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663 posts
hippy
Posts: 19831
Joined: Fri Sep 09, 2011 10:34 pm

Re: What product would you like to see?

Wed Nov 12, 2025 11:48 am

KeithMck wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 10:50 am
I'd like to have a USB-C splitter cable to run 2x RPi from just one PSU, just not sure if the PSU would cope, especially if using USB power to the 2x RPi monitors. ;)
Both official PI USB-C PD PSU, 27W and 45W, can only deliver 5A @ 5V so you would only have 2.5A @ 5V for each and that's probably not enough with a Pi Monitor on each, possibly not enough without.

You could create a splitter cable, have only the master negotiate 5A @ 5V and leave the slave to parasitically leech off that but I don't know how successful that would be. First you would have both sinking the 3A @ 5V available before 5A were negotiated, just 1.5A each, and the master would think it has the full 5A available once negotiated when in reality it has less than that -

Code: Select all

 .-----------.
 | | .-----___
 | 5V |-------------------.---| 5V |
 | PSU PD |-------------------|---| PD | Master
 | 0V |----------------.--|---| 0V ___|
 | | | | `-----
 `-----------' | | .-----___
 | `---| 5V |
 | -| | Slave
 `-----| 0V ___|
 `-----
An alternative for using just a single supply is to take the slave's supply from the master's 40-way power pins. But then the slave only has 1.6A max, less whatever the master USB uses.
Last edited by hippy on Wed Nov 12, 2025 11:52 am, edited 1 time in total.

KeithMck
Posts: 796
Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2020 10:58 am

Re: What product would you like to see?

Wed Nov 12, 2025 11:52 am

MikeDB wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 11:40 am
KeithMck wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 10:50 am
I'd like to have a USB-C splitter cable to run 2x RPi from just one PSU, just not sure if the PSU would cope, especially if using USB power to the 2x RPi monitors. ;)
Wouldn't a powered hub actually be tidier, as each cable could be chosen to be the correct length. And a good hub (not the nasty cheap ones) might do the PD properly !
Yes, that might be a possibility, but may not work properly with 2x RPi5 plus 2x RPi monitors; it was just hypothetical. :D

MikeDB
Posts: 2863
Joined: Sun Oct 12, 2014 8:27 am

Re: What product would you like to see?

Wed Nov 12, 2025 2:03 pm

KeithMck wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 11:52 am
MikeDB wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 11:40 am
KeithMck wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 10:50 am
I'd like to have a USB-C splitter cable to run 2x RPi from just one PSU, just not sure if the PSU would cope, especially if using USB power to the 2x RPi monitors. ;)
Wouldn't a powered hub actually be tidier, as each cable could be chosen to be the correct length. And a good hub (not the nasty cheap ones) might do the PD properly !
Yes, that might be a possibility, but may not work properly with 2x RPi5 plus 2x RPi monitors; it was just hypothetical. :D
It's still a more sensible suggestion for a new Raspberry product than some of the other suggestions :-)
Maybe even with a battery compartment to add optional LiPo batteries ?
Always interested in innovative audio startups needing help and investment. Look for InPoSe Ltd or Future Horizons on LinkedIn to find me (same avatar photograph)

thagrol
Posts: 14786
Joined: Fri Jan 13, 2012 4:41 pm

Re: What product would you like to see?

Wed Nov 12, 2025 2:27 pm

hippy wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 11:48 am
KeithMck wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 10:50 am
I'd like to have a USB-C splitter cable to run 2x RPi from just one PSU, just not sure if the PSU would cope, especially if using USB power to the 2x RPi monitors. ;)
Both official PI USB-C PD PSU, 27W and 45W, can only deliver 5A @ 5V so you would only have 2.5A @ 5V for each and that's probably not enough with a Pi Monitor on each, possibly not enough without.

You could create a splitter cable, have only the master negotiate 5A @ 5V and leave the slave to parasitically leech off that but I don't know how successful that would be. First you would have both sinking the 3A @ 5V available before 5A were negotiated, just 1.5A each, and the master would think it has the full 5A available once negotiated when in reality it has less than that -

Code: Select all

 .-----------.
 | | .-----___
 | 5V |-------------------.---| 5V |
 | PSU PD |-------------------|---| PD | Master
 | 0V |----------------.--|---| 0V ___|
 | | | | `-----
 `-----------' | | .-----___
 | `---| 5V |
 | -| | Slave
 `-----| 0V ___|
 `-----
An alternative for using just a single supply is to take the slave's supply from the master's 40-way power pins. But then the slave only has 1.6A max, less whatever the master USB uses.

I'm not sure it's that simple.

Firstly, each Pi will try to draw what it needs so it isn't a 50/50 split unless you introduce additional circuitry to make it so.

Secondly does the 5A@5V mode use the vBUS line or, as the other PD modes do, use the CC line that isn't used for negotiation to supply the power?

And doesn't the 1.6A limit you mention apply only to bus powered USB devices and not to devices connected to GPIO? AIUI the limit there is whatever is leftover after the Pi draws what it needs. I could, of course, be wrong.
Knowledge, skills, & experience have value. If you expect to profit from someone's you should expect to pay for them.

All advice given is based on my experience. it worked for me, it may not work for you.
Need help? https://github.com/thagrol/Guides

HanDonotob
Posts: 85
Joined: Thu Jun 20, 2024 8:43 pm

Re: What product would you like to see?

Wed Nov 12, 2025 3:10 pm

MikeDB wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 2:03 pm
.......
Maybe even with a battery compartment to add optional LiPo batteries ?
The idea of external connectors (and internal storage) for a Pi is quite old and already implemented by the CM* products. Think of the USB-C's as the fit on the CM* board, and a powered Pi hub in various formats as the powered CM* board itself.

When considering any sort of connection my presumption is that USB-C connectors are future proof, where DP and HDMI (VGA!) are not. It must be a lot easier to adjust a Pi hub to changing connector needs than doing so on the Pi itself. And also, think of the fool-proofing of power needs a hub can do when connecting more power hungry peripherals than the 27W Pi power brick can provide now.

I see only advantages in off-loading connection and power needs from the Pi to a hub. The one (misperceived) disadvantage that keeps coming back is the assumption that power would still be provided as it is now, and the Pi hub is there as an extra must-buy. It is not, it is an extra-featured replacement for the regular power unit.

And yes, an extra-extra-featured hub that also acts as a UPS with 2 replaceable LiPo batteries.
Last edited by HanDonotob on Wed Nov 12, 2025 3:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.

aBUGSworstnightmare
Posts: 13432
Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2015 1:35 pm

Re: What product would you like to see?

Wed Nov 12, 2025 3:13 pm

hippy wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 11:48 am
KeithMck wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 10:50 am
I'd like to have a USB-C splitter cable to run 2x RPi from just one PSU, just not sure if the PSU would cope, especially if using USB power to the 2x RPi monitors. ;)
Both official PI USB-C PD PSU, 27W and 45W, can only deliver 5A @ 5V so you would only have 2.5A @ 5V for each and that's probably not enough with a Pi Monitor on each, possibly not enough without.

You could create a splitter cable, have only the master negotiate 5A @ 5V and leave the slave to parasitically leech off that but I don't know how successful that would be. First you would have both sinking the 3A @ 5V available before 5A were negotiated, just 1.5A each, and the master would think it has the full 5A available once negotiated when in reality it has less than that -

Code: Select all

 .-----------.
 | | .-----___
 | 5V |-------------------.---| 5V |
 | PSU PD |-------------------|---| PD | Master
 | 0V |----------------.--|---| 0V ___|
 | | | | `-----
 `-----------' | | .-----___
 | `---| 5V |
 | -| | Slave
 `-----| 0V ___|
 `-----
An alternative for using just a single supply is to take the slave's supply from the master's 40-way power pins. But then the slave only has 1.6A max, less whatever the master USB uses.
may work as long as the 'master' negotiates on 5V ... will release 'magic white smoke' on the slave if the negotiated voltage is higher than 5V (keep in mind that official 45W PSU can supply up to 20V).

There is no splitter cable in USB-C spec.

MikeDB
Posts: 2863
Joined: Sun Oct 12, 2014 8:27 am

Re: What product would you like to see?

Wed Nov 12, 2025 3:45 pm

Since RPL is probably going to have to redesign the EU version of the PI5 PSU in due course (*) to put a USB-C connector on it rather than a floating wire, might this be the time to put a second USB-C socket able to power the monitor so there is no display power going through the Pi5 ?

*subject to the Commission finalising the rules stating this of course
Always interested in innovative audio startups needing help and investment. Look for InPoSe Ltd or Future Horizons on LinkedIn to find me (same avatar photograph)

jamesh
Raspberry Pi Engineer & Forum Moderator
Raspberry Pi Engineer & Forum Moderator
Posts: 35174
Joined: Sat Jul 30, 2011 7:41 pm

Re: What product would you like to see?

Wed Nov 12, 2025 3:59 pm

MikeDB wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 3:45 pm
Since RPL is probably going to have to redesign the EU version of the PI5 PSU in due course (*) to put a USB-C connector on it rather than a floating wire, might this be the time to put a second USB-C socket able to power the monitor so there is no display power going through the Pi5 ?

*subject to the Commission finalising the rules stating this of course
Nice idea. The 45W power supply would fit that well.
Software guy, working in the applications team.

hippy
Posts: 19831
Joined: Fri Sep 09, 2011 10:34 pm

Re: What product would you like to see?

Wed Nov 12, 2025 5:29 pm

aBUGSworstnightmare wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 3:13 pm
may work as long as the 'master' negotiates on 5V ... will release 'magic white smoke' on the slave if the negotiated voltage is higher than 5V (keep in mind that official 45W PSU can supply up to 20V).
True, but we were talking specifically about two Pi and, if any current Pi SBC negotiates more than it can handle, I think there would be some serious questions as to how any why.

Things may however be different for future Pi and I am anticipating they will be.
aBUGSworstnightmare wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 3:13 pm
There is no splitter cable in USB-C spec.
Not surprising but it doesn't stop someone creating one for themselves, even selling such a thing, though they would need to be careful in how they described it, use of branding, labels, logos, trademarks, etc.

MikeDB
Posts: 2863
Joined: Sun Oct 12, 2014 8:27 am

Re: What product would you like to see?

Wed Nov 12, 2025 5:56 pm

jamesh wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 3:59 pm
MikeDB wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 3:45 pm
Since RPL is probably going to have to redesign the EU version of the PI5 PSU in due course (*) to put a USB-C connector on it rather than a floating wire, might this be the time to put a second USB-C socket able to power the monitor so there is no display power going through the Pi5 ?

*subject to the Commission finalising the rules stating this of course
Nice idea. The 45W power supply would fit that well.
I hadn't realised you even had a 45W power supply ! So when is the Pi laptop it's obviously designed to power coming out ? :D
Always interested in innovative audio startups needing help and investment. Look for InPoSe Ltd or Future Horizons on LinkedIn to find me (same avatar photograph)

peterlite
Posts: 1741
Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2016 4:00 am

Re: What product would you like to see?

Wed Nov 12, 2025 9:03 pm

I have the 27 watt, a Pi 5, and a Pi screen. The Pi screen runs at 60% when powered from the Pi 5 so I use a spare Pi 4 power supply for the screen. The 47 watt power supply does not solve the problem. Two Type C sockets would fix the problem. One socket could be marked PD. A 50 watt with two USB Type C sockets would also work for dual Pi 5.

I have some low cost car USB power sources with mixed PD and non PD sockets, suggesting the electronics should not be difficult or expensive.

ejolson
Posts: 13865
Joined: Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:47 am

Re: What product would you like to see?

Wed Nov 12, 2025 9:12 pm

peterlite wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 9:03 pm
I have the 27 watt, a Pi 5, and a Pi screen. The Pi screen runs at 60% when powered from the Pi 5 so I use a spare Pi 4 power supply for the screen. The 47 watt power supply does not solve the problem. Two Type C sockets would fix the problem. One socket could be marked PD. A 50 watt with two USB Type C sockets would also work for dual Pi 5.

I have some low cost car USB power sources with mixed PD and non PD sockets, suggesting the electronics should not be difficult or expensive.
No dangerous splitter cables for me please. I'd like to see a 1000W supply with 40 USB-C PD outputs that each negotiate 5V at 5A.

MikeDB
Posts: 2863
Joined: Sun Oct 12, 2014 8:27 am

Re: What product would you like to see?

Wed Nov 12, 2025 9:51 pm

ejolson wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 9:12 pm
No dangerous splitter cables for me please. I'd like to see a 1000W supply with 40 USB-C PD outputs that each negotiate 5V at 5A.
I expect they have something like that ... at Sony Bridgend in the final test department :-)
Always interested in innovative audio startups needing help and investment. Look for InPoSe Ltd or Future Horizons on LinkedIn to find me (same avatar photograph)

W. H. Heydt
Posts: 17262
Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2012 7:36 pm

Re: What product would you like to see?

Wed Nov 12, 2025 10:17 pm

peterlite wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 9:03 pm
I have some low cost car USB power sources with mixed PD and non PD sockets, suggesting the electronics should not be difficult or expensive.
I've seen a number of "powerbanks" that had PD and non-PD ports...or QC and non-QC ports. So...agreed, it doesn't appear to be a problem.

W. H. Heydt
Posts: 17262
Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2012 7:36 pm

Re: What product would you like to see?

Wed Nov 12, 2025 10:21 pm

ejolson wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 9:12 pm
No dangerous splitter cables for me please. I'd like to see a 1000W supply with 40 USB-C PD outputs that each negotiate 5V at 5A.
I shudder to think what that would cost. On the other hand, a 110W with 4 USB PD 5.1v 5A ports is something I'd find useful. Though to go with it, I'd like to see 1M and 2M USB cables with 18GA power wires, rated to handle 5A at 5v (and, of course, with the needed internals to pass along the relevant PD data).

thagrol
Posts: 14786
Joined: Fri Jan 13, 2012 4:41 pm

Re: What product would you like to see?

Thu Nov 13, 2025 12:24 am

peterlite wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 9:03 pm
I have some low cost car USB power sources with mixed PD and non PD sockets, suggesting the electronics should not be difficult or expensive.

I can see the trouble shooting posts now:
  • Are you using the official PSU?
  • Are you using the PD capable port or the non-PD port?
  • Are you using a 5A rated e-marked cable?
Making all the USB C ports PD capable would simplify things and result in less people coming here with power related issues. But it might be wise for RPL to offer an official e-marked USB C cable.
Knowledge, skills, & experience have value. If you expect to profit from someone's you should expect to pay for them.

All advice given is based on my experience. it worked for me, it may not work for you.
Need help? https://github.com/thagrol/Guides

ejolson
Posts: 13865
Joined: Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:47 am

Re: What product would you like to see?

Thu Nov 13, 2025 12:25 am

W. H. Heydt wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 10:21 pm
ejolson wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 9:12 pm
No dangerous splitter cables for me please. I'd like to see a 1000W supply with 40 USB-C PD outputs that each negotiate 5V at 5A.
I shudder to think what that would cost. On the other hand, a 110W with 4 USB PD 5.1v 5A ports is something I'd find useful. Though to go with it, I'd like to see 1M and 2M USB cables with 18GA power wires, rated to handle 5A at 5v (and, of course, with the needed internals to pass along the relevant PD data).
Authorized resellers here sell the official power supply between 12 to 17.50 US dollars.

Assuming the worst case

40 * 17.5 = 700 dollars

gives an estimate on a what price a 40 port supply might sell for. Since such a power supply would encourage people to buy 39 extra Pi computers, it could also be sold as a loss leader.

hippy
Posts: 19831
Joined: Fri Sep 09, 2011 10:34 pm

Re: What product would you like to see?

Thu Nov 13, 2025 5:02 am

MikeDB wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 5:56 pm
I hadn't realised you even had a 45W power supply ! So when is the Pi laptop it's obviously designed to power coming out ? :D
I'm sticking to my prediction that it's pre-empting the Pi 6 which won't be negotiating 5V.
W. H. Heydt wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 10:21 pm
ejolson wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 9:12 pm
No dangerous splitter cables for me please. I'd like to see a 1000W supply with 40 USB-C PD outputs that each negotiate 5V at 5A.
I shudder to think what that would cost.
It could be reasonably cheap using a suitable chassis PSU or a set of cheaper ones. That can permanently supply 5A to all 40 outputs. All it then needs is a fuse on each output and something to do the PD negotiation. And that doesn't need to interact with the supply itself; it purely signals "yes, you can draw 5A".

hippy
Posts: 19831
Joined: Fri Sep 09, 2011 10:34 pm

Re: What product would you like to see?

Thu Nov 13, 2025 5:20 am

Talking of PD ... One product I would like to see is an Official PD Trigger Board which convinces the 27W/45W PSU's to "release the juice", deliver 5V @ 5A to USB-C which doesn't do PD, via USB-A and screw terminals.

Code: Select all

 .-----------. .-----------------------------.
 | | .-----___ | / | .-----___
 | 5V |----| 5V | |-----------------.-----O O---|----| 5V |
 | PSU PD |----| PD | |----. | : | | |
 | 0V |----| 0V ___| |----|------------|--.---:----|----| 0V ___|
 | | `----- | | ______ | | : | `-----
 `-----------' | `--| |--' | : |
 | | PD | | : |
 | ...|______|-----' : |
 | :...................: |
 `-----------------------------'
You can find boards which do that but none have the Raspberry Pi guarantee of quality and reliability. It's another product where I'd pay to have Pi branding.

MikeDB
Posts: 2863
Joined: Sun Oct 12, 2014 8:27 am

Re: What product would you like to see?

Thu Nov 13, 2025 7:34 am

hippy wrote:
Thu Nov 13, 2025 5:20 am
You can find boards which do that but none have the Raspberry Pi guarantee of quality and reliability. It's another product where I'd pay to have Pi branding.
I think you overdo the RPL 'quality and reliability' thing. A lot of stuff from the better Chinese suppliers is of similar reliability - at the end of the day they all use the same components. Indeed bare PCBs from China are far better than those sourced elsewhere, though I notice all our CM4s now say PCB comes from China even though it's assembled in UK.

It's just the ones who cut corners and reduce the design to an absolute minimum on AliExpress you need to avoid.
Always interested in innovative audio startups needing help and investment. Look for InPoSe Ltd or Future Horizons on LinkedIn to find me (same avatar photograph)

hippy
Posts: 19831
Joined: Fri Sep 09, 2011 10:34 pm

Re: What product would you like to see?

Thu Nov 13, 2025 9:30 am

MikeDB wrote:
Thu Nov 13, 2025 7:34 am
It's just the ones who cut corners and reduce the design to an absolute minimum on AliExpress you need to avoid.
But that's the problem; knowing who has cut corners and who hasn't. Raspberry Pi branding tends to mean they haven't, and haven't screwed things up - apart from a few notable misadventures.

Plus they have a reputation and share price to sustain so are less likely to treat their customers with contempt as others might do.

MikeDB
Posts: 2863
Joined: Sun Oct 12, 2014 8:27 am

Re: What product would you like to see?

Thu Nov 13, 2025 10:13 am

hippy wrote:
Thu Nov 13, 2025 9:30 am
MikeDB wrote:
Thu Nov 13, 2025 7:34 am
It's just the ones who cut corners and reduce the design to an absolute minimum on AliExpress you need to avoid.
But that's the problem; knowing who has cut corners and who hasn't. Raspberry Pi branding tends to mean they haven't, and haven't screwed things up - apart from a few notable misadventures.

Plus they have a reputation and share price to sustain so are less likely to treat their customers with contempt as others might do.
Just takes a little research. Lexar, MeanWell, Orico, Lindy, ADATA, Anker, Imuto, BiWin, LattePanda, Seeed, Imou, etc, all produce quality products, some probably more reliable than some RPL products.

Look for the same product under lots of different names and you know who to avoid.
Always interested in innovative audio startups needing help and investment. Look for InPoSe Ltd or Future Horizons on LinkedIn to find me (same avatar photograph)

sproggit
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2023 8:25 am

Re: What product would you like to see?

Thu Nov 13, 2025 9:56 pm

I think it's fascinating that so many of the posts here are people expressing frustration with the challenge of powering clusters of Pi systems. This is a platform that scales in almost all respects but power.

I bought one of these: https://www.gws-led.co.uk/products/5v-4 ... 2f99&_ss=r

Put it in a weatherproof injection-molded electrical junction box [smallest I could find that fitted], got some 100A charging cables, and cut back one end of each, to make a cluster of 4 cables which I soldered together before connecting. I found that despite a claimed 40A, I could power a Pi4B no problem, but not a Pi5. I have a suspicion that the unit is designed to drop the output unless it sees a minimum level of resistance on the circuit [more than the Pi was yielding] and it throttles back as a safety measure. Of course, the unit came with zero documentation...

Then I tried one of these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DQJQFG6G

which is a reasonably-priced and exceptionally well made Gallium-Nitride PSU. But there's a catch... it isn't 500W, it's 470 - and the maximum current it delivers at 5V is 3A, not 5A. Having said that, I have a 16Gb Pi5 with the Pimoroni NVMe Duo and a pair of 2Tb M.2 drives - and it runs that machine just fine. But having said that, I'm a bit concerned that 15W max power might generate trouble if the Pi gets pushed hard.

Very similar on the outside, but *completely* different in performance terms, I also spotted this:-

https://uk.ugreen.com/collections/charg ... er-5-ports

Another Gallium-Nitride based PSU/Charger. This one only claims 300W, not "500", but if you scroll down the above page, then near the bottom you'll see 4 "images" with black backgrounds and little green "lights" to show viable combinations of output that this machine is claimed to have been tested with. The final option on the final image block shows [claims] that it can simultaneously provide 140+65+34+20w from all 4 USB-C ports and an additional 22.5W from the USB-A port.

Of course, the only way that it can get to 140W output over USB-C is to step up to 20v, but maybe it could handle say 2xPi 5 and 2xPi 4Bs?

The biggest down-side is that it's 150ドル - an awful lot to "punt" on something that might not work....

sproggit
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2023 8:25 am

Re: What product would you like to see?

Thu Nov 13, 2025 10:06 pm

Bearing in mind that the foundation have solid almost 70 million Pi computers now, I think it's fair to say that they're probably not a low volume client of the company that makes the Pi boards. Which suggests that there might be scope for a little variation in board design...

On that basis, how about:

- A Pi 3C that keeps the same basic configuration [maybe 1 or 2Gb options] and keeps the power/TDP down to no more than the 3B, but get a bit more performance by using latest-generation SOC technology. Intel have been doing this for years - they build ranges of CPU's at TDP points... So if we could get a 3C with the same TDP and thermals as the 3B but folding in more performance, that would be sweet. Same for the 4B please.

- I know this is highly unlikely, but how about a model that includes an NVMe socket on the underside of the mainboard, say at the opposite end to the microSD tray?

- How about replacing the 2 x USB 2 sockets with a pair of USB C alternates - maybe - if we're lucky - with a chipset update to get faster IO from USB-connected M.2 drives?

- And lastly - not so much a hardware upgrade as a hardware/software upgrade... With some recent PSU experimentation I've been doing, I've seen the odd "undervolt" warnings... So a simple applet that I could launch that would let me monitor voltage and current across power supply and GPIO pins in real time would really help me understand the power delivery side of my machines...

W. H. Heydt
Posts: 17262
Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2012 7:36 pm

Re: What product would you like to see?

Thu Nov 13, 2025 10:48 pm

sproggit wrote:
Thu Nov 13, 2025 10:06 pm
- A Pi 3C that keeps the same basic configuration [maybe 1 or 2Gb options] and keeps the power/TDP down to no more than the 3B, but get a bit more performance by using latest-generation SOC technology. Intel have been doing this for years - they build ranges of CPU's at TDP points... So if we could get a 3C with the same TDP and thermals as the 3B but folding in more performance, that would be sweet. Same for the 4B please.
Your "3C" would require a who new (multi-million dollar) SoC design. The BCM2837 (used in the Pi2Bv1.2 and v1.3 and the Pi3B have a hard limit of 1GB RAM. Generally speaking, when you reduce the node size, you can do some combination of reducing power requirements and faster cycle times. To date, RPT have never done a die-shrink (that is, smaller node, same core design) on an existing SoC. This is largely because doing so costs substantially as much as doing a whole new SoC, so why bother? If you want to use less power, reduce the clock speed. Problem is, you'll also reduce the performance. The later can be offset by moving to a newer SoC. So...a cooler and faster Pi3B would be an underclocked Pi4B and a cooler and faster Pi4B would be a Pi5.
- I know this is highly unlikely, but how about a model that includes an NVMe socket on the underside of the mainboard, say at the opposite end to the microSD tray?
You can get M.2 adapters the mount under the PCB. To make a Pi built that way would also imply the need to design and market a new case. I'm dubious that there is enough market there to make it worthwhile.
- How about replacing the 2 x USB 2 sockets with a pair of USB C alternates - maybe - if we're lucky - with a chipset update to get faster IO from USB-connected M.2 drives?
Not sure I've ever seen a dual-UBS-C device. As for the other point... What "chipset"? The Pi5 (the only model--counting the Pi-500+) that has an exposed PCIe lane has that lane directly as part of the SoC. The only thing on a Pi5 that could be remotely be considered a "chipset" is the RP1 that handles the low speed I/O, and is--therefore--a sort of equivalent of a north bridge chip.

I can see future Pis going to either more PCIe lanes exposed (with the resultant trace routing nightmare) or a faster PCIe lane (with its own difficulties), or both. What would be reasonable would be to alternate the expansion from generation to generation. e.g. Pi6 with two PCIe 2 lanes with the option to run at PCIe 3 speed, Pi7 with two PCIe 3 lanes with the option to run at PCIe 4 speed, Pi8 with two PCIe 4 lanes with the option to run at PCIe 5 speed, and so one until there are 4 lanes running at whatever the current version is (or the last but one gen).

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