Raspberry Pi 4 Vs Banana Pi M5
Single-board computers are a great way to learn about programming, electronics, and computer science. They are small, affordable, and easy to use. Raspberry Pi and Banana Pi are two of the most popular single-board computers on the market. In this article, we will compare Raspberry Pi 4 and Banana Pi M5, and see which one is better.
Introduction
Raspberry Pi 4 is a single-board computer developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. It was released on June 24, 2019. It is the fourth generation of the Raspberry Pi family and comes with several new features, including a 64-bit quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 CPU, up to 8GB of RAM, dual-band 802.11ac wireless, Bluetooth 5.0, Gigabit Ethernet, and two USB 3.0 ports. Raspberry Pi 4 is available in three different models based on the amount of RAM: 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB.
Banana Pi M5 is a single-board computer developed by the Banana Pi team. It was released on December 1, 2020. It is the fifth generation of the Banana Pi family and comes with several new features, including a 6-core ARM Cortex-A55 CPU, up to 8GB of RAM, dual-band 802.11ac wireless, Bluetooth 5.0, Gigabit Ethernet, and two USB 3.0 ports. Banana Pi M5 is available in two different models based on the amount of RAM: 4GB and 8GB.
Performance
When it comes to performance, Raspberry Pi 4 is a clear winner. It has a 64-bit quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 CPU, which is faster than the 6-core ARM Cortex-A55 CPU found in Banana Pi M5. Raspberry Pi 4 also has a higher clock speed, which means it can perform more operations per second. In addition, Raspberry Pi 4 has up to 8GB of RAM, which is more than the 8GB maximum available on the Banana Pi M5.
However, the Banana Pi M5 does have some advantages when it comes to performance. It has a more powerful GPU, which is capable of handling more complex graphics tasks. It also has a more advanced cooling system, which allows it to run at higher clock speeds for longer periods of time without overheating.
Connectivity
When it comes to connectivity, Raspberry Pi 4 and Banana Pi M5 are very similar. They both have dual-band 802.11ac wireless, Bluetooth 5.0, Gigabit Ethernet, and two USB 3.0 ports. However, Raspberry Pi 4 has some additional features that are not found on the Banana Pi M5, such as a 40-pin GPIO header, 2 micro HDMI ports, and a microSD card slot for storage.
Price
When it comes to price, Raspberry Pi 4 and Banana Pi M5 are both affordable options. The base model of Raspberry Pi 4 with 2GB of RAM starts at $35, while the top-of-the-line model with 8GB of RAM costs $75. The Banana Pi M5 with 4GB of RAM costs $88, while the 8GB version costs $108. Overall, Raspberry Pi 4 is a slightly cheaper option.
Software Support
When it comes to software support, Raspberry Pi 4 is a clear winner. It has a large community of users and developers who provide support, tutorials, and resources. It also has official support from the Raspberry Pi Foundation, which provides regular updates and bug fixes. In addition, Raspberry Pi 4 is compatible with a wide range of operating systems, including Raspbian, Ubuntu, and Windows 10 IoT Core.
While the Banana Pi M5 also has a community of users and developers, it is not as large as the one for Raspberry Pi. In addition, it does not have official support from a foundation or organization.
Conclusion
Overall, Raspberry Pi 4 is a better option than Banana Pi M5 for most users. It has a faster CPU, more RAM, more connectivity options, and better software support. However, if you need a more powerful GPU or a better cooling system, then Banana Pi M5 may be a better option. Ultimately, the choice between Raspberry Pi 4 and Banana Pi M5 depends on your specific needs and requirements.