Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation
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@jmoore I'm on a Chromebook right now for my soon to be second grader; I may switch to this for his home learning and the Chrimebook to the Kindergartener. Going to order an 8gb one this week.
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If you want to buy many RPIs, look at the electronic component distributors such as Mouser, Farnell, Digi-Key. They have thousands in stock. People use them in embedded applications, that's why.
I've had a Raspberry Pi 4 since they came out in the summer last year. I think as a low end desktop they're fine. I think I made some post about that as well here.
If you're are a power user of any kind, you will have to wait for the computer and not the other way around. So for very casual users and kids...yes, for IT pros and people that work 8h a day in front of it...no.
A low end NUC with SSD will be much snappier - for a relatively small price increase (~$30 if I remember correctly). And you'll get a 3 year warranty.
NUCs have laptop/tablet CPUs so they frugal on power. Idle power consumption is around 5W, compared to 3W for the RPI4. The reason the difference is small is because the RPI4 is using old manufacturing technology (28nm) while Intel's CPUs started with 14nm 2014. Current high-end technology is now 7nm, used for instance by AMD Epyc 2.
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@hobbit666 said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
@scottalanmiller said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
Looks more like a big heatsink lol
Well it's technically not a case because it doesn't encase the Raspberry Pi PCB. You have exposed electrical connections.
Ideally you'd want some thing that looks like the one in the post I made below.
Inside, the CPU should be in contact with the case. Heat is transferred directly from CPU and other hot ICs to the case itself that is made of metal (alu). Then the heat disappates from the case by convection and radiation. -
@hobbit666 said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
@scottalanmiller said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
Looks more like a big heatsink lol
That's the idea. It's the perfect mix of things.
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This is a better case. So you don't burn down your house just because someone dropped a paperclip on your RPIs exposed pins.
Akasa also makes fanless cases for Intel NUCs and others and has for years.
There are other similar cases for the RPI as well. Flirc for example works OK, less industrial looking and more "office" like. -
Also of interest....
https://www.jeremymorgan.com/blog/linux/90-days-with-pinebook-pro/
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This case: https://www.amazon.com/Argon-Raspberry-Aluminum-Heatsink-Supports/dp/B07WP8WC3V
Witth the m.2 add on: https://www.amazon.com/Argon-Raspberry-Board-Expansion-ONLY/dp/B08MHYWJCP$25 + $20 = a real sexy workstation case.
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@JaredBusch said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
This case: https://www.amazon.com/Argon-Raspberry-Aluminum-Heatsink-Supports/dp/B07WP8WC3V
Witth the m.2 add on: https://www.amazon.com/Argon-Raspberry-Board-Expansion-ONLY/dp/B08MHYWJCP$25 + $20 = a real sexy workstation case.
I need to order that case. I have the 8GB model just waiting to go into a case AND I have a spare M2 to go into it for it!
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@scottalanmiller said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
@JaredBusch said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
This case: https://www.amazon.com/Argon-Raspberry-Aluminum-Heatsink-Supports/dp/B07WP8WC3V
Witth the m.2 add on: https://www.amazon.com/Argon-Raspberry-Board-Expansion-ONLY/dp/B08MHYWJCP$25 + $20 = a real sexy workstation case.
I need to order that case. I have the 8GB model just waiting to go into a case AND I have a spare M2 to go into it for it!
The second link has an option to get both at once.
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hah but not shipping until the 16th because out of stock.
But you can get the case and add on separate immediately.
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@JaredBusch said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
This case: https://www.amazon.com/Argon-Raspberry-Aluminum-Heatsink-Supports/dp/B07WP8WC3V
Witth the m.2 add on: https://www.amazon.com/Argon-Raspberry-Board-Expansion-ONLY/dp/B08MHYWJCP$25 + $20 = a real sexy workstation case.
m.2 storage connected via USB?
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@Obsolesce said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
@JaredBusch said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
This case: https://www.amazon.com/Argon-Raspberry-Aluminum-Heatsink-Supports/dp/B07WP8WC3V
Witth the m.2 add on: https://www.amazon.com/Argon-Raspberry-Board-Expansion-ONLY/dp/B08MHYWJCP$25 + $20 = a real sexy workstation case.
m.2 storage connected via USB?
The RPi doesn’t have provision for any storage outside of USB and microSD, so using one of the USB 3 ports is pretty clever. Opens up a heap of options.
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@Obsolesce said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
@JaredBusch said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
This case: https://www.amazon.com/Argon-Raspberry-Aluminum-Heatsink-Supports/dp/B07WP8WC3V
Witth the m.2 add on: https://www.amazon.com/Argon-Raspberry-Board-Expansion-ONLY/dp/B08MHYWJCP$25 + $20 = a real sexy workstation case.
m.2 storage connected via USB?
Yes, USB3 is fast enough to do it. It's done a lot. I've got an external of that right here.
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@scottalanmiller said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
@Obsolesce said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
@JaredBusch said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
This case: https://www.amazon.com/Argon-Raspberry-Aluminum-Heatsink-Supports/dp/B07WP8WC3V
Witth the m.2 add on: https://www.amazon.com/Argon-Raspberry-Board-Expansion-ONLY/dp/B08MHYWJCP$25 + $20 = a real sexy workstation case.
m.2 storage connected via USB?
Yes, USB3 is fast enough to do it. It's done a lot. I've got an external of that right here.
Yeah for sure it will work. It's just depending on the type you get (really the only reason I would care to have one), I was thinking the 2k - 3500+ MB/s speeds being limited by the speeds you see with USB3 it's kind of a waste.
On the other hand, if you get a cheapo one, the way it fits together and all is pretty nice.
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@Obsolesce said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
@scottalanmiller said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
@Obsolesce said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
@JaredBusch said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
This case: https://www.amazon.com/Argon-Raspberry-Aluminum-Heatsink-Supports/dp/B07WP8WC3V
Witth the m.2 add on: https://www.amazon.com/Argon-Raspberry-Board-Expansion-ONLY/dp/B08MHYWJCP$25 + $20 = a real sexy workstation case.
m.2 storage connected via USB?
Yes, USB3 is fast enough to do it. It's done a lot. I've got an external of that right here.
Yeah for sure it will work. It's just depending on the type you get (really the only reason I would care to have one), I was thinking the 2k - 3500+ MB/s speeds being limited by the speeds you see with USB3 it's kind of a waste.
On the other hand, if you get a cheapo one, the way it fits together and all is pretty nice.
Likely only works with SSD type M.2 drives, not the super fast ones.
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@Obsolesce said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
@scottalanmiller said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
@Obsolesce said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
@JaredBusch said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
This case: https://www.amazon.com/Argon-Raspberry-Aluminum-Heatsink-Supports/dp/B07WP8WC3V
Witth the m.2 add on: https://www.amazon.com/Argon-Raspberry-Board-Expansion-ONLY/dp/B08MHYWJCP$25 + $20 = a real sexy workstation case.
m.2 storage connected via USB?
Yes, USB3 is fast enough to do it. It's done a lot. I've got an external of that right here.
Yeah for sure it will work. It's just depending on the type you get (really the only reason I would care to have one), I was thinking the 2k - 3500+ MB/s speeds being limited by the speeds you see with USB3 it's kind of a waste.
On the other hand, if you get a cheapo one, the way it fits together and all is pretty nice.
Considering good SSD M2 drives are around $35, it's a pretty good situation. Not like faster drives would be very noticeable on the RP4.
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@Dashrender said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
@Obsolesce said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
@scottalanmiller said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
@Obsolesce said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
@JaredBusch said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
This case: https://www.amazon.com/Argon-Raspberry-Aluminum-Heatsink-Supports/dp/B07WP8WC3V
Witth the m.2 add on: https://www.amazon.com/Argon-Raspberry-Board-Expansion-ONLY/dp/B08MHYWJCP$25 + $20 = a real sexy workstation case.
m.2 storage connected via USB?
Yes, USB3 is fast enough to do it. It's done a lot. I've got an external of that right here.
Yeah for sure it will work. It's just depending on the type you get (really the only reason I would care to have one), I was thinking the 2k - 3500+ MB/s speeds being limited by the speeds you see with USB3 it's kind of a waste.
On the other hand, if you get a cheapo one, the way it fits together and all is pretty nice.
Likely only works with SSD type M.2 drives, not the super fast ones.
What are "SSD" type? SSD isn't a type of M2. M2 is typically either SATA or NVMe as the interfaces for the SSD. Both of those work on the RP.
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@scottalanmiller said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
@Obsolesce said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
@scottalanmiller said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
@Obsolesce said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
@JaredBusch said in Raspberry Pi 4 as IT Workstation:
This case: https://www.amazon.com/Argon-Raspberry-Aluminum-Heatsink-Supports/dp/B07WP8WC3V
Witth the m.2 add on: https://www.amazon.com/Argon-Raspberry-Board-Expansion-ONLY/dp/B08MHYWJCP$25 + $20 = a real sexy workstation case.
m.2 storage connected via USB?
Yes, USB3 is fast enough to do it. It's done a lot. I've got an external of that right here.
Yeah for sure it will work. It's just depending on the type you get (really the only reason I would care to have one), I was thinking the 2k - 3500+ MB/s speeds being limited by the speeds you see with USB3 it's kind of a waste.
On the other hand, if you get a cheapo one, the way it fits together and all is pretty nice.
Considering good SSD M2 drives are around $35, it's a pretty good situation. Not like faster drives would be very noticeable on the RP4.
Dammit, well then I seriously got ripped off when I bought this a couple years ago! Where do you find them for $35?
https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-960-NVMe-512GB-MZ-V6P512BW/dp/B01LXS4TYB
With the newer ones getting 5k - 7k+ MB/s speeds!
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Just so happens I need a rPi4 case,.. well,.. looks like it’ll show up (along with the BLTouch auto leveler for the Ender) soon...
