What is the Raspberry Pi B+?

This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

The Raspberry Pi B+ is a final version of an original Raspberry Pi; this means that every Raspberry Pi model has a Raspberry Pi B+. The B+ comes equipped with four USB ports, an Ethernet port, and 40 GPIO pins.

There are different Raspberry Pi B+ types, including Raspberry Pi 1 B+, Raspberry Pi 2 B+, Raspberry Pi 3 B+, and Raspberry Pi B+ 4. 

Each version of the Raspberry Pi B+ is equipped with unique aspects that make it stand out from its predecessor. As a DIY enthusiast, understanding the Raspberry Pi B+ is essential for your everyday projects.

AdobeStock 281858777 1

Why choose Raspberry Pi B+

Raspberry Pi is a relatively small computer that can be plugged into a monitor, computer, or TV and uses a normal mouse and keyboard. This relatively small computer is ideal for learning programming languages as well as exploring computing. Furthermore, it is designed to be suitable for use across all ages.

Most individuals don’t know when they should choose a Raspberry Pi B+ over a standard Raspberry Pi. Well, the first thing you need to know about the Raspberry Pi B+ is that it is a better version of the Raspberry Pi. Therefore, if you are looking for improved functionality, the Raspberry Pi B+ will be the most suitable option for your DIY projects.

For instance, the Raspberry Pi 3 B+ board tends to operate using ARMv8-A (64/32-bit) instruction set along with the BCM2837 SoC (System on a chip). In addition to that, it features 1 GB RAM, GPU, and quad-core Cortex-A53 1.2 GHz CPU. It is also equipped with four USB 2.0 ports, 802.11b/g/n, 10/100 Mbit/s Ethernet, 4.1 BLE Bluetooth. These features make Raspberry Pi 3 B+ a small but powerful computer that is capable of handling almost any task.

Raspberry Pi B+ is by far one of the best models of a Raspberry Pi, and it is often used for projects where the price isn’t objective and where power is required. In addition to that, Raspberry Pi B+ features relatively easy to use I/O, which makes it best for use in a first Pi project.

Some of the features that make Raspberry Pi B+ stand out from other Raspberry Pi models to include more USB ports, more GPIO, lower power consumption, improved audio, micro SD, and a neater form factor.

There is no doubt that speed is one of the most vital aspects you need to consider when it comes to Raspberry Pi. The faster a Raspberry Pi is, the more work it processes before becoming unresponsive. 

Raspberry Pi computers tend to be relatively faster than a microcontroller such as AVR, PIC, and STM; however, there is some noticeable difference between the raspberry computer. 

With that in mind, the Raspberry Pi B+ model is equipped with a quad-core 2-bit ARM cortex processor, making it much faster than the single-core 700MHz ARM processor of the model A. Raspberry Pi B+ can perform four tasks simultaneously in separate cores, making 30% faster than the Raspberry Pi model A.

In addition to speed, memory space is another vital aspect that needs to be considered when it comes to Raspberry Pi. For instance, operating systems are well-known for using a large amount of RAM storage. Therefore, when one is being used, you will consider maximizing your RAM. 

Most Raspberry Pi A computers are equipped with 256 MB and 512 MB RAM, while most of the Raspberry Pi B+ computers are equipped with 1 GB, but this space is shared with GPU. The RAM space ranges from 512 MB to 1 GB, making the Raspberry Pi B+ the best option over other Raspberry Pi models.

The other reason as to why Raspberry Pi B+ is an incredible model is its networking feature. Raspberry Pi A and A+ are not equipped with any networking capabilities, unlike the B and B+ models, which are equipped with an Ethernet port. Since you cannot access Ethernet cable everywhere, the Raspberry Pi B+ comes equipped with a wireless internet adaptor. 

This makes it relatively easy to connect to the internet using Wi-Fi signals. The B+ model houses Wi-Fi circuitry inside a metal shield, and it has been designed to meet both CE and FCC requirements. 

All other models, including the Raspberry Pi Zero model, are not equipped with internet capabilities apart from the Zero Wireless, which is equipped with a Wi-Fi module.

Choosing the right Raspberry Pi model for your application

With different Raspberry Pi models available in today’s market, choosing one that best suits your needs can be relatively challenging. Therefore, when it comes to selecting the best Raspberry Pi for your application, you should consider these vital aspects:

  • Speed. As previously discussed, speed is an essential factor that you need to consider. When choosing a Raspberry Pi for your project, you will need to look for speed that will best suit your task.
  • MemoryWith OS taking most of your RAM space, you should look for a Raspberry Pi model that will offer a sufficient amount of RAM to run your project.
  • Network system: Not all Raspberry Pi models are equipped with a built-in network system; therefore, if the internet is of the essence, you will need to look for a Raspberry Pi computer equipped with internet capabilities.

Generally speaking, the Raspberry Pi B+ model is the best since it is equipped with all the three specs discussed above.

Final verdict 

When it comes to Raspberry Pi, there are various models available in the market for you to choose from. You will come to notice that some models feature + in their name. Usually, the + sign indicates that there is an improvement in that particular design. 

For instance, a Raspberry Pi model A comes equipped with a RAM of 256 MB while the Raspberry Pi model A+ is equipped with 512 MB RAM, more GPIO, and a MicroSD slot. Like the Raspberry Pi A+ model, the Raspberry Pi B+ model is also equipped with more significant features, making it a better version of the Raspberry Pi B. 

The Raspberry Pi B+ stands to be the best Raspberry Pi model since it offers internet connectivity, improved speed, and sufficient RAM storage. As we conclude, we hope that you find this article helpful and that we have answered the question of what is the Raspberry Pi B+. 

About The Author