TL;DR: The Raspberry Pi 5 is roughly 2–3× faster than the Pi 4 in CPU benchmarks, thanks to its quad-core Cortex-A76 at 2.4 GHz, and adds PCIe, dual 4K60 output, and a dedicated power button. For most new projects the Pi 5 is the better buy, though the Pi 4 remains adequate for lightweight tasks and runs cooler under sustained load.
Specs and What Changed
The Pi 5 launched with a substantially reworked platform. The Broadcom BCM2712 swaps the Pi 4’s Cortex-A72 cores for quad Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.4 GHz, paired with a faster LPDDR4X-4267 memory controller. The GPU moves to a VideoCore VII, enabling dual 4K60 HDMI output, and the board adds a single-lane PCIe 2.0 interface exposed via a flex connector—unlocking NVMe storage and other HATs. A real-time clock, an onboard power button, and a dedicated UART header round out the changes. The Pi 4, by contrast, tops out at 1.5–1.8 GHz, offers dual 4K30 output, and relies entirely on microSD or USB storage.
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Benchmarks
In synthetic testing, the Pi 5 typically delivers two to three times the Pi 4’s multi-threaded CPU throughput. Single-core gains are smaller but still meaningful—commonly 1.5–2×—reflecting the newer architecture and higher clocks. Memory bandwidth improves substantially, which shows up in compilation, database, and web-serving workloads. Storage is the biggest real-world differentiator: an NVMe drive over PCIe can push sequential reads well past 800 MB/s, compared with roughly 40–90 MB/s on the Pi 4’s microSD or USB 3.0 path. GPU and video decode performance is stronger, though the Pi 5’s 3D driver stack matured over several kernel and firmware releases before reaching parity with expectations.
Real-World Use and Industry Impact
For desktop-style use, the Pi 5 feels noticeably snappier—browsing, office apps, and light development are finally comfortable. Home servers, media centers, and NAS builds benefit most from NVMe and the faster network-adjacent I/O. The Pi 4 still shines in always-on roles where its lower power draw (roughly 3–5 W idle versus the Pi 5’s higher idle and peak draw, which requires a 5A supply for full performance) and passive cooling are advantages. Industrially, the Pi 5’s PCIe and RTC address long-standing embedded complaints, and its arrival pushed Pi 4 prices and availability into a healthier place, cementing the family’s role as the default prototyping platform.
FAQ
Q: Do I need a new power supply for the Pi 5?
A: Yes—the Pi 5 officially recommends a 5V/5A USB-C supply to unlock full peripheral power; a standard 5V/3A supply works but limits USB current.
Q: Can I reuse my Pi 4 case and accessories?
A: No, the Pi 5 changes the layout and port positions, so you’ll need a Pi 5-compatible case and cooler; GPIO headers remain compatible.
Q: Is the Pi 4 still worth buying?
A: Absolutely, for low-power always-on projects, simple retro-gaming setups, and budget builds where its lower heat output and cost matter more than raw speed.
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