Which Raspberry Pi 4 Kit is Right for You?
SparkFun now has a variety of development kits, all of which utilize the new Raspberry Pi 4.
We wanted to draw attention to some new kits we started to carry recently - each allows you to interface with a Raspberry Pi 4 in different ways. Instead of just releasing a single starter kit, we wanted to release different versions that highlight some of the credit card-sized computer's best features: it's great for beginners, it's an easy way to create an economical desktop computer, and it can teach you to code. Avra sat down and detailed the differences in each of the kits.
It has been about a year since the release of the Raspberry Pi 4, and it has quickly become one of the best Pis out there. There are several types of Raspberry Pi 4 that have been released in the past year in various DDR4 RAM size options, and some of our options allow for you to choose the one that's right for you.
As Avra said above, there are three different versions kits we have released over the last few months: the SparkFun Raspberry Pi 4 Basic Kit (available in 2GB and 4GB versions) designed for beginners; the SparkFun Raspberry Pi 4 Desktop Kit (also available in 2GB and 4GB versions) that provides you with everything to turn your RPi into a desktop computer; and the SparkFun Raspberry Pi 4 Hardware Starter Kit (which only comes in a 4GB version, at least for now), which teaches you to code easily.
These are just the current Raspberry Pi 4 kits we carry, but we also offer a Qwiic Kit for Raspberry Pi, the Raspberry Pi Zero kits for camera/servo control and just to get started, as well as one that turns your Pi into a retro video game station! For now though, let's look at the Pi 4 kits we currently offer.
We have full guides on how to set up each of the options available for these kits. We also have a slew of other guides to peruse, including ways to start up a Python GUI, setting up a remote desktop, creating a smart mirror and more!
Raspberry Pi 4 Kit Hookup Guide
March 14, 2020
Guide for hooking up your Raspberry Pi 4 Model B basic, desktop, or hardware starter kit together.
Raspberry Pi SPI and I2C Tutorial
Learn how to use serial I2C and SPI buses on your Raspberry Pi using the wiringPi I/O library for C/C++ and spidev/smbus for Python.
Python Programming Tutorial: Getting Started with the Raspberry Pi
This guide will show you how to write programs on your Raspberry Pi using Python to control hardware.
How to Use Remote Desktop on the Raspberry Pi with VNC
Use RealVNC to connect to your Raspberry Pi to control the graphical desktop remotely across the network.
Graph Sensor Data with Python and Matplotlib
Use matplotlib to create a real-time plot of temperature data collected from a TMP102 sensor connected to a Raspberry Pi.
Python GUI Guide: Introduction to Tkinter
Tkinter is the standard graphical user interface package that comes with Python. This tutorial will show you how to create basic windowed applications as well as complete full-screen dashboard examples complete with live graph updates from matplotlib.
How to Run a Raspberry Pi Program on Startup
In this tutorial, we look at various methods for running a script or program automatically whenever your Raspberry Pi (or other Linux computer) boots up.
Computer Vision and Projection Mapping in Python
Use computer vision to detect faces and project images on top of them.
Raspberry Pi Safe Reboot and Shutdown Button
Safely reboot or shutdown your Raspberry Pi to avoid corrupting the microSD card using the built-in general purpose button on the Qwiic pHAT v2.0!
How to Make a Magic Mirror with Raspberry Pi
Need a great project for your Raspberry Pi 4 kit? Use it to create a command center to display the weather, clock, your calendar, or even a news feed!
Nintendo Switch Macro Recording on the Raspberry Pi
Learn how to record and playback controller 'macros' for your Nintendo Switch using a Raspberry Pi, SparkFun Top pHAT, and Joycontrol.
If you are ever curious about the rest of the Raspberry Pi products we carry, make sure to check out our entire Raspberry Pi category as well! Tell us about your favorite Raspberry Pi project or set up below!
