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> Raspberry Pi 5 4GB Has the Pi Foundation ever explained why they are saving $2 worth of memory chips to make these unbalanced versions with pedestrian amount

> Raspberry Pi 5 4GB Has the Pi Foundation ever explained why they are saving $2 worth of memory chips to make these unbalanced versions with pedestrian amounts of memory? The Pi 5 should be firmly in the 8-16GB range given the compute power it has and the tasks it'll have to handle as a result.

dannyw 3y ago
The Pi is designed for a lot of applications, it's not always used as a mini PC.
silverquiet 3y ago
Is there any compelling reason to run 32-bit code these days? If so, then 4GB might be a good fit. But nevertheless, these were originally intended as low-spec hobby machines, though they obviously grew way beyond that.
- moffkalast 3y ago
  It's not like they ever stop making old versions (except for the original prototype), there are perfectly valid uses for a Pi 3/4 or even a Pi 2 still today. If you need something more basic, those are good options and far more efficient/reasonably priced too. The Pi 5 seems to be aimed more at the high end heavily demanding tasks, after all it uses 3x more power than the Pi 4. It's not meant to replace it and it should be equipped accordingly for its role.
- IshKebab 3y ago
  32-bit code uses less memory, so it makes sense for embedded systems that can't have and don't need a lot of RAM. Doesn't make sense for an application class CPU though.
shadowpho 3y ago
Market segmentation, plus it does cost more then $2… (8gb=$25, but those are 2 yr old prices)
- moffkalast 3y ago
  Ah yeah seems like the bulk prices I was looking up[0] are in bits, not bytes. Apparently ISPs aren't the only ones trying to make themselves look better through these shenanigans. Would've only cost them $17 to go with 2x4GB modules, but limited board space and all that I guess. A 12GB version would've been nice to have for $7 more at least, since it's the max single module. [0] https://en.chinaflashmarket.com/price/lpddr https://en.chinaflashmarket.com/price/lpddr
  - kube-system 3y ago
    Bare chips are and have always been measured in bits Even when you buy DRAM modules, the data sheets for the chips that are on it will cite capacities in bits. The meaning of the 'b' in 'Gb' or 'GB' is case sensitive.
    - moffkalast 3y ago
      Yeah, the same way as chip density nm values have always been a thing and now the definition has been stretched so thin that it's lost all meaning? This is pure "big number better" marketing bullshit that has no place in a world where even L1 cache is measured in KB.
      - kube-system 3y ago
        Bits came first, and it has a very clear meaning. Measuring memory chips in bits is not a marketing thing -- every RAM chip has been measured this way from the very beginning. Including the ones in your computer right now. Potentially you are only familiar with RAM modules? > L1 cache is measured in KB L1 cache isn't a discrete component. It is measured differently because the audience for that measurement is different.
        moffkalast 3y ago
        I don't see a point in labelling something that isn't addressable bit by bit in bits. The lowest unit anything running on it can use is a byte and it's perfectly divisible by 8, there's no reason to use bits. I'm not going to count the number of atoms in my drink or the how long my trip to work is in fuckin nanometers. Doing something the way it's always been done is not a very convincing excuse, if we always did that we'd still be drawing on cave walls and foraging for berries.
freeqaz 3y ago
Less power usage also which is important for embedded applications. 4gb is still a lot of RAM!

dannyw 3y ago

The Pi is designed for a lot of applications, it's not always used as a mini PC.

silverquiet 3y ago

Is there any compelling reason to run 32-bit code these days? If so, then 4GB might be a good fit. But nevertheless, these were originally intended as low-spec hobby machines, though they obviously grew way beyond that.

moffkalast 3y ago
It's not like they ever stop making old versions (except for the original prototype), there are perfectly valid uses for a Pi 3/4 or even a Pi 2 still today. If you need something more basic, those are good options and far more efficient/reasonably priced too. The Pi 5 seems to be aimed more at the high end heavily demanding tasks, after all it uses 3x more power than the Pi 4. It's not meant to replace it and it should be equipped accordingly for its role.
IshKebab 3y ago
32-bit code uses less memory, so it makes sense for embedded systems that can't have and don't need a lot of RAM. Doesn't make sense for an application class CPU though.

shadowpho 3y ago

Market segmentation, plus it does cost more then $2… (8gb=$25, but those are 2 yr old prices)

moffkalast 3y ago
Ah yeah seems like the bulk prices I was looking up[0] are in bits, not bytes. Apparently ISPs aren't the only ones trying to make themselves look better through these shenanigans. Would've only cost them $17 to go with 2x4GB modules, but limited board space and all that I guess. A 12GB version would've been nice to have for $7 more at least, since it's the max single module. [0] https://en.chinaflashmarket.com/price/lpddr https://en.chinaflashmarket.com/price/lpddr
- kube-system 3y ago
  Bare chips are and have always been measured in bits Even when you buy DRAM modules, the data sheets for the chips that are on it will cite capacities in bits. The meaning of the 'b' in 'Gb' or 'GB' is case sensitive.
  - moffkalast 3y ago
    Yeah, the same way as chip density nm values have always been a thing and now the definition has been stretched so thin that it's lost all meaning? This is pure "big number better" marketing bullshit that has no place in a world where even L1 cache is measured in KB.
    - kube-system 3y ago
      Bits came first, and it has a very clear meaning. Measuring memory chips in bits is not a marketing thing -- every RAM chip has been measured this way from the very beginning. Including the ones in your computer right now. Potentially you are only familiar with RAM modules? > L1 cache is measured in KB L1 cache isn't a discrete component. It is measured differently because the audience for that measurement is different.
      - moffkalast 3y ago
        I don't see a point in labelling something that isn't addressable bit by bit in bits. The lowest unit anything running on it can use is a byte and it's perfectly divisible by 8, there's no reason to use bits. I'm not going to count the number of atoms in my drink or the how long my trip to work is in fuckin nanometers. Doing something the way it's always been done is not a very convincing excuse, if we always did that we'd still be drawing on cave walls and foraging for berries.

freeqaz 3y ago

Less power usage also which is important for embedded applications. 4gb is still a lot of RAM!