element14 Community
element14 Community
    Register Log In
  • Site
  • Search
  • Log In Register
  • About Us
  • Community Hub
    Community Hub
    • What's New on element14
    • Feedback and Support
    • Benefits of Membership
    • Personal Blogs
    • Members Area
    • Achievement Levels
  • Learn
    Learn
    • Ask an Expert
    • eBooks
    • element14 presents
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Spotlight
    • STEM Academy
    • Webinars, Training and Events
    • Learning Groups
  • Technologies
    Technologies
    • 3D Printing
    • FPGA
    • Industrial Automation
    • Internet of Things
    • Power & Energy
    • Sensors
    • Technology Groups
  • Challenges & Projects
    Challenges & Projects
    • Design Challenges
    • element14 presents Projects
    • Project14
    • Arduino Projects
    • Raspberry Pi Projects
    • Project Groups
  • Products
    Products
    • Arduino
    • Avnet Boards Community
    • Dev Tools
    • Manufacturers
    • Multicomp Pro
    • Product Groups
    • Raspberry Pi
    • RoadTests & Reviews
  • Store
    Store
    • Visit Your Store
    • Choose another store...
      • Europe
      •  Austria (German)
      •  Belgium (Dutch, French)
      •  Bulgaria (Bulgarian)
      •  Czech Republic (Czech)
      •  Denmark (Danish)
      •  Estonia (Estonian)
      •  Finland (Finnish)
      •  France (French)
      •  Germany (German)
      •  Hungary (Hungarian)
      •  Ireland
      •  Israel
      •  Italy (Italian)
      •  Latvia (Latvian)
      •  
      •  Lithuania (Lithuanian)
      •  Netherlands (Dutch)
      •  Norway (Norwegian)
      •  Poland (Polish)
      •  Portugal (Portuguese)
      •  Romania (Romanian)
      •  Russia (Russian)
      •  Slovakia (Slovak)
      •  Slovenia (Slovenian)
      •  Spain (Spanish)
      •  Sweden (Swedish)
      •  Switzerland(German, French)
      •  Turkey (Turkish)
      •  United Kingdom
      • Asia Pacific
      •  Australia
      •  China
      •  Hong Kong
      •  India
      •  Korea (Korean)
      •  Malaysia
      •  New Zealand
      •  Philippines
      •  Singapore
      •  Taiwan
      •  Thailand (Thai)
      • Americas
      •  Brazil (Portuguese)
      •  Canada
      •  Mexico (Spanish)
      •  United States
      Can't find the country/region you're looking for? Visit our export site or find a local distributor.
  • Translate
  • Profile
  • Settings
Raspberry Pi
  • Products
  • More
Raspberry Pi
Raspberry Pi Forum RPi Model A or B?
  • Blog
  • Forum
  • Documents
  • Quiz
  • Events
  • Polls
  • Files
  • Members
  • Mentions
  • Sub-Groups
  • Tags
  • More
  • Cancel
  • New
Join Raspberry Pi to participate - click to join for free!
Featured Articles
Announcing Pi
Technical Specifications
Raspberry Pi FAQs
Win a Pi
Raspberry Pi Wishlist
Actions
  • Share
  • More
  • Cancel
Forum Thread Details
  • State Verified Answer
  • Replies 11 replies
  • Answers 1 answer
  • Subscribers 666 subscribers
  • Views 1237 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Related

RPi Model A or B?

Former Member
Former Member over 11 years ago

Last year I purchased what I thought was a Model-A Raspberry Pi from Element-14/Newark (US). Since I later had a project that needed a Model-B, I bought one of those also, a few weeks ago.

 

Recently, I was checking out the differences between the two models and found that, according to various sources, The Model-B has 2 x USB ports (1 on the Model-A) and an Ethernet port (none on the Model-A) as well as a memory size difference.

 

Now my "Model-A" has both an Ethernet port and two USB ports so I'm confused. Is it, in fact a Model-B (which I didn't think was around when I bought the first one)? Is my information on the model differences wrong? I would appreciate it if someone could shed some light on this and clear up my confusion.

 

Also, what's the easiest way to check the amount of memory?

  • Sign in to reply
  • Cancel
Parents
  • merlin13
    0 merlin13 over 11 years ago

    There is indeed some confusion that was created because in some places the original Model B (with only 256 MB RAM) was named Model A. In fact, as far as I know the models are:

    - early Model B with 256 MB RAM, 2 USB, Ethernet - this one is incorrectly named Model A in some places

    - late/current Model B 512 MB RAM, 2 USB, Ethernet - more memory than early Model B but otherwise identical (well, there is also a small difference in GPIO pins)

    - Model A released last year, that indeed has only one USB, no Ethernet and only 256 MB of RAM.

     

    Hope this helps.

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up 0 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • Verify Answer
    • Reject Answer
    • Cancel
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 11 years ago in reply to merlin13

    Thanks, John and Merlin. The picture gets much clearer.

     

    So it would seem I have a Model-B of either 256 or 512 MB RAM. Which makes my final question all the more pertinent. How would I positively check the amount of RAM? Presumably I can do this from Linux or the GUI but I'm not sufficiently familiar with either to know how.

     

    (Update .... I just went to the hardware wiki link that John provided. It tells me how to check there. So thanks a bunch Guys!

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up 0 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • Verify Answer
    • Cancel
  • devinsheppard
    0 devinsheppard over 11 years ago in reply to Former Member

    Yes it is definitely a B model. Really I dont even see why the went ahead with the A model.

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up 0 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • Verify Answer
    • Cancel
Reply
  • devinsheppard
    0 devinsheppard over 11 years ago in reply to Former Member

    Yes it is definitely a B model. Really I dont even see why the went ahead with the A model.

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up 0 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • Verify Answer
    • Cancel
Children
  • merlin13
    0 merlin13 over 11 years ago in reply to devinsheppard

    To be honest, I quite like my Model A. For less than $50 (Pi + dongle + SD card) I have a device always WiFi connected. I know there are other options out there but nothing wireless and capable of running a real OS like RasPi in the same price range. At least nothing that I know of.

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up 0 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • Verify Answer
    • Cancel
  • johnbeetem
    0 johnbeetem over 11 years ago in reply to devinsheppard

    Since the Model A has no Ethernet or USB hub, it draws significantly less power than the Model B.  This makes it a better choice for a battery-operated robot, for example.

     

    And, of course, the Model A is US$10 cheaper.  RasPi's slogan at raspberrypi.org for a long time was "An ARM GNU/Linux box for $25.  Take a byte!"  This got to be embarrassing when the only board you could buy was $35.  "GNU/Linux box" was kind of misleading too, though RasPi does come in a cute little element14 box suitable for rolling up in your T-shirt sleeve image

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up 0 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • Verify Answer
    • Cancel
  • devinsheppard
    0 devinsheppard over 11 years ago in reply to johnbeetem

    I do see the point in the power consumption and using wifi with a robot, But I still would want that ethernet port. Just me though.

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up 0 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • Verify Answer
    • Cancel
  • devinsheppard
    0 devinsheppard over 11 years ago in reply to merlin13

    The Beaglebone Black comes close but still not as cheap.

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up 0 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • Verify Answer
    • Cancel
element14 Community

element14 is the first online community specifically for engineers. Connect with your peers and get expert answers to your questions.

  • Members
  • Learn
  • Technologies
  • Challenges & Projects
  • Products
  • Store
  • About Us
  • Feedback & Support
  • FAQs
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Legal and Copyright Notices
  • Sitemap
  • Cookies

An Avnet Company © 2025 Premier Farnell Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Premier Farnell Ltd, registered in England and Wales (no 00876412), registered office: Farnell House, Forge Lane, Leeds LS12 2NE.

ICP 备案号 10220084.

Follow element14

  • X
  • Facebook
  • linkedin
  • YouTube