The Raspberry Pi 3 features a Quad Core Processor 1.2GHz 64-Bit, 1GB RAM, 4 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a keyboard, mouse, and other peripherals, Ethernet port, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.1, HDMI output, mini jack audio output, and microUSB port for power supply. To operate the Pi 3, it requires a 5V 2.5A power supply and a microSD card where the operating system will be installed. The Raspberry Pi 3 is an ideal solution for use in education and learning programming. The Pi 3 can alternatively be used in many other applications.
Bluetooth, Card Reader, HDMI, USB 2.0, WiFi, Ethernet
Special Features
Colour
Black
Important information
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Positive
- Excellent as a media player with LibreElec. It's perfect for movies up to 1080p h.264.
- Cheap as it is.
Negative
- Not so cheap when you add the case, power supply, and SD card. The price doubles.
- Even with 720p HEVC h.265, it struggles, it simply can't handle it.
- Its wifi is weak, so prefer ethernet (up to 100Mbps).
- It easily heats up, resulting in throttling from 1200Mhz to 900Mhz. I recommend a cooler.
- It doesn't have a physical reset button.
Basically, I have it for the retropie, which does its job quite well, fast boot times, easy to use, you download the images, write them on sdcsrd class 10 for speed, and you're ready to go.
Well, for those of you who are considering it for a media center (KODI), I highly recommend it compared to any other TV box. The 1GB RAM is more than enough. I have it with the LibreElec operating system, which is specifically for Kodi (the same goes for OSMC), and it utilizes all the RAM without any problems in streaming. It's worth mentioning that with a loaded build on Kodi, it gives me over 500MB of free memory for streaming, while the TV box with 1GB RAM that I have only gives me 90MB.
The installation of the operating systems is very easy, and there are countless instructions online about it.
I have had it "naked" without a case and fans for 2 years now, and it hasn't had any issues or temperature problems. I just dust it off occasionally with a soft brush (makeup brush).
I repeat, I only use it for Kodi.
Remote control? The Kore app on our mobile phone is enough, and it's ready to go.
The minimum additional and necessary expense that needs to be made for its purchase is the appropriate power supply. Maybe also a microSD card if we don't have one available.
Wonderful. Raspbian is very good and reliable operating system (I have disconnected it many times from the power socket without shutting it down and it hasn't had any issues). The support for it is amazing and the online community really solves all your doubts. I would give double for it. If you want to deal with YouTube on Raspbian, because Chromium doesn't use hardware acceleration, download Kweb. It can easily play 1080P videos without frame loss with omxplayergui. You will easily find how to do this on the internet.
I have it for one day, so my review is based on that. I worked with Rasbian for a little bit. The installation is so simple that it won't give anyone a hard time. Practically, I use it for internet browsing and for the 24 euros that I bought it, it's really something fantastic.
My only complaint is that it opens web pages relatively slowly compared to a Windows computer, but we can't have it all.
24 euros and a good monitor and you solved your problem.
Excellent product, now in its second year of use. Apart from the temperature, I have not a single complaint. I have added a passive cooler to it and now it's even better. I have used it as a Media Server, for projects (many), as a torrent server, web server, desktop, general purpose server, etc. Currently, I am using it as a Torrent Server. Soon, I will continue a project that transforms the Raspi into a Smart Home, where anyone can control their home devices through relays with access from a graphical interface (WebUI).
It is a versatile device and I highly recommend it!!
I recommend combining it with "Sandisk Ultra 16GB Class 10" MicroSD! It achieves the best speeds.
I initially bought a Raspberry Pi and two SD cards with the purpose of setting one up as a media center (kodi) and loading Raspbian on the other for regular use as a computer. It has so many possibilities with Raspbian and it works so well as a media center with kodi that I didn't know which one to prioritize... So I bought another one to work simultaneously... one as a media center and the other as a torrent machine, file sharing and printer sharing on both Windows and Linux (it can also be easily converted into a Steam machine for regular use as a PC). With another SD card, you can even turn it into an Arcade machine (RetroPie)...
If you have a specific use in mind... you can easily find a second, third, and fourth one!
A very value for money mini-computer. It plays fullHD 1080p (1920x1080) movies normally (full screen) even with a small charger (1A) but it is good to use a bigger one, 2+. It needs at least a 4GB SD card but it might work with less depending on the operating system you want to flash. The wifi is indeed weak but not to the extent that it creates a problem.
Unlimited possibilities. With various microSD cards, you have different operating systems for each use: media center, browsing, programming (automation, robotics, etc.), retro arcade gaming!
Very good for the use I bought it for as a media center with Kodi, as well as a gaming console with RetroPie. The positives are definitely the 1GB RAM, the WiFi, and the Bluetooth. It's a good purchase as long as you know the purpose you will use it for.
I also have it as a mediacenter with osmc, for qgis with raspbian on another microsd, and finally kali linux on a third card. As for value for money, I have to say that with just 40 € for wifi and bluetooth sticks, you can't clean anything, and I'll leave out the 64-bit and FHD, etc... As for the temperature, I have to say that it reaches 65°C in the summer when rendering maps in qgis, but that doesn't mean anything, the manufacturer sets the limit at 80°C and then the cpu autothrottles. Due to its size, cost, and energy consumption, the applications you can create (at a hardware level) are much more than with a simple PC (nas, vpn, home security, fire alarms, digital photo frames, etc. (did I mention media center?)). In short, you may not be sure if you want to buy it, but if you do, you will become a fan.
The raspbian distribution a few months ago did not have many features integrated and everyone had to install add-on programs and hacks.
Now it is not necessary. One can update or reinstall raspbian if it does not enter only with an update of Chromium. Now Chromium supports video acceleration through the graphics card, but in HD video and some SD in full screen it freezes somewhat.
For HD video cases, there is the Kweb Suite browser, where with the omxplayer button (and not through javascript) it can easily support 1080 resolution in full screen, not only from a downloaded file, but also in streaming through youtube (and elsewhere)!!! It does perfect rendering through acceleration for this specific GPU. Due to different encoding, omxplayer plays 85% of the videos streamed on youtube and elsewhere, not 100%. The remaining 15% is viewed through javascript on Kweb.
https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=40860
Also, one can install Kodi (media center) on Raspbian or "on its own" and then simply play everything in full HD and on a full screen. And with the relevant add-on for youtube, it plays just as comfortably (vimeo and all the others).
Finally, it is good to have set the GPU_mem to 192 or 256MB if using Raspberry Pi 3 as a media player.
I use it wired. If it freezes due to wifi (Raspberry Pi 3 does not have a long-range antenna), then a good WiFi dongle might be the solution.
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For temperature, I have installed a heatsink and a fan (although it is specified to withstand without a fan if it is well ventilated passively), while there is also this solution
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AYGnw6MwFM
Quite fast with incredible capabilities for its price! I use it as a media center, gaming console (PSP and Playstation games as well as retro games from Atari, NES, etc.), and as a regular computer for simple internet browsing and email reading. It is also positive that it has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
To operate, the purchase of an SD memory card, a charger (2A) micro USB, and a mouse/keyboard controller are required.
With the occasion of a friend's comment, I decided to share my opinion as well.
It is not exactly what they say and describe. It is subjective, probably some issues. I start the analysis.
In the pros:
+ It is very small and convenient, it has all the necessary ports like HDMI, USB, and Wi-Fi antenna.
+ It has incredibly low power consumption, only 4 watts.
+ Anyone with passion and knowledge of engineering and programming can do many things.
In the cons:
- It is slow for the year 2016.
- It requires computer knowledge to download applications.
- Overall, it is a high-level device. It is not for the beginner user who wants simple functions.
I would recommend it for someone who doesn't have much knowledge to get a compute stick to make their TV smart. And this is slow, but it has Windows.
Very good, you just need to know what you want it for. If you want it for a Media Center, you can install Kodi on it and do your work with mobile control (android and windows phone) without needing a mouse and keyboard. If you want it for a computer, then you will need all the other accessories. Personally, I use it for a media center and I am completely satisfied. The only negative aspect is perhaps the somewhat weak and problematic Wi-Fi at times (if it is at a distance).
Influenced by the comments, I made the mistake of buying it. I wanted to have a SMART TV for YouTube. Besides being slow, it doesn't play videos correctly, only those with very low, terrible resolution in small windows, if you try to maximize the window. The sound on YouTube is almost distorted with a loud hissing noise. The same goes for videos from USB or downloaded onto the memory. If you try to maximize, it can't handle it unless the resolution is terrible. Maybe it can play some downloaded 1080 videos, but strictly in a small window. It doesn't support Windows, only for some programming and management from another computer. The WiFi is very poor for connection. After searching, many people mention all these things I'm writing on the Raspberry Pi website. Additionally, the cost is very high... you can find complete used PCs for that price. To play on a TV, you need a very good charger with 2A, an HDMI cable, a case, heat sinks, a fan, an SD card of at least 32GB with good speed, a wireless mouse, and a wireless keyboard. Calculate the cost. I wonder about some people who mention that it can play 1080 videos, or rather they don't know what 1080 is, or it can only play them in a small window or on a small tablet. It's very good for programmers to use different languages for some work, nothing else. What a shame...
Exactly what I expected. It is a very good small integrated computer system. Once you install Raspbian on it, it can be easily used as a computer. It has the basics and can handle light browsing, but it struggles a bit with websites that have Java.
To enjoy it, you need to know why you're getting it. I got it to have it as a second little computer, mostly for fun and to do some coding on it. With time, I will get used to it. In the future, I plan to do some projects with it, but that will require money and time.
Overall, to anyone considering it, I highly recommend it, as it works without lag for basic tasks (except for Java browsing, where it struggles).