Description

The Most Powerful Raspberry Pi Keyboard Computer

 

What is the Raspberry Pi 500 Keyboard Computer?

 

For beginners, the Raspberry Pi is a series of compact single-board computers developed by the Raspberry Pi team to promote basic computer science education in schools and developing countries. The original model exceeded expectations, gaining popularity beyond its target audience for applications such as automation, multimedia, robotics, IoT, and even Industry 4.0.

    

The Raspberry Pi 500 is a Raspberry Pi 5 embedded within a compact keyboard featuring a US layout and 78 keys. This innovative integration offers a practical solution, as most applications require a keyboard to navigate or access the computer—much like a laptop. The Raspberry Pi personal computer is now tidier and more beginner-friendly. With the Raspberry Pi 500 Keyboard Computer, it’s easier than ever for anyone to start with digital making. We’re confident those who have used the Raspberry Pi 5 board already know it’s a powerful computer used in many projects and products.

 

 

 

US Layout Keyboard

 

This new Raspberry Pi Keyboard Computer is ideal for laboratories, schools, and anyone in need of a compact, powerful computer. Its versatile design makes it suitable for virtually any application! Like the standard Raspberry Pi board, this keyboard computer includes a CPU, GPU, RAM, HDMI multimedia port, USB ports, wireless and wired connectivity, a microSD card slot, and General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) pins. With millions of Raspberry Pi boards in use worldwide—in universities, polytechnics, schools, factories, maker spaces, and even the space station—it’s a proven platform for countless applications.

 

 

If you’re new to Raspberry Pi, we highly recommend starting with a kit that includes all the essential components you’ll need. You can choose between the official Computer Kit or the Starter Kit assembled by Cytron Technologies, depending on your preferences.

Higher Spec, Better Performance

 

The Highlights:

Faster Processor yet Cooler Motherboard

Yes, the Raspberry Pi 500’s processor (BCM2712) is clocked at 2.4GHz (factory default maximum clock speed), but it does not require any additional cooling even though the motherboard is enclosure under the keyboard. We have run a stress test on this new computer for 30 minutes with a full load on every core, the CPU temperature rises from ~35ºC but stays under 70ºC. Amazing! The secret recipe for good thermal performance is a cleverly designed aluminum heatsink plate on top of the CPU (underneath the keypads) that ensures Raspberry Pi 500 always stays cool.

 

Stressberry Test for 30 minutes (1800 seconds) on Raspberry Pi 500

 

Better Arrangement for USB Ports

Good news for right-handed users! The USB ports on the Raspberry Pi 500 have been repositioned to the right side, offering a shorter distance to the mouse and helping to minimize messy wires and cables. It’s a small change that makes a big difference!

 

USB 3.0 Ports and USB Boot Ready

The Raspberry Pi 500 also retains the two USB 3.0 ports that offer speeds up to 5Gbps, perfect for connecting fast peripherals like SSDs and flash drives for USB Boot. There is also a USB 2.0 port for connecting less speed-dependent peripherals like a mouse or USB to an audio adapter. USB boot firmware has been released as a stable update by Raspberry Pi and many love it. Raspberry Pi 500 is USB (USB3.0 Port) boot-ready out of the box. So you can get faster boot and performance if it boots from SSD or M.2 🙂

 

 

New Power Button

The Raspberry Pi 500 now features a dedicated power button, unlike the Raspberry Pi 400, which shares the power function with the F10 key. This makes shutting down the computer much more convenient and hassle-free!  This is the default settings:

• Press Once = Bootup
• Press > 2 seconds = Shutdown Menu
• Press > 7 seconds = Safe Shutdown

With this new power button, you will never need to off the power adapter 🙂

 

 

Kensington Lock

To increase the physical security of the Raspberry Pi 500, A Kensington Security Slot (also called a K-Slot or Kensington lock) is integrated too. This feature will be welcomed by the maker lab or school to reduce computer missing 🙂

 

4K Multimedia, Dual Display

Similar to the Raspberry Pi 5, the Raspberry Pi 500 supports 4Kp60 multimedia and features two micro-HDMI ports. With 4K resolution, you can enjoy larger displays with crisp, sharp, and high-quality visuals. Additionally, the H.265 4Kp60 hardware decoding allows you to watch 4K movies seamlessly on your favorite media center distro.

 

 

Backward Compatible 40-Pin GPIO

Alongside the innovative integration of the motherboard into a keyboard, the Raspberry Pi 500 retains the backward-compatible 40-pin GPIO. However, the GPIO is now presented in horizontal headers instead of vertical ones. This ensures that all digital-making projects utilizing the 40-pin GPIO can still be seamlessly executed with the Raspberry Pi 500.

 

No Extra Enclosure/Case or Cooling Needed

With the motherboard embedded in the keyboard, no additional enclosure is needed for protection. Additionally, the built-in large heatsink ensures efficient heat dissipation, eliminating the need for extra heatsinks or cooling fans. This not only saves costs but also reduces the hassle of sourcing accessories. Just focus on using your Raspberry Pi 500 to its fullest!