The Most Complete Guide to Raspberry Pi 5 Accessories You Need to Know

Prologue

The Raspberry Pi 5 is the latest remarkable iteration of the entire efficient and outstanding Raspberry Pi family loved by tech enthusiasts, its major improvements over its predecessor, the Raspberry Pi 4, have garnered worldwide attention. The new flagship Raspberry Pi products are always accompanied by new accessories, and the Raspberry Pi 5 is no different. For a Raspberry Pi 5 fan, it is important to know what comes with the outstanding SBC so that you can optimize your electronic projects based on it. In this comprehensive blog, we will take you on a journey through every detail of the Raspberry Pi 5 accessories. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced user, this guide is packed with valuable information to help you get the most out of your Raspberry Pi 5.

Raspberry Pi 5 Case

The updated Raspberry Pi 5 case is now available for $10. It has an aesthetic design similar to its predecessor, Raspberry Pi 4, but comes with new usability and thermal-management features. The case has an integrated 2.79 (max) CFM fan, with fluid dynamic bearings that minimize noise and enhance the operating lifetime. The fan connects to the four-pin JST connector on Raspberry Pi 5 to provide temperature-controlled cooling. Air is drawn in through a 360-degree slot under the lid, blown over a heatsink attached to the BCM2712 AP, and then exhausted through connector apertures and vents in the base.

The case has been lengthened and retention features tweaked to enable easy insertion of the Raspberry Pi 5 board without removing the SD card. The top of the case can now be removed to stack multiple cases or mount HATs on top of the fan using spacers and GPIO header extensions.

The new Raspberry Pi 5 case is manufactured at T-Zero in the West Midlands, UK, as are all previous Raspberry Pi plastic products.

Raspberry Pi 5 Active Cooler

The Raspberry Pi 5 has been designed to handle typical client workloads without the need for a case or active cooling. However, if you plan to use the board continuously under heavy load, you have the option of adding an Active Cooler for just $5. The Active Cooler attaches to the board via two new mounting holes and connects to the same four-pin JST connector as the case fan.

The Active Cooler is equipped with a radial blower that has been carefully selected for its low-noise operation and extended operating lifetime. The blower pushes air through an extruded and milled aluminum heatsink. Both the case and the Active Cooler can keep Raspberry Pi 5 well below the thermal throttle point for typical ambient temperatures and worst-case loads. However, the Active Cooler provides superior cooling performance and is especially suitable for overclockers.

Raspberry Pi 5 27W USB-C Power Supply

The Raspberry Pi 5 is more power-efficient and generates less heat compared to the Raspberry Pi 4 when running the same workload. However, when it comes to high-intensity workloads, the Raspberry Pi 5 can consume up to 12W of peak power, which is higher than the Raspberry Pi 4's 8W.

When using a standard 5V, 3A (15W) USB-C power adapter with the Raspberry Pi 5, the downstream USB current is limited to 600mA by default. This is lower than the 1.2A limit on the Raspberry Pi 4, but it is still enough to power low-power peripherals such as mice and keyboards.

For those who want to power high-power peripherals such as hard drives and SSDs while still maintaining headroom for peak workloads, a $12 USB-C power adapter is available that supports a 5V, 5A (25W) operating mode. When the Raspberry Pi 5 firmware detects this supply, the USB current limit is increased to 1.6A, allowing the mechanism to provide 5W of additional power to downstream USB devices and 5W of additional onboard power budget. This is especially useful for those who want to experiment with overclocking their Raspberry Pi 5.

It's worth noting that users can override the current limit, specifying the higher value even when using a 3A adapter. In our testing, we found that in this mode, the Raspberry Pi 5 works well with typical configurations of higher-power USB devices, except for the most intense workloads.

Raspberry Pi 5 Camera and display cables

The redesigned MIPI connectors have a higher-density pinout, which means an adapter is required to connect our cameras, displays, and third-party products to the Raspberry Pi 5. To accommodate existing camera and display owners, we offer FPC camera and display cables. These cables convert from the new higher density format known as "mini" to the older lower density format known as "standard". The cables are available in three lengths: 200mm, 300mm, and 500mm, and are priced at $1, $2 and $3 respectively.

For the convenience of our customers, the Camera Module 3, High-Quality Camera, Global Shutter Camera, and Touch Screen Display will be shipped with both a standard-to-standard cable and a 200mm mini-to-standard cable.

Raspberry Pi 5 PoE+ HAT

Starting in early 2024, the official Raspberry Pi 5 accessories will include a new PoE+ HAT. This HAT features an L-shaped form factor that allows it to be placed inside the Raspberry Pi 5 case without mechanical interference or disruption of airflow. It also has a new location for the four-pin PoE connector, which improves its functionality.

The upgraded PoE+ HAT incorporates a planar transformer into the PCB layout. It uses an optimized flyback converter architecture that maintains high efficiency throughout the output power range of zero to 25W.

M.2 HATs

Raspberry Pi 5 will feature a single-lane PCI Express 2.0 interface designed to support high-speed peripherals. This interface is available on a 16-pin, 0.5mm pitch FPC connector on the left side of the board.

From early 2024, two mechanical adapter boards will be offered. These adapter boards are designed to convert between this connector and a subset of the M.2 standard, allowing users to attach NVMe SSDs and other M.2-format accessories. The first adapter board conforms to the standard HAT form factor and is intended for mounting larger devices. The second adapter board shares the L-shaped form factor of the new PoE+ HAT and supports the mounting of 2230- and 2242-format devices inside the Raspberry Pi 5 case.

Raspberry Pi Beginner’s Guide, 5th Edition

The bestselling Raspberry Pi Beginner's Guide has been relaunched with a brand-new look and feel. With a recommended retail price (RRP) of £19.99 ($24.99), the new edition is the definitive guide to Raspberry Pi computers and accessories. It has been fully updated to cover the Raspberry Pi 5 and also includes information on the upcoming release of the Raspberry Pi OS based on Debian Bookworm.

Raspberry Pi 5 RTC Battery

The official Raspberry Pi 5 accessories now include a Panasonic lithium manganese battery. This coin cell battery comes with a two-pin JST connector and an adhesive mounting pad. It costs $5 and is designed to power the Raspberry Pi 5's real-time clock (RTC) when the main power supply is disconnected. This is an important feature to ensure accurate timekeeping in the event of a power outage.

A newer, better Raspberry Pi OS

As the Raspberry Pi 5 program is reaching its final stages, our software team has been working on developing a new version of Raspberry Pi OS. This is the official first-party operating system for all Raspberry Pi devices and is based on the latest release of Debian, codenamed "Bookworm". It incorporates several improvements, including the transition from X11 to the Wayfire Wayland compositor, which will be available on Raspberry Pi 4 and 5.

The new Raspberry Pi OS is expected to be released in mid-October and will be the only first-party OS supported for the Raspberry Pi 5. We will keep you updated on the new OS on this page. You will be able to download it just before the Raspberry Pi 5 hits stores in late October.

Raspberry Pi 5 Unboxing Video

Final Words

By understanding the features and functionality of the Raspberry Pi 5 accessories, you can unlock the full potential of this powerful single-board computer and start exciting projects in various fields, including IoT, robotics, home automation, and more.

We hope this guide helps you on your Raspberry Pi 5 journey. Whether you're a hobbyist, student, educator, or professional, the Raspberry Pi 5 and its accessories offer endless opportunities to learn, create, and innovate.

Also, the Raspberry Pi 5, related accessories, and compatible electronic products are coming soon in Elecrow's shopping store, click here to pre-order your new Raspberry Pi 5!