What can you buy for your next Raspberry Pi 3 project
Undeniably, the Raspberry Pi 3 is one of the best single board computers out there for us to implement computing projects affordably. Therefore, it is one of the things that you should consider getting if you are a computer programmer.
At this point in time, there are three versions of Raspberry Pi 3 - the Model B+, the Model B and Model A+.
In case you happen to receive one as a gift or wanted to get one, this guide aims to provide you with some information of what you can buy while you explore the capabilities of this wonderful computing device.
Comparing the different models of Raspberry Pi 3 (3B+ vs 3B vs 3A+)
Before buying a Raspberry Pi 3 board for your next IoT project, it is important to know the features of the different models.
Comparison chart between different models of Raspberry Pi 3
The following is a comparison chart between different models of Raspberry Pi 3:
3B+
|
3B
|
3A+
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Release date | 2018 March 14 | 2016 February 29 | 2018 November 15 |
| CPU | Broadcom BCM2837B0, Cortex-A53 (ARMv8) 64-bit SoC @ 1.4GHz | Quad Core 1.2GHz Broadcom BCM2837 64bit CPU | Broadcom BCM2837B0, Cortex-A53 (ARMv8) 64-bit SoC @ 1.4GHz |
| RAM | 1GB LPDDR2 SDRAM | 1GB RAM | 512MB LPDDR2 SDRAM |
| WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity | 2.4GHz and 5GHz IEEE 802.11.b/g/n/ac wireless LAN, Bluetooth 4.2, BLE | BCM43438 wireless LAN and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) on board | 2.4GHz and 5GHz IEEE 802.11.b/g/n/ac wireless LAN, Bluetooth 4.2/BLE |
| Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet over USB 2.0 (maximum throughput 300 Mbps) | 100 Base Ethernet | Not Available |
| 40-pin GPIO header | Available | Available | Available |
| Full-size HDMI | Available | Available | Available |
| USB | 4 USB 2.0 ports | 4 USB 2.0 ports | Single USB 2.0 ports |
| CSI for connecting a Raspberry Pi camera | Available | Available | Available |
| DSI for connecting a Raspberry Pi touchscreen display | Available | Available | Available |
| 4-pole stereo output and composite video port | Available | Available | Available |
| Micro SD port for loading your operating system and storing data | Available | Available | Available |
| 5V/2.5A DC power input | Available | Available | Available |
| Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) support | Available | Not Available | Not Available |
So which Raspberry Pi 3 board should I get for my project?
Since the Raspberry Pi 3A+ board only has a single USB port and no Ethernet port, it has the smallest and thinnest form factor among the 3 models. Therefore, I would get the Raspberry Pi 3A+ board if you have a size constraint. However, if I do so, there is only 512MB of RAM as compared to 1GB of RAM that the other two models provide.
When I do not have a size constraint, I would get the Raspberry Pi 3B+ board. This is because 3B+ will give me a faster data rate in terms of Wifi and Ethernet connectivity.
Minimal hardware needed to run Raspberry Pi 3
In order to run Raspberry Pi 3 at its bare minimum, you will need the following parts:
- A Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ Motherboard or Raspberry Pi 3 Model B Motherboard or Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+.
- One micro USB power supply that can supply power to the mother board. You can reuse most of the micro USB chargers that come with mobile devices or get the Official Raspberry Pi 3 Universal Power Supply.
- A Micro SD card that contains an operating system for managing Raspberry Pi 3 hardware and software resources as well as providing common services for computer programs.
Micro SD cards for Raspberry Pi 3
In order to have acceptable performance, get Micro SD cards have sequential write speed of at least 10 MB/s for. Given that, the following are lists of Micro SD cards that you can consider getting for your Raspberry Pi 3:
32 GB MicroSD cards
- Sandisk Ultra 32GB Micro SDHC UHS-I Card with Adapter - 98MB/s U1 A1 - SDSQUAR-032G-GN6MA
- Kingston Digital 32GB microSDHC Class 10 UHS-I 45MB/s Read Card with SD Adapter (SDC10G2/32GB)
- Samsung 32GB EVO Plus Class 10 Micro SDHC with Adapter 80mb/s (MB-MC32DA/AM)
- PNY Elite 32GB microSDHC Card -UHS-I, U1, up to 85MB/Sec
64 GB MicroSD cards
- Sandisk Ultra 64GB Micro SDXC UHS-I Card with Adapter - 100MB/s U1 A1
- Kingston Digital 64GB microSDXC Class 10 UHS-I 45MB/s Read Card with SD Adapter (SDC10G2/64GB)
- Samsung 64GB MicroSDXC EVO Plus Memory Card w/ Adapter, (MB-MC64GA/EU)
- PNY Elite 64GB Microsdxc Card -UHS-I, U1, up to 85MB/Sec (P-SDU64U185EL-GE)
128 GB MicroSD cards
- Sandisk Ultra 128GB Micro SDXC UHS-I Card with Adapter - 100MB/s U1 A1
- Kingston Digital 128GB microSDXC Class 10 UHS-I 45MB/s Read Card with SD Adapter (SDC10G2/128GB)
- Samsung 128GB EVO Plus Class 10 Micro SDXC with Adapter (MB-MC128GA/EU)
- PNY Elite 128GB, up to 85MB/Sec, Microsdxc Card -UHS-I, U1 (P-SDU128U185EL-GE)
Cases / Enclosures for Raspberry Pi 3B+/B
When you do not have a 3D printer you may want to get a case to keep dust away from your Raspberry Pi 3B+/B board.
In this case, here are some cases or enclosures that you may want to get for your Raspberry Pi 3B+/B motherboard.
Official case for Raspberry Pi 3B+/B (White and Red)
Key features
- White and Red
- Official case for the Raspberry Pi
- Designed for raspberry pi 3 model,designed with Pi HAT's in mind
- Easy access to the GPIO port
- Access to the camera and display ports
- Removable Lid provides easy access to the camera and display ports
- Good for a flat surface
Official case for Raspberry Pi 3 (Black and Grey)
Key features
- Black and Grey
- Official case for the Raspberry Pi
- Designed for raspberry pi 3 model,designed with Pi HAT's in mind
- Easy access to the GPIO port
- Access to the camera and display ports
- Removable Lid provides easy access to the camera and display ports
- Good for a flat surface
SunFounder Transparent ABS Case
Key Features
- Unique design with several air holes and aircraft holes under the bottom cap.
- Made of ABS which is high quality and durable.
- Access to All ports and wall Mountable.
NES CASE functional POWER and RESET button NESPi Case
Key features
- Functional POWER and RESET buttons
- Functional LED power indicator
- NES case specifically designed for Raspberry Pi 3, 2 and B+
- Easy access to the SD-Card and all other ports without opening the case
Super Tinytendo Case with Large Cooling Fan
Key features
- Full access to SD Card, USB, Ethernet, Power, and HDMI without opening the case
- Large cooling fan installed with 2 pin GPIO connector
- Inspired by SNES
- Professionally designed and assembled in the USA
Makerfire PiBlox LEGO Case (Black)
Key features
- Black, Gloss finish
- Standard stud sizing allows blocks to be fitted to the top and base of the enclosure
- Integrated camera mount and holes for lens and flash.
Smraza Case with Black Protective Case
Key features
- Case for Raspberry pi 3 Model B- Classic black acrylic 9 layers case, easy assembly without tools.
- Cooling Fan - Use the fan to keep pi 3 board safe without overheating.
- Aluminum Heatsinks - Improve the CPU/LAN/RAM chips ventilation.
- Easy to insert/remove SD card - Case won't block the bluetooth signal
- Full access - Allow the micro USB, power cable, LAN (model B only) and GPIO ports access easily.
Flirc Raspberry Pi Case Gen2
Key features
- GPIO and all the main connectors are easily accessible through the bottom
- Built-in Heat Sink and comes with a thermal pad and 4 screws
Retroflag MEGAPi Case
Key Features
- Safe Shutdown and Safe Reset
- Functional POWER and RESET buttons
- Metadata in emulationstation will be saved when rebooting and shutting down
- Easy access to the SD-Card and all other ports without opening the case
DSI Display for Raspberry Pi 3
DSI is an acronym for Display Serial Interface which is a specification by the Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) Alliance aimed at reducing the cost of display controllers in a mobile device. Raspberry Pi 3 board include one for us to connect a display for visual feedback. Here are some DSI displays that you can buy for your Raspberry Pi 3 board.
Raspberry Pi 7" Touchscreen Display
Key features
- This 7" Touchscreen Display for the Raspberry Pi is perfect for creating portable and embedded projects where a keyboard and mouse would be in the way.
- The full color display outputs up to 800 x 480 and features a capacitive touch sensing capable of detecting 10 fingers.
- Only two connections from the Pi to the display are necessary; power from GPIO (or USB) connection to the DSI port. The adapter board handles power, signal conversion, and touch input conversion.
- Kit Contents: 7" Touchscreen Display Adapter Board DSI Ribbon Cable 4 x Stand-offs and Screws 4 x Jumper Wires
HDMI Display for Raspberry Pi 3
Another way for us to display video output from our Raspberry Pi 3 is through the HDMI port. Here are a few HDMI displays that work well with Raspberry Pi 3.
Elecrow 11.6 Inch 1920X1080 HDMI 1080P LED Display Monitor
Key features
- Resolution: 1920X1080, up to 1080p. Display Technology: IPS LED Technology Display with aluminum material design. More durable for usage.
- Screen Size: 11.6 inches. Aspect ratio: 16: 9 (width: height). DC:12V/2A.
- Appearance size: 288mm x 185mmX25mm Display area: 257mmx 145mm
- You will get：11.6 inch HD LED display x 1, Power adapter x 1, HDMI cable x 1, Metal Rack x 1
iUniker 5-inch Multi-Touch Capacitive Pi Touch Screen 800x480 Resolution HDMI Monitor With Stand Case
Key features
- The capacitive touch function give the user full control over any device.
- Multi-Touch function(10 point), Capacitive Touchscreen, 800*480 resolution
- Comes with perfectly fit stand case, it can be used as a portable monitor
CSI Cameras for Raspberry Pi 3
CSI is an acronym for Camera Serial Interface is a specification of the Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) Alliance. It defines an interface between a camera and a host processor.
Cameras attached to Raspberry Pi 3 via CSI usually perform better than cameras attached to Raspberry Pi 3 via USB. This is because CSI cameras connect directly to the GPU, leaving the CPU bandwidth for performing other computing work.
Here are some CSI cameras that you can buy for your next Raspberry Pi 3 camera projects.
Raspberry Pi Camera Module V2 - 8 Megapixel,1080p
Key features
- Second Generation Raspberry Pi Camera Module with Fixed Focus Lens
- Sony Exmor IMX219 Sensor Capable of 4K30, 1080P60, 720P180, 8MP Still
- 3280 (H) x 2464 (V) Active Pixel Count
- Maximum of 1080P30 and 8MP Stills in Raspberry Pi Board
- 2A Power Supply Highly Recommended
Raspberry Pi NoIR Camera Module V2 - 8MP 1080P30
Key Features
- 8 megapixel camera capable of taking photographs of 3280 x 2464 pixels
- Capture video at 1080p30, 720p60 and 640x480p90 resolutions
- All software is supported within the latest version of Raspbian Operating System
- Applications: CCTV security camera, motion detection, time lapse photography
Mini Camera Video Module 5MP 1080p OV5647 Sensor
Key features
- 【Plug and play】Easy plug and play type capability for a raspberry pi Model A or B, B+, model 2, Raspberry Pi 3 and Pi ZERO
- 【Endless creativity】small volume, at around 0.98 x 0.94 x 0.35 in and weighing in at just over 3g, making it perfect for mobile，Can be applied to image recognition and image tracking
- 【HD video】Can be directly connected to the raspberry pie control panel via soft cable, capable of recording 1080p Full HD video at 30 frames per second
- 【High resolution】 The sensor has a native resolution of 5 megapixel, and has a fixed focus lens on board In terms of still images, the camera is capable of 2592 × 1944 pixel static images
Kuman for Raspberry PI Camera Module 5MP 1080p OV5647 Sensor HD Video Webcam Supports Night Vision SC15
Key features
- RPi Camera, Supports Raspberry Pi model B/B+ A+ RPi 3 2 1
- 5 megapixel OV5647 sensor, Supports up to 2 infrared LED and/or fill flash
- Raspberry Pi Night Vision Camera, supports all revisions of the Pi
- Package Contains: 2pcs Infrared LED Light, 1 piece Infrared Night Vision Webcam Camera Board
- The camera is capable of 2592 x 1944 pixel static images, and also supports 1080 p @ 30 fps, 720 p @ 60 fps and 640 x480 p 60/90 video recording
SainSmart Wide Angle Fish-Eye Camera Lenses for Raspberry Pi Arduino
Key features
- Omnivision 5647 sensor in a fixed focus module
- The module attaches to Raspberry Pi, by way of a 15 Pin Ribbon Cable, to the dedicated 15-pin MIPI Camera Serial Interface (CSI)
- The CSI bus is capable of extremely high data rates, and it exclusively carries pixel data to the BCM2835 processor
- The sensor itself has a native resolution of 5 megapixel, and has a fixed focus lens onboard
- The camera supports 1080 p @ 30 fps, 720 p @ 60 fps and 640 x480 p 60/90 video recording also it is supported in the latest version of Raspbian, the Raspberry Pi's preferred operating system
AC powered USB hubs for Raspberry Pi 3
When you want to attach power hungry USB devices, for example an external hard disk, to your Raspberry Pi 3, a AC powered USB hub will ensure that there is enough power for consumption.
Here are some AC powered USB hubs that you can get for your Raspberry Pi 3 if you intend to connect power hungry USB devices to your Raspberry Pi 3.
Belkin 4-Port Powered Desktop USB Hub with Support for USB-A, USB 2.0, and USB 1.1
Key features
- Adds 4 USB-A ports to your PC or Mac through a single open port
- Ideal for connecting additional peripheral devices
- Supports USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 connections
- Delivers data transfer speeds of up to 480 Mbps
- Convenient plug-and-play installation
Plugable USB 2.0 4-Port High Speed Charging Hub with 12.5W Power Adapter
Key features
- USB 2.0 4-Port High Speed Hub. Includes a robust 12.5W 5V 2.5A power adapter. (US AC Wall Outlet Plug, 100-240V 50/60Hz)
- Hub enables connecting 4 additional USB devices. Forwards and backwards compatible with all USB 3.0, 2.0, or 1.1 host controllers and devices on Windows, Mac, and Linux/Unix computers at USB 2.0 speeds up to 480 Mbps. Transfer rates are device and USB host controller dependent. Fully plug and play, devices can be hot-swapped, supports USB over-current protection. Requires no driver installation (although individual devices may require drivers).
- Master blue power LED. Sleek piano black glossy finish. Compact and portable design.
Plugable USB 2.0 7-Port High Speed Charging Hub with 60W Power Adapter
- Plugable's latest USB 2.0 7-Port High Speed Hub. Includes our most robust power adapter ever, capable of a massive 60 watts at 12V 5A, enough to power all of your devices with ease. (US AC Wall Outlet Plug, 100-240V 50/60Hz)
- Hub enables connecting 7 additional USB devices. Forwards and backwards compatible with all USB 3.0, 2.0, or 1.1 host controllers and devices on Windows, Mac, and Linux/Unix computers at USB 2.0 speeds up to 480 Mbps. Transfer rates are device and USB host controller dependent. Fully plug and play, devices can be hot-plugged, supports USB over-current protection. Requires no driver installation (although individual devices may require drivers).
- Master blue power LED. Professional matte black finish. Compact and stackable design. All 7 ports on one side to minimize cable clutter and maximize accessibility.
Other Add-Ons for Raspberry Pi 3
Adafruit Flex Cable for Raspberry Pi Camera - 1 meter
SunFounder Raspberry Pi Smart Video Car Kit V2.0 Block Based Graphical Visual Programming Language Remote Control by UI on Windows Mac and Web Browser Electronic Toy with Detail Manual
Key features
- Perfect choice for beginners to learn Raspberry Pi (not included), robotics, electronics and program.
- Wide-angle USB webcam to real-time image/video transmission.
- You can learn how to code faster and easier than ever with a visual programming language software or Python code.
- Remote control with the UI on PC or on a web browser (mobiles, tablets…)
- The PiCar-V is a funny way for children and parents working together to build and use.
2 Pack iNNEXT SNES Retro USB Super Nintendo Controller Gamepad Joystick, USB PC Super Classic Controller Joypad Gamestick
Key features
- Generic USB controller, this uses a standard USB port, if your program or application accepts USB controller input, it can be used natively without drivers or patches, JUST PLUG AND PLAY! Cord is approx. 5 ft. Long. Super sensitive buttons for precision control. Third party controller, not original SNES / NES controller. But it works phenomenal with the Raspberry Pi game emulation and so on.
- Supported Operating system: Windows 98, ME, Vista, 2000, 2003, XP, 7, 8, 8.1, 10; Linux UBUNTU, Linux Mint, Android Linux (via an USB OTG cable); Mac OS X and beyond; Retrogaming operating systems: RetroPie, Recalbox, Happi Game Center, Lakka, ChameleonPi, Piplay
- Supported Device (With USB storage device): PC, Notebook Computer, Laptop Computer; MacBook; Android Smartphone: connect via an USB OTG cable; Raspberry Pi (RPI, Raspberry pie): Raspberry Pi 1 Model B, Model A, Raspberry Pi 1 Model B+, Raspberry Pi Zero, Raspberry Pi 2, Raspberry Pi 3 Model B, Raspberry Pi 3, Retro Pie. --- Note: NOT SUPPORT Android TV BOX.
- Supported Platform: Steam (Not Support all games. Perfect for Several simple steam games)
- Supported Game Emulators: NES, SNES, Snes9x, ZSNES, Higan, Handheld GBA emulator, Sega Genesis emulator, Sega OpenEmu (Only support OS X), RetroArch (Works perfect on Android), BSNES (Perfect for two player action)
Raspberry Pi Kuman Lithium Battery Pack Expansion Board RPi Power Pack Power Supply+ USB Cable + 2 layer Acrylic Board
Key features
- Specially designed for Raspberry pi,which makes Raspberry pi work up to 9 hours.
- Double USB output. One is for Raspberry pi, the other can be connected with LCD screen
- Easy to install, you can use provided fastening standoffs, screws and nuts to fasten your Raspberry pi board.
- It comes with 17cm Special design micro USB cable and 2pcs acrylic board
- Battery capacity: 3800mAH Maximum; Output current: 1.8A
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