This would actually be a pretty decent desktop computer to use. I’ve been really impressed with the Raspberry Pi 5 which is running my Raspiblitz Bitcoin/Lightning node. It processed the entire Bitcoin blockchain in about 3 days, where my Raspberry Pi 4B being converted to Raspiblitz with new 2 TB drive is still processing the blockchain 10 days later, with 90% done.
https://9to5linux.com/raspberry-pi-500-computer-launches-with-the-official-raspberry-pi-monitor
Raspberry Pi 500 is available for purchase from $90 USD while the Raspberry Pi Monitor is sold separately at $100 USD.
By Marius Nestor
The Raspberry Pi Foundation announced today the launch of the Raspberry Pi 500 computer, powered by the Raspberry Pi 5 single-board computer, alongside the Raspberry Pi Monitor.
The Raspberry Pi 500 is the successor of the Raspberry Pi 400 model released four years ago, in November 2020 (yes, time does fly fast), which was based on the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B SBC with 4 GB RAM. The new model is based on the latest Raspberry Pi 5 SBC with 8GB RAM.
As such, you get the same specs as the Raspberry Pi 5, including the 2.4GHz quad-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A76 processor, the VideoCore VII GPU supporting OpenGL ES 3.1 and Vulkan 1.3, dual 4Kp60 HDMI display output, dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0.
Connectivity-wise, Raspberry Pi 500 features a horizontal 40-pin Raspberry Pi GPIO connector, a Gigabit Ethernet port, two USB 3.0 ports that support simultaneous 5Gbps operation, as well as a single USB 2.0 port.
Compared to the Raspberry Pi 400 model, the Raspberry Pi 500 comes with goodies for an out-of-the-box computing experience, including a 32GB Raspberry Pi-branded SD card, a Raspberry Pi mouse, a Raspberry Pi 27W USB-C power supply, a micro HDMI to HDMI cable, and an official Raspberry Pi monitor.
That’s right, the Raspberry Pi Foundation has developed its own monitor, designed to coordinate perfectly with the Raspberry Pi 500 or a cased Raspberry Pi 5. The Raspberry Pi Monitor features a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS panel with a 45% color gamut, an 80-degree viewing angle, and integrated 1.2W stereo speakers.
Raspberry Pi Monitor – Image credits: Raspberry Pi Foundation
The Raspberry Pi Monitor can be powered directly from the Raspberry Pi computer via the included USB-A to USB-C cable, but the display brightness will be limited to 60 percent. For full brightness and volume ranges, you can use the official Raspberry Pi 15W USB-C power supply.
The Raspberry Pi 500 computer is available for purchase from your local retailer for $90 USD, which includes the computer and the 32GB Raspberry Pi-branded SD card. Or you can get the Desktop Kit at $120 USD, which also includes the mouse, power supply, and HDMI cable. The Raspberry Pi Monitor is sold at $100 USD.