Raspberry Pi 3 Model B
Overview
The Raspberry Pi is a credit card-sized computer. The Raspberry Pi 3 Model B is the third generation Raspberry Pi. It is based on the BCM2837 system-on-chip (SoC), which includes a 1.2 GHz quad-core ARMv8 64bit processor and a powerful VideoCore IV GPU. The Raspberry Pi can run a full range of ARM GNU/Linux distributions, including Snappy Ubuntu Core, Debian, Fedora, and Arch Linux, as well as Microsoft Windows 10 IoT Core.
The Raspberry Pi 3 Model B is the first Raspberry Pi to feature onboard wireless and Bluetooth connectivity. It has the same form factor and connector locations as the older Raspberry Pi 2 Model B and Raspberry Pi Model B+.
The Raspberry Pi was designed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation to provide an affordable platform for experimentation and education in computer programming. The Raspberry Pi can be used for many of the things that a normal desktop PC does, including word-processing, spreadsheets, high-definition video, games, and programming. USB devices such as keyboards and mice can be connected via the board’s four USB ports. Over twelve million Raspberry Pis have been sold, and lots of resources for the Raspberry Pi are available online.
With its 0.1″-spaced GPIO header and small size, the Raspberry Pi also works as a programmable controller in a wide variety of robotics and electronics applications. It can also be combined with our A-Star 32U4 Robot Controller LV with Raspberry Pi Bridge to make a great controller for a small robot. We also carry a selection of Raspberry Pi expansion boards.
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Features
- 1.2 GHz quad-core BCM2837 ARMv8 64bit CPU
- 1 GB RAM
- VideoCore IV 3D graphics core
- Ethernet port
- 802.11n Wireless LAN (WiFi)
- Bluetooth 4.1
- Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
- Four USB ports
- Full-size HDMI output
- Four-pole 3.5 mm jack with audio output and composite video output
- 40-pin GPIO header with 0.1″-spaced male pins that are compatible with our 2×20 stackable female headers and the female ends of our premium jumper wires.
- Camera interface (CSI)
- Display interface (DSI)
- Micro SD card slot (now push-pull rather than push-push)
What you will need
To use the Raspberry Pi, you will need a few additional things that are not included:
- A 5 V power source with a micro USB connector that can source at least 1.8 A. We recommend this 5 VDC 2.4 A wall power adapter.
- A microSD card with an operating system on it, which also serves as the main storage for the device.
- Input and output devices, such as a keyboard and monitor.
While the Raspberry Pi is powered from a 5 V supply, it operates at a 3.3 V logic level and its pins are not 5V-tolerant. Connecting higher voltages, like 5 V, directly to an I/O pin could damage the board. We recommend you use something like our bidirectional logic level shifter to interface this board with 5V systems.
For more information about the Raspberry Pi, see the technical, help, and resource documents on the Raspberry Pi website.
Comparing Raspberry Pi models
The table below shows some key features and specifications of the Raspberry Pi boards to help you choose the right one for your application. For reference, it also includes the Model B+ and Pi 2 Model B, which we no longer carry.
 Raspberry Pi Model A+ 512MB |
 Raspberry Pi Model B+ |
 Raspberry Pi 2 Model B |
 Raspberry Pi 3 Model B |
 Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU: | BCM2835 | BCM2836 | BCM2837 | BCM2837B0 | |
| CPU cores: | 1 | 4 | |||
| CPU speed: | 700 MHz | 900 MHz | 1.2 GHz | 1.4 GHz | |
| RAM: | 512 MB | 512 MB | 1 GB | ||
| Ethernet: | No | Yes | |||
| WiFi: | No | 2.4 GHz 802.11n | 2.4 GHz 5 GHz 802.11b/g/n/ac | ||
| Bluetooth: | No | 4.1 | 4.2 | ||
| Bluetooth Low Energy: | No | Yes | |||
| HDMI: | Yes | ||||
| Analog video: | Yes1 | ||||
| SD socket: | microSD | ||||
| Onboard regulators: | switching | ||||
| Expansion header pins: | 40 | ||||
| USB ports: | 1 | 4 | |||
| Mounting holes: | 4 | ||||
| Dimensions2: | 2.5″ × 2.2″ × 0.47″ | 3.35″ × 2.2″ × 0.8″ | |||
| Weight3: | 23 g | 42 g | 50 g | ||
1 Audio and analog video provided by a single four-pole 3.5 mm jack. This 3.5 mm jack also has its own dedicated low-noise power supply for improved audio.
2 Length and width measurements are for the PCB only; several of the connectors extend past the edge of the board.
3 Weight does not include microSD cards.
