Suggestions for a Next Gen RPI B

[pageauc]

I have been using my six raspberry PI's (two newer gen 2 models) for quite a while now. The most useful distro for me has been openelec xbmc although I use wheezy and others as well. Currently trying wifi hot spot distro. I also have several mk802's but find the support and development for the PI far superior, especially graphics. The following are some suggestions for the next gen RPI model B. I would suggest this not replace the existing Model B but rather a parallel Model C for those who need more processing power.

1 - Dual Core processor with faster clock speed
2 - Upgrade USB ports to USB 3
3 - Increase USB power output for better support without needing a powered hub
4 - Increase RAM memory to 1 GB or more
5 - Increase GPU clock speed and cores
6 - Add Built in IR or RF remote sensor
7 - Better Audio output possibly change output to TOSlink or similar
8 - Add a micro SD card slot to support additional data or dual boot
9 - Add wifi support
10 - Upgrade network port to 10/100/1000

These are general concepts without any real feasability, licensing or implemention details. I know other devices such as MK802 already have some of these capabilities. Your comments, additions or suggestions would be welcome.
Thanks for listening

[Maxion]

I take it you haven't searched or read the other one million suggestion threads?

Any and all of your suggestions would push the price above the current 35$ bracket either from expensive components or from requiring a part or full re-design of the board.

TL;DR won't happen.

[stevhorn5]

My suggestions:

Processor Type Intel Core i7-3770T
Processor Speed 2.5 GHz
Processor Cores 4
RAM 32 GB PC3-12800 (1600 MHz DDR3)
Hard Drive Capacity 3 TB
Hard Drive Speed (Revolutions Per Minute) 7200 RPM
Optical Drive None
Graphics Card NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX

Sorry, I couldn't resist!

Gigabit ethernet would be a nice addition, though, to the current model

[Pete6]

My suggestions:

Processor Type Intel Core i7-3770T
Processor Speed 2.5 GHz
Processor Cores 4
RAM 32 GB PC3-12800 (1600 MHz DDR3)
Hard Drive Capacity 3 TB
Hard Drive Speed (Revolutions Per Minute) 7200 RPM
Optical Drive None
Graphics Card NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX

Sorry, I couldn't resist!

Gigabit ethernet would be a nice addition, though, to the current model

Gigabit Ethernet won't happen because within the current architecture "The Ethernet is driven via USB 2.0, so the upstream bandwidth would not support Gigabit." which I quote from the FAQ on this very site.

The keys to the next version of the Pi is to first decide how much it should cost and this will partly be decided by what the customer (both actual and potential) will accept and what technology is available.

One would also need to look at what the Pi's competitors are doing.

To make an upgrade worthwhile, the CPU speed would need to be increased by at least 3 times (it's 700Mhz now and can be increased to 1000Mhz via raspi-config) to be useful.

Memory is not really an issue with running Debian/Pi as I am seeing 40Mb used on startup in X-Windows. XBMC clearly needs more but that's not what the Pi was designed for. Obviously more memory is always nice.

The most important thing to keep straight is the architecture. Newer Pis gave got to be able to run existing apps (the OS can be built differently).

The ONE THING that I would do for the Pi is to make the little pink box that the device is delivered in be made with pop-out holes so as to make it into a case. This would immediately provide all Pis with a case from day one.

[Jim Manley]

My suggestions:

Processor Type Intel Core i7-3770T
Processor Speed 2.5 GHz
Processor Cores 4
RAM 32 GB PC3-12800 (1600 MHz DDR3)
Hard Drive Capacity 3 TB
Hard Drive Speed (Revolutions Per Minute) 7200 RPM
Optical Drive None
Graphics Card NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX

Sorry, I couldn't resist!

Gigabit ethernet would be a nice addition, though, to the current model

And it will all fit comfortably within the Pi's $3500 price point! Oh, the Pi has to cost $35.00? Never mind!

[W. H. Heydt]

1 - Dual Core processor with faster clock speed
2 - Upgrade USB ports to USB 3

These would require a complete redesign of the PCB, prototype testing, and emissions certifications.

3 - Increase USB power output for better support without needing a powered hub

Power connector (uUSB) is, as I understand it, only rated for 1.8A. If the USB ports get 500mA each, plus the Pis own power requirements, plus HDMI and Ethernet power...pretty soon you're pushing the limits on the power connector, and--in most cases--exceeding the capabilities of the power supplies that are being used.

4 - Increase RAM memory to 1 GB or more

No suitable chip is on the market. Plus, it would likely be price prohibitive if it were.

5 - Increase GPU clock speed and cores

Go ahead and overclock it.

6 - Add Built in IR or RF remote sensor

There are GPIO pins. Build one or both of these yourself.

7 - Better Audio output possibly change output to TOSlink or similar

Not sure what you'd do with this...it's a computer for learning programming, not a high end audiophile device.

8 - Add a micro SD card slot to support additional data or dual boot

Adafruit has a uSD adapter for $5.95.

9 - Add wifi support

Power, PCB real estate, plus there are all manner of "aftermarket" devices that add this function.

10 - Upgrade network port to 10/100/1000

The processor has *one*, count it, *one* USB connection and that connection is USB 2.0. USB 2.0 runs at 480Mb/s. There is no way to handle a 1Gb/s data stream.

Frankly, the one (partial) item from the list that is even potentially possible would be a faster default system clock, and that will only happen if a die shrink becomes economically *desirable*. (Note...not just possible, but as an actual means of reducing production cost to Broadcom.)

While I'd love to see a new--and compatible--version of the Pi with several of the things you mention, and one or two besides, I don't *expect* to see any of them. To actually *improve* the Pi, I think it would be better to look at things like a better grade of SD card holder or switching power regulators. Those items may seem pretty minor but they'd do more for basic functionality of the Pi in the wild than pretty much everything on your list.

(And my "wish list" item...a SATA connector. I don't expect to see it for all of the various reasons why I don't expect to see any of your wish list items.)

[malakai]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-9119-FHA-48 ... 3367ee5eb7

Found exactly what your all after.

See the trick is spend a ton of money and you can get anything spend $35 and you can get a Pi

[Vindicator]

I have almost all of those request in my desktop but why would I need them in a $35.00 dollar device.
By the time you add all those items you will have a system like your desktop so it defeats the purpose of the Raspberrypi and I think there are probably 100+ post of what to add to Raspi and the next gen pi has 512Mb of memory now as well as half a dozen other improvements as well.
I would ask that you remember that the device was meant to be affordable to make it accessible to children, Not to give you a cheap desktop replacement.
All those requests would increase the cost of the device and reduce the affordability of the device also.

Malakai I am sure there would be something missing even in that system LOL.

[stevhorn5]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-9119-FHA-48 ... 3367ee5eb7

Found exactly what your all after.

See the trick is spend a ton of money and you can get anything spend $35 and you can get a Pi

It's just a wee bit more than my $35 price point for the RPi!!

[SimonSmall]

I think that the point about the low price, and the way it is the SD card that holds the OS, is that anyone can play with the Pi with minimal cost if it all goes wrong. Blow up a laptop, and you need a lot of cash to replace it. Give your young child a Pi, and if they do manage to break the Pi or the SD card these can be cheaply replaced. The purpose of the Pi is to encourage learning and experimentation. When bought, "some assembly is required" (as it says on some toys these days) and this encourages that experimentation