iRasptekRaspberry Pi 5 4GB Starter Kit - 64GB Edition of OS-Bookworm Pre-installed（Red&White Case）

This is the second Raspberry Pi I've owned but the first Pi 5, purchased primarily as a cheap retro emulation machine which it handles very well.Minor assembly required just to fit the heat sync and insert into the case (if using), very simple to do and takes a couple of minutes max. Would recommend the 4 little screws are placed in their holes on the board before lowering into the case and then tightening as they can be a little fiddly and although they do supply a mini screwdriver it doesn't hold the screws well even though it is magnetic.Remove the plastic covers from the three sticky blue thermal pads before attaching the heating and connect the cable to the main board for power for the fan and then pop the case on and attach the sticky feet. Very simple overall.Power adapter is supplied as are two micro HDMI to HDMI cables, use one of these to connect a suitable monitor and either connect USB keyboard and mouse toone of the four USB ports (2 x USB 3 and 2 x USB 2) or as it has Bluetooth built in you can utilise Bluetooth versions.Pop in the supplied Raspberry OS SD card and turn on then follow very simple instructions to setup the OS and connect to your WiFi and that's it. You now have a fully functioning mini computer, looks great and performs well. For setup of a retro emulation machine the instructions are readily found and you now have a snappy little emulation machine.. Great buy, nicely packaged and so much more you can do with these machines with a little imagination. Thoroughly recommend.

The Raspberry Pi 5 kit is impressively comprehensive, with all necessary components included from the start, except for a screen, keyboard, and mouse. This kit comes with the Raspberry Pi 5 itself, a sturdy case, copper radiators, a cooling fan, a 64 GB SD card, two HDMI cables, and a power supply. These accessories are essential for optimal performance, as the powerful Raspberry Pi 5 requires effective cooling.The cooling system is particularly noteworthy. Despite its small size, the copper radiator offers excellent thermal conductivity, superior to that of aluminum. This, combined with the compact fan, ensures efficient cooling. For best results, I recommend positioning the fan to blow air onto the components. Although there is no directional arrow on the fan, the direction of airflow can be determined by the shape of the blades. If unsure, refer to my photos for guidance.Assembling the case is straightforward, and the final build is robust enough to provide excellent protection for the Raspberry Pi. The case's solid construction is reassuring, adding an extra layer of security for the components.The included microSD card also exceeded expectations in terms of speed. Despite anticipating a lower performance, the card proved to be fast and reliable. Raspbian (Raspberry Pi OS) comes pre-installed, requiring only basic configuration upon the first boot. Users will need to set up their login credentials, connect to WiFi, and install any suggested updates.The versatility of the Raspberry Pi 5 is another strong point. This device can be utilized for a wide range of applications, including media servers, retro video game emulation, home automation, and various electronic projects thanks to its input and output capabilities. The most significant improvement in this version is the enhanced processor and RAM, which elevate its performance to that of a mini PC. The performance improvements are substantial compared to previous generations, making it a viable option for more demanding tasks. Additionally, the two HDMI outputs allow for dual-screen setups, supporting 4K resolution at 60 frames per second.In summary, the Raspberry Pi 5 kit offers a complete and well-thought-out package. The powerful hardware, efficient cooling system, and versatile applications make it a standout choice for both hobbyists and those looking for a compact, capable computing solution.

I have just started to get a lot more into home automation and smart home devices. One of the downfalls of Ring devices is the fact you cannot use them natively in Apple's Home app. One such solution to this is Homebridge which I recently discovered. This allows you to run a 'server' and connect apps to it, which in turn allow you to use devices in Apple's Home that are not natively supported. As this needs to run 24 hours a day, I was looking for a device to host this on. I was already aware of Raspberry Pi but I had never used one before, looking at various forums it seemed this would be the perfect device for me. I needed an all in one system with everything included and this item was the perfect solution to that.There was minimal assembly to be done with the device (took me about 2 minutes total) and even the small screwdriver you will need is included. As I knew I did not want to use the included OS, I simply formatted the included SD card and flashed it with Homebridge from the Raspberry Pi Imager program available from their website.Within minutes, I was up and running. I was able to navigate to my new 'servers' IP address (that I found from my routers list of devices) and was able to configure Homebridge to get things up and running.It turns out, there was no need for a display cable in these circumstances as nothing is shown from the Pi, it's all in a web based browser.Curiousity got the better of me and I bought another SD card and installed Raspberry Pi's OS Bookworm on it and plaed around with it - what a fantastic little OS... Especially given that it is free of charge and runs a dream on such a tiny device!I would recommend this to anybody, particularly those looking to move up a step in their smart home like me.Final note, with the installed fan the system runs at around 50c for me. This is perfect and well within the operating temps.