Raspberry Pi 4 Model B differences | 1 GB vs 2 GB vs 4 GB versions

What are the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B differences? You may be in the market for a brand-new computer, so why not buy one that could comfortably fit in your pocket? The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B is a powerful little package at a crazy good price, but you might not be sure which one you’re going to buy: the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 1GB, Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 2GB, or the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 4GB? We’ve got you covered!

Let’s start with the basics: all three current models of the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B share several components in common. Regardless of which version you buy, here are the specs that you’re going to get:

• 1.5GHz quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A72 processor
• 1GB—4GB LPDDR4 SDRAM
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Dual-band 802.11ac wireless networking
• Bluetooth 5.0
• Two USB 3.0 ports and two USB 2.0 ports
• Up to 4K resolution supported via dual monitor inputs
• OpenGL ES 3.x from VideoCore VI graphics
• 4Kp60 hardware decode of HEVC video
• Complete compatibility with earlier Raspberry Pi products
• Raspbian Operating System (based on Linux Debian Buster 10 release)

That appears to be a pretty sweet little package! There are three models in total as noted on the news post announcing the new Raspberry Pi model at prices ranging from $35 to $55. What are the differences, then? Well, it mainly comes down to how much RAM you’d like.

Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Differences | Which Raspberry Pi 4 should I buy?

The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B differences entirely come down to how much RAM you want. Each of the three models make for a fairly strong computer in its own right, but figuring out which one you should buy will mainly come down to what sort of software you’re going to be running on it.

Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 1 GB ($35 + shipping and taxes)

This is the absolute barebones model of the Pi 4 Model B. If you’re looking to just dabble or use it for something really simple, this is certainly the model you’re going to want to go for. That said, there’s not much of a difference between $35 and $55, and more RAM may be worth it if you’re going to make use of the greater horsepower.

This model will let you run the 32-bit version of Windows 10 (and the older operating systems, if you’re curious), although you’ll need to step things up a bit if you’re looking for a 64-bit Windows environment.

Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 2 GB ($45 + shipping and taxes)

A perfect middle ground option, the 2GB model doubles the RAM for just $10 more. Simply put, you should choose this if you need to get a little more power out of your device without spending too much more money. This version will also let you run 64-bit Windows 10 at the bare minimum, although getting Windows 10 to run on a Pi is a challenge unto itself.

If you’re out to build an ultra-budget gaming PC, though, there is only one real option: the 4GB model.

Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 4 GB ($55 + shipping and taxes)

The 4GB is the cream of the crop and is the top choice between all of the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B differences. For just $20 more than the cheapest model, you’ll get four times the RAM. The difference between 1GB and 4GB might not seem like much at first, but it’s critically important if you’re going to be using your Raspberry Pi for gaming.

To start, 2GB of RAM is just the bare minimum requirement for Windows 10. 4 gigs gives you a little more room to actually run some games, albeit older ones that don’t require a minimum of 8 gigabytes of RAM. the 4GB baseline also would allow you to run SteamOS, Valve’s custom version of Linux for games supported on that platform. Although 8GB of RAM has become the new standard for games, there are still tens of thousands of titles on Steam and elsewhere that can run perfectly fine on 4 gigs or less. If you’re looking to use your Raspberry Pi as a gaming machine, this is the way to go!

Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Differences | Which accessories should I buy?

Although the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B differences mainly come down to RAM, you can’t exactly just buy this little circuit board and be done with it. After all, you literally just get the circuit board with all the plugs and chips soldered onto it. There’s no onboard storage, much less a power cable or any other wires!

To start, you’re going to need power. That’s accomplished through purchasing the official power supply for less than ten bucks. You might also want to avoid leaving your board naked and afraid, so consider grabbing the official case for just $5.

You’re probably going to want to get some storage. A 32GB micro SD card can be purchased for less than ten bucks, although you can spend $5ish more and double that to 64GB or double it yet again to 128 GB for less than $20. If you’re in serious need of storage space, you can get a 1TB external hard drive for under $50.

Lastly, a note on cables: whether you’re buying Ethernet, HDMI, or something else, remember that a lot of stores make their money on selling cables at way above market prices. Hit up Amazon, eBay, or your local computer shop for the best deals on cables!