflix situation?

[fruitoftheloom]

If this is true it makes all previous models of the Raspberry Pi obsolete

Which is a shame for A+/B+ purchasers....

[fruitoftheloom]

So, Armv7...does it mean it could run Android? I really don't care much about having said OS, except for one thing - netflix.
Anyway, I think this is amazing news for many reasons. First, hobbyists are getting more for the same price, which is always good news. Second, this gives a really affordable computer to those who can't afford a "traditional" system. Combine "6x performance" with Wayland/Weston and the ( WIP) Epiphany and this is, IMHO, a good option as a desktop computer.

The articles states software will be compatible... I have some apps that use ASM... I wonder if that will need changes.

I think this will be a good time to buy 2nd hanb b+s...

I'm not sure, but I believe it means it can run recent versions of chromium. Wouldn't that help with the netflix situation?

Chromium for ARM is no longer developed

[DougieLawson]

Has Punxatawny Pete seen his own shadow?
Happy Groundhog Day.

[EtonMess]

This has absolutely made my morning.
RS was a bit slow, but I got my order in.

Same price, compatible platform, more power.
Just love Raspberry Pi, love it!