Raspberry Pi Forums

I would like to start tinkering but I have cost constraints. Can someone give me a list of add ons that I will need to get up and running along with the total cost?

drjay

Depends on what you want to do, what you already have available, and how good you are at scrounging...and what your local economy is like.

To use a Pi just for software as a standalone device, you will need a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and power supply. To gain local network access, add either a WiFi dongle or CAT-5 (or better) cable.

Just to give a few numbers on this gear... I live in Northern California (San Francisco Bay Area).

Monitor: Thrift shop, $10 to $35, depending on what's in at the moment and what day of the week I buy it (they do discounts on a schedule). Other sources are Freecycle (free) or companies replacing older equipment (likely free).
Keyboard: $5 from thrift shop or $10-$15 new.
Mouse: $5, new.
Power supply: $6 (I'm picky. I use the Adafruit 5.25v 1A unit), plus about $1 for the USB to microUSB cable.
WiFi dongle: $8 to $15 depending on source
CAT-5e cable: $2 to $8, depending on length.

In any household with an active "techie" in it, spares of most or all of this equipment will be available already. If you know someone who tends to accumulate computer equipment, he may have enough spares to give you at least some items on the list, or to make long-term loans of some.

The Raspberry Pi Foundation guide to what supporting equipment you need is here -> http://www.raspberrypi.org/documentatio ... /README.md

The cost will depend to some extent on where you are in the world and what equipment you already have.

what you need
RPI + SD card + Power supply
additional
keyboard, NIC lead
extras
mouse, wireless dongle, powered USb hub

drjay1000 wrote:I would like to start tinkering but I have cost constraints. Can someone give me a list of add ons that I will need to get up and running along with the total cost?

drjay

What you wont for starting up with A Raspberry Pi
Getting all at the right price
If you live in the Uk.pay a visit to Maplins.
Tell them you are a Novice and want to get all the
parts.. Make a note of all the parts and price list
At least you will know what you want , Then shop
Around for the right price, If there is a Cost Cutter
near you look for a Monitor, you might pick one
about £10,Check if it is HDMI compatible
look at the back and see if it as a HMDI socket.
If you live in the USA pay visit to Radio Shack

Don't entertain a second hand key board

RaTTuS wrote:what you need
RPI + SD card + Power supply
additional
keyboard, NIC lead
extras
mouse, wireless dongle, powered USb hub

Duh! I forgot the SD card... Figure $5 to $10 for that. One of the cheaper ways to get a suitable SD card is to buy a NOOBS card bundled with a Pi.

boyoh wrote: If you live in the Uk.pay a visit to Maplins.
Tell them you are a Novice and want to get all the
parts.

That may be the worst possible advice. They'll pull a £90 kit off the shelf and sell that to you. You've then spent nearly £40 over the odds of collecting the same pieces from CPC/Farnell or RS or Amazon. That said you should get everything you need to get running.

My next Raspberry Pi cost £16, but I already have microSD cards, WiFi dongles, a keyboard/mouse and a nifty power supply (from Wilkos).

Your replies are very helpful. I can now estimate my costs which seem to be in my range as well as where I might go to obtain the parts to make it possible. It looks like I'm on my way to starting with the latest Raspberry board. Thanks to all who replied and to all who may help me in the future!!!

drjay

DougieLawson wrote:

boyoh wrote: If you live in the Uk.pay a visit to Maplins.
Tell them you are a Novice and want to get all the
parts.

That may be the worst possible advice. They'll pull a £90 kit off the shelf and sell that to you.

That was exactly my thoughts, except I thought the sales assistant would probably pile on other unnecessary junk as well.

DougieLawson wrote:

boyoh wrote: If you live in the Uk.pay a visit to Maplins.
Tell them you are a Novice and want to get all the
parts.

That may be the worst possible advice. They'll pull a £90 kit off the shelf and sell that to you. You've then spent nearly £40 over the odds of collecting the same pieces from CPC/Farnell or RS or Amazon. That said you should get everything you need to get running.

My next Raspberry Pi cost £16, but I already have microSD cards, WiFi dongles, a keyboard/mouse and a nifty power supply (from Wilkos).

Please read my post again
My post did not tell him to buy them there
Just to make a note of the parts , then
shop around for the right price,
To many parts are bought off the Internet
that don't work, If you know where
to get the parts at the right price
Tell HIM

BMS Doug wrote:

DougieLawson wrote:

boyoh wrote: If you live in the Uk.pay a visit to Maplins.
Tell them you are a Novice and want to get all the
parts.

That may be the worst possible advice. They'll pull a £90 kit off the shelf and sell that to you.

That was exactly my thoughts, except I thought the sales assistant would probably pile on other unnecessary junk as well.

Please read my post again
My post did not tell him to buy them there
Just to make a note of the parts , then
shop around for the right price,
To many parts are bought off the Internet
that don't work, If you know where
to get the parts at the right price
Tell HIM

boyoh wrote:

BMS Doug wrote: That was exactly my thoughts, except I thought the sales assistant would probably pile on other unnecessary junk as well.

Please read my post again
My post did not tell him to buy them there
Just to make a note of the parts , then
shop around for the right price,
To many parts are bought off the Internet
that don't work, If you know where
to get the parts at the right price
Tell HIM

Please read my post again, then read the OPs post again, and the other responses to it.

the OP has asked for a list of required parts and a guide price to lead his expectations of what to spend, that information has already been covered admirably by W.H.Heydt and RattuS.

Your post suggested going to a retailer and requesting that a salesperson suggest what he needed, sales people are there to sell things and may suggest items that are not actually necessary (such as a USB hub perhaps, depending on users requirements) or are over specified for the customers needs (£30 HDMI lead, expensive keyboard and mouse).

I don't know where the OP lives, buying parts from my local supplier might not suit him, the delivery costs could easily amount to more than any potential saving he might make.