Raspberry Pi 3B+ (Plus) - Compatible?

[korni]

The latest Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ has a faster 64-bit 1.4GHz quad core processor, 1GB of RAM, faster dual-band 802.11 b/g/n/ac wireless LAN, Bluetooth 4.2, and significantly faster 300Mbit/s ethernet.

Faster processing

Improved thermals on the Pi 3 B+ means that the CPU on the BCM2837 SoC can now run at 1.4GHz, a 17% increase on the previous Pi 3 model (which ran at 1.2GHz).
Video performance on Pi 3 B+ is similar to the previous generation Pi 3, the VideoCore being clocked at 400MHz for video processing and the 3D graphics processor running at 300MHz.

Faster wireless

A significant change on the Pi 3 B+ compared to the Pi 3 is the inclusion of a new faster, dual-band wireless chip (CYW43455) with 802.11 b/g/n/ac wireless LAN and Bluetooth 4.2.
The dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless LAN enables faster networking with less interference (although the higher bandwidth has less range), and the new PCB antenna technology should allow better reception.
Bluetooth allows you to use a wireless keyboard/trackpad without extra dongles, keeping things nice and tidy.

Faster Ethernet

The Pi 3 B+ has significantly faster wired networking, thanks to an upgraded USB/LAN chip, and you should see speeds that are 3-5x faster than on previous models of the Pi, at least 300Mbit/s.

GPIO and layout

The GPIO header remains the same, with 40 pins, as on the previous three models of Pi. However, it should be noted that the new PoE header pins may contact components on the underside of some HATs, like Rainbow HAT. Some standoffs will prevent any mischief from occurring though!
The metal shielding on the wireless circuitry and the SoC may also cause shorts against larger components on the underside of HATs, pHATs, and SHIMs. In the first two cases, standoffs will help again; in the latter, a couple of small pieces of insulating tape or Kapton tape will prevent any shorts.

Source: The PiHut

Is it worth it to order the new Pi? Is it compatible with recalbox?

[lhari84]

Would be good to know, anybody already tested?

Most important question to me:
Is the known Bluetooth controller lag of Pi 3 gone with this new model?

[Substring]

It's available since today, who could own one ???

[KLEBER]

I am going to buy one today and will give it a try!

[gkralicek2]

We received a bunch of new Pi3 B+ this morning at job. No luck installing Recalbox though :=(. When inserting a prepared SD card, all i could get at boot was a rainbow coloured screen with red and green leds on the board constantly lit. I'm not that surprised though as some of the chips on the board have been replaced (the network/wifi one for sure as it now supports 5Ghz Wifi, Gigabit Ethernet and PoE). The main CPU has been upgraded too as the old BCM 2837 is now replaced with a 2837B0 which embeds a different feature set (it's not only an overclocked version of the previous 2837 but should rather be considered a different processor even though it's still powered by the same quadcore unit and GPU). Just my 2 cents anyway.... :=)

[lhari84]

@gkralicek2
Thanks for info, even though I was hoping for better news

[gkralicek2]

@lhari84 It's just a matter of time until noobs gets an update and new drivers for the network chips are made available ;=)

[Substring]

@gkralicek2 it's not a noobs problem, it's a firmware + kernel problem. Recalbox img most probably can't boot for these reasons. And for noobs : we're not yet compatible as we need the new board's id

[MarcDK]

Hi, other distributions already have support for the new Pi3b. OSMC for example: https://osmc.tv/2018/03/osmcs-march-update-is-here-with-pi-3-b-support/

So, when can we expect support in recalbox? How did the guys from OSMC implement the support ?

Oh, they had preproduction units:

"OSMC would like to thank Raspberry Pi for pre-production units which allowed us to support the device on launch day."

[voljega]

@marcdk said in Raspberry Pi 3B+ (Plus) - Compatible?:

So, when can we expect support in recalbox? How did the guys from OSMC implement the support ?

with code. the team is waiting for your commits.

[voljega]

Well we wan already expect very big trouble for those of us using external hdd only powered through pui's usb : https://www.raspberrypi.org/magpi/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Raspberry-Pi-Benchmarks-Power-Draw.jpg

[Substring]

@voljega the pi lighnting icon strikes back ^^

[SkullGrin]

Is this unit even worth bothering with? It seems like it's barely more powerful than the Pi 3. Exact same GPU and Ram type and speed. No changes. WiFi and ethernet is supposed to be better but this changes nothing on actual performance. Only the CPU speed is slightly better at 1.4GHZ but, having played around in overclocking Pi 3 to 1.37Ghz in Recalbox, i saw very little improvement. 200Mhz just isn't a substantial change.

Is this even a true 1.4Ghz? Or just a stock overclock of the previous CPU? Any word on heat and increased power draw? AKA: Will our good ol' buddy, the lightning bolt icon be making a comeback?

[gkralicek2]

@skullgrin Upgrading is only worthy for someone who hasn't invested yet in a pi 3 but for those already using "standard" pi 3 with a stable overclock @1350 or 1375 it doesn't seem relevant at all.

[lhari84]

@skullgrin
As mentioned above, maybe it would make sense for people (like me) using bluetooth game controllers. (As the internal BT of "old" Pi 3 is not the best choice and the Pi 3B+ seems to have a new controller).
Anyway, if the power consumption stays on the level of first tests report, I think it's not worth at all.

[Substring]

@lhari84 said in Raspberry Pi 3B+ (Plus) - Compatible?:

Anyway, if the power consumption stays on the level of first tests report, I think it's not worth at all.

Have you read what @voljega posted ?

[Ratte]

@substring
I placed my amazon-order yesterday (40,90€ not the best price, i know ...).

[Dragu]

@Substring
"Production lifetime: The Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ will remain in production until at least January 2023."
C'est quand-même osé dans le contexte actuel. La concurrence ne dort pas nonplus et 1400Mhz avec un GPU pas plus performant, c'est loin d'être un scope.

[tikiandskull]

@dragu en même temps la fondation Raspberry Pi n'a pas les impératifs d'une société commerciale... le fait que le pi soit utilisé pour du retrogaming c'est pour eux de l'accessoire.

[Substring]

@dragu le pi est la seuke board à ma connaissance qui est capable de te cracher quasi n'importe quel signal analogique grace au gpio. Alors même si à notre niveau de recalbox ce n'est pas encore très exploité, personne d'autre ne peut faire ça. Et ca vaut de l'or. Tout comme le changement de résolution à la volée en framebuffer, aucune autre carte que j'ai sous la main ne peut le faire (et je commence à en avoir)