Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ Released For $25 USD

[starshipeleven]

I still wouldn't mind at all if Broadcomm decided to actually send them a SoC that does not have total shit connectivity as the current one. Either a USB 3.0 or a PCIe lane please...

[ssokolow]

I just don't understand why the RPi is so tied to Broadcom. In the future, I would like to see them migrating to Risc V, but unfortunately there is no competitive, performant Risc V SoC at the moment.

Because the project was started by a Broadcom employee and its current success has been enabled by his relationship with his employer and their willingness to help the project for PR and potential future market-building? That's the kind of thing you don't throw out on a whim.

[mbello]

If it costs more than the $35 target or if it uses a SoC with shitty open source support it will not be a RPi worth its salt. Keep that in mind while you write down your wishlist for the RPi4.

I just hope it will have native gbe, that it will feature something better than the A53 and that it will use a much newer process technology, 22nm FDSOI would be great indeed.

I just don't understand why the RPi is so tied to Broadcom. In the future, I would like to see them migrating to Risc V, but unfortunately there is no competitive, performant Risc V SoC at the moment.

Another thought, it's been 3 years that all we see are budget A53-based SoC. It is taking quite long for the new ARM uarch to reach mainstream market. A76/A56 looks quite promising, but how long until we see that in affordable devices?

[Jabberwocky]

It is hard to operate in $35 or less range That must be something old.

From Degra's post: "Take a look at the Rock Pi 4.".

Apparently it's $39 and it has a Rockchip RK3399 SoC, not bad if you ask me.

[dungeon]

Wake me up when they release a Pi with a newer CPU than 6 years old.

It is hard to operate in $35 or less range That must be something old.

[sykobee]

You're not going to get a next generation Pi using a 7/12/14/16nm SoC in the next year or two. I think the SoC budget for the board is $5.

However I would hope for something more modern than the existing 40nm SoC. 28nm would be okay, or 22nm FDSOI.

I kinda hope they keep compatibility, at least at a software level, with day 1 Raspbian support and easy migration for other operating systems and platforms.

I would presume they would use a next generation Broadcom chip with VC5, given the driver work going on there. I don't mind if they have to launch at a slightly higher price ($45) initially, retaining the 3+ boards at $25 and $35 for a year. It has been six years, so inflation would cover half of that increase in the first place.

What would I like to see in the SoC?

* VC5 GPU - ~8x faster (higher clock speed from process improvement and extra cores due to process shrink)
* Integrated native GigE ethernet (no more USB)
* 2x USB 3 + 2x USB 2 (eradicate need for hub) (1 type C on the board)
* ~1.8GHz CPU (quad A55? 1 A75 + 3 A55?)
* Faster storage support (up to date eMMC, or even M2 slot on board) - a bit more unlikely this one

Wake me up when they release a Pi with a newer CPU than 6 years old.

[caligula]

I am quote curious what they will come up with next. 100% Backward compatibility won't be feasible.

Maybe some cheaper 12nm chip? Octa-core, 4GB RAM (LPDDR5X), 64GB Flash, 802.11ax wifi?

[Degra]

I would do a RK3399, 4GB of RAM, 128GB eMMC, dual-band WiFi(867Mbps), Bluetooth, 2x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0, HDMI, 1GBase-T ethernet, a MicroSD slot, M.2 connector, and a Pi-2 header. All in a RPi form-factor...

Take a look at the Rock Pi 4. It comes closest to what you want.

So, 7 years of Raspberry Pi, looks like this is the end of the line....

Yup, the VC4 is at the very end of its life cycle now.

I am quote curious what they will come up with next. 100% Backward compatibility won't be feasible.

[red23]

No Ethernet port is a total no-go for me. I love the good old LAN cables. For makes no sense for any potential uses I personally would have. Sure I can probably use some USB to LAN adapter but this things need to work well on it and probably coast almost as much as the PI itself. Apart from the fact that there a TONS of competitors to the PI that give you more bang for the buck.