{"id":6109,"date":"2023-11-22T10:45:40","date_gmt":"2023-11-22T10:45:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/picockpit.com\/raspberry-pi\/?p=6109"},"modified":"2023-11-22T10:49:47","modified_gmt":"2023-11-22T10:49:47","slug":"paragon-project-an-unofficial-raspberry-pi-500","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/picockpit.com\/raspberry-pi\/paragon-project-an-unofficial-raspberry-pi-500\/","title":{"rendered":"Paragon Project: An Unofficial Raspberry Pi 500"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Unofficial<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Here we are, almost two months since the announcement of Raspberry Pi 5 and no word on a Raspberry Pi 500. How can this be? Well leave it to Christopher Barnatt to save the day with this unofficial Raspberry Pi 500!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Raspberry Pi announced the Pi 5, there were two big questions – what about a Compute Module 5 and what about a Raspberry Pi 500? Two weeks ago, we covered an unofficial Compute Module 5 made by Arturo182<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And today, I’m delighted to share Christopher Barnatt’s unofficial Raspberry Pi 500. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don’t know Christopher, then you need to head over to YouTube and subscribe to the ExplainingComputers<\/a> channel immediately. Christopher reviews new hardware, clarifies really complicated tech, and shares some really outstanding projects. And here’s one of them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Credit: ExplainingComputers<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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It’s the perfect Raspberry Pi desktop – all the power of a Raspberry Pi 5 in the form factor of a keyboard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you can tell from the picture, in many ways, the form factor feels closer to an Amiga 500 than a Raspberry Pi 400<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I’d say that’s precisely what gives Christopher’s project its charm!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hardware<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The components for this project are pretty straightforward – a Raspberry Pi 5 (with an Active Cooler<\/a>), a keyboard, and an SSD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christopher actually uses an M.2 SATA SSD along with an M.2-to-USB adapter to make it fit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But an SSD is so much faster and more reliable than a micro SD card, I’d say do whatever it takes to make it work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Credit: ExplainingComputers<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Aside from those primary three components, Christopher uses a handful of extenders for the ports – USB extenders, an Ethernet port extender, and (best of all) a micro HDMI to normal HDMI extender!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to put the Pi 500 together, Christopher needs to take the keyboard apart and then fit it into a custom case made out of ABS plastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Credit: ExplainingComputers<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Then it’s just a matter of fitting everything into place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Software<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Regarding software, there’s not much to say, as Christopher is running the standard Raspberry Pi Bookworm OS<\/a> on the Pi 5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So you’ll end up with all the features of Bookworm OS: Wayland as the display server, Wayfire as the compositor, Pipewire for audio, Firefox as a default (alongside Chromium), and a much fuller suite of network controls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people have complained about little bugs here and there, but I’m personally a big fan of Bookworm. I’m not typically a Debian user, but I’ve been using Pi 5 as a desktop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, after seeing Christopher’s Pi 500, I’m thinking that my Pi 5 setup needs an upgrade!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time to go out and buy some ABS plastic!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One thing that I was curious about is the temperature<\/a>, but as Christopher shows in the video, this build keeps the Pi 5 from throttling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Credit: ExplainingComputers<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

What more could you want?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So now, within just a few weeks, we’ve got a Raspberry Pi 5, a Compute Module 5, and a Raspberry Pi 500. And even though the last two aren’t official – they’re pretty amazing! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once again, if you haven’t checked out the ExplainingComputers<\/a> YouTube channel, you need to get on that. Here’s Christopher’s video explaining the details of the Raspberry Pi 500:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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